Hi,
I used to build planes then started on tanks and now i've just bought a Catalina PBY-5A 1/72 scale but ive never painted one with an air brush.
Do you build the whole model then airbrush it or do u airbrush the main body in pieces. If you build then spray do u mask the windows and the underside?
If there is any other tips you want to give me, please feel free, i need all the help i can get.
Thanks very much, Tom.

Hi Tom!

Usualy, you paint the plane once the main parts are glued together... only exception are biplanes of course!

To simplify:
1- paint the cockpit parts and the inside of the fuselage...
2- once the cockpit is finished, glue the two halves together...
3- add the wings and ailerons...
4a- mask the clear parts and glue them in place...
4b- mask the clear parts but leave them aside...
5- do the painting (don't forget to mask the openings if 4b)
6- add the detail parts at the end...

The Catalina has a particular design. Maybe it is possible to paint the fuselage and wings separately but I can't tell you... I never build a Catalina yet! But someone else is currently building a PBY and maybe he can help you: 1/72 PBY Fire Bomber

Hope this helped a little bit...

Jean-Luc

Thanks alot, some windows need to be put in before you glue the main body together. Do u just mask the windows with sticky tape?
thanks again.

Tamiya masking tape will just do fine...

Jean-Luc