World's Largest RC Catalina Flying Boat Built By Stephen Thomas 

All those "Armchair Know It Alls" offering their "Expert Advise" here about the camera work and the wisdom of flying in the conditions prevailing on the day, should all bugger off. We should be grateful that Steve choose to film the event in the first place and that he then choose to share that footage on You Tube with the rest of us. Steve, your model is magnificent. You are to be congratulated on what you've achieved!!

Wow... and I mean WOW! Yes the video quality is not great but who cares... what an achievement!!! 20'8" wingspan RC Consolidated PBY Catalina!!! Good on ya! My father worked for Consolidated Vaultee then Convair then General Dynamics here in San Diego, CA where they designed and built the original PBY's. As a young boy I got to see quite a few remaining PBY's as well as learning the history of this important plane and the role it played particularly in the Pacific Theater of WW II. I've seen the historical film footage of the first PBY flight (from the water in San Diego Harbor)... the ramp where they rolled the sled into the water with the first PBY prototype on it is still there, I drive by it regularly. Seeing this video warms my heart in a special way. Kudos to Steve Thomas and everyone who keeps this important era of aviation history alive with remarkable Warbird RC builds like this one... BRAVO !!! Byron Vista, CA

Had to mute the sound; couldn't take all that wind-noise.

Excellent job on the build and tough flying conditions!

Superb ! This must be THE most spectacular and special model I've found on youtube, to date (and have I seen some...). True high-level piloting skills, and not to forgett guts ! Maidening such a uniqe project, representing such a great amount of work, in winds of 20-25 knots, that's confidence in every aspect ...thanks a lot for sharing, and: Happy landings !

A very unique an multi purpose airplane used in WW2. The history of this plane is fascinating and can be found on RU-vid. Great model and looks great flying. One of few planes that did not have flaps. Thanks for sharing!

Steve, Have a 93 year old PBY pilot in our Legion here in America(York,Nebraska) and need to show him this.Job well done.

WOW! Having seen photos over the past few years of this model under construction, and hearing of how you used a 'syringe' to squirt dobs of glue - MILLIONS - of them for the 'rivets' - the work and countless hours ( i am sure it ws more than stated!) that went into this project, well done and absolutely delighted to see it fly! I hope you have many, many hours of enjoyment flying this plane.

I would never risk a maiden with that wind. Proportionally to the full size, that's the equivalent to a bloody hurricane. They got away with it but.........?

A remarkable model, beautiful , sounds great in the air too . They just seem to be getting better and better on You Tube !

Great day for a maiden flight. That's a huge investment to risk flying in typhoon.

That's not even my plane but knowing the effort and money that went into it I would absolutely cry if this beauty crashed.

My dad was a engineer on 1 of those flying around Papua New Guinea. Very nice. I used to giggle away when he spoke the local “Pig English” to me. He flew a Tiger Moth also around there. Under the trees along the rivers. Ahh the good old days. You brought back a lot of good memories of my late dad. Bravo to you. Clue...His nick name was “The Don”. That’s all you get. I still have his pliers that he used all the time. Ahh more great memories.

Beautiful aircraft, great work! My only criticism is on the lack of wingtip floats

A breathtaking model of my favourite aeroplane! I was surprised that the pilot didn’t bring it in to landing heading into that strong wind. I would have liked to see it wearing RAAF insignia, as Cats did sterling work with our Air Force.

Awesome landing in this windy conditions, beautiful craftsmanship. cheers from Holland!

When I was 10 years old I was playing and swimming in Ft. Gibson Reservoir in Oklahoma. When a Mercury station wagon pulled up to a private boat ramp. A man got out and quickly assembled a very large RC PBY Catalina. Started the engines. Then taxied the plane I to the water. It took off. We were mesmerized by watching it circle above. A small fishing g boat came by trolling. The PBY opened doors underneath it flew over the fishing boat and dripped alkaseltzers on it. We chuckled.

Very skillful pilot! Great airplane! Those winds would be a challenge for even the full scale version , especially for the pilots!

Beginning at 7:40 you can see the very realistic machine cannon recoil. This model must have real guns on board. Excellent!

Christ almighty, what was used to film this - a bloody toaster????

Love this vid. My father was a Radioman First Class on a Cat (Navy) and did rescues in the South Pacific during WWII.🇺🇸

An incredible achievement you did a magnificent job

Don't know what to add to comments. Great project and superb pilot skills. Beautiful aircraft A really great park flyer. A real big park flyer. Thanks for posting.

bow and hats off for the builder and pilot!! superbly done sir!!

Awsome job Steve. After losing your other lovley lady, I think it took real guts to do the test fly in conditions like that. Maybe bring her down to Shepparton Mammoth next year, we would love to see you at the event again.Cheers

missing retractable tip floats? to be added later? Will it ever be amphibious?

great plane, great model excellent flying skills specially in these windy conditions. Question : is it fitted with the retractable side hulls for water landing and take off ??

That is a real nice model you made. The PBY is one of my all time favorite aircraft and is my number 1 most favorite flying boat.

Incredible model, great job! The massive effort really shows, what a result. And as others said, brave to maiden it in those conditions but it's big enough to cope, with a good enough pilot to handle it. Guys, yeah, it was filmed on a cheap camera, yes we know... does it matter? Get over it! I can't believe how much people are bitching about that, when there's a model like that to enjoy watching. To me it's the subject matter that counts, and it looks like it was taken on whatever camera someone had available at the time. So why act like it's a personal offense to you that an interesting video wasn't taken on expensive pro gear by a professional production company? It's a ridiculous criticism. The point of a video like this is for the people who made the model, for their own use, and we're privileged to be able to see it, it's not like they owe us out here a high-grade movie of it. They didn't have to share it at all, I count us all lucky that we even get to see it. A bit of shake and wind noise is no problem, it happens on portable cameras. People take videos of the interesting stuff they do for their own use, and if they're willing to share it online, great, we get to see it. Do you think the videographer doesn't *know* it's only a cheap camera and mic? Hell my own RC video was also done on a

Is she Sea worthy? Maybe a smooth pond? I love that plane. Great job!

wow i remember building the landing gear for CJM for this never go to see the plane very cool

Absolutely fenominal.

She is a true labor of Love, what a work of art. Majestic true to it's designer and builder. CONGRATULATIONS.!!!!!! Ok

are you going to add operational wingtip floats for water operations?

WoW!!! Great job..Beautiful plane..There must have been a cross-wind, I thought it was going to cart-wheel on landing...But you handled it..Good job...

I suggest adding retractable wing-tip floats. Then it is capable of water landings. As it is now, no water - only land runways.

That is one VERY big PBY model. very well done. Bet the landing made a few heartbeats skip! I have to admit, the Cat is one of my WWII favs, aircraft wise.

Great looking Catalina. I was nervouse watching you guys fly that,lol. I thought the wind would make it crash.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻thanks for trying to keep the plane in center of screen ,,,, AGAIN

Spectacular! I love PBY's. I got a chance to fly in one of the few remaining Catalinas back in the early 90's while working on a Philips Razor commercial, that was to be aired in Europe. I was right up under the wing in that fold down jump seat! I haven't experienced anything in my life since to top that day. You have built and flown a wonderful scale Cat here, and she looks great on the ground as well as in the air. The only thing I would change is a refit with a couple of 7-9 cylinder radials. Oh man, what a sound! How about another video from the water? Thanks for a wonderful 12:11 of one of my alltime favorite aircraft.

Thanks for letting me be part of it.

Wonderful model of the Convair Catalina, a great tribute to those who served RAF costal command and helped win the battle of the Atlantic. Convair Catalinas also help in the sinking of the Bismarck

It has been a long time coming Steve. Congratulations!

3000 hours of work into it! Now that's some dedication!

I'm only into this video 2:48 and I'm impressed with this plane, extremely enjoying the professionalism. The landing gear is so realistic. Please forgive me if I'm sounding like an idiot bit this plane is very nice, now I'll get back to watching the video. lol.

Judging by wingspan, this model is approximately an impressive 1:5 scale. Wow.

Beautiful build. Truly.

Fantastic. Well done and quite brave to take a maiden flight with the wind speed as it was. That's what I think anyway..

Awesome model , it deserved a better audio track than this videographer could manage at such a crucial showing

Fantastic craftmanship on the build, it looks amazing. Well done for flying in that wind also! is there an newer video of this plane flying?

I was thinking your guys' weather there really sucked for late May, but it finally hit: your winter was approaching. Personally, I wouldn't've taken her out on such a gusty day, but you have the flying experience and you pulled it off rather well. I'll just stick to Flight Sim, LOL. Congratulations!

with all that work I hope you flew it many more times- on water yet?

Gorgeous aircraft. Well done.

very nice build guys!!

awesome guys .brilliant beautiful model

Absolutely gorgeous model, shame about the soundtrack. What's needed here are a couple of Moki radials to fully complete the picture ;)

must have a pair of brass kahunas to fly that beauty on a gusty day like that...still, beautiful kraft though...the wingspan shorter to scale on that cat?

Very impressive Steve, Well Done Col

I love the pby catalina and this model has all the qualities of the real thing..nearly copped it in the end wid landing there lol but well done as it was verry windy and the huge wing span grabs a cross wind lift easly 👍

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the wing span looks to be 16' and not 20'.

Incredible piloting!! That crosswind would be like 100 kts in scale!!!

You're a lot braver than me, the winds would have been enough to abort the flight for me. Strong crosswinds. I suppose that's what separates the men from the boys. lol. Very good maiden flight, I've clicked on 'like' and subscribed, I look forward to seeing more video in the future.

Was there a crosswind across the runway that day requiring a crab maneuver ? Also I notice on the wing tips it looks like provision has been made to add the floats. Have those been added and have you tested it on water ?

Great job all around, except for the video quality. Can't you Aussie's afford an HD camera. You can get a Mobius, if nothing else, for $80.00 US you know.

That is amazing! Can it operate on water too?

Wow Great Looking Catalina !!

Could that have possibly been filmed on a worse camera? I hope with all the effort put into preparation, someone actually got some decent footage of it.

What a fantastic plane my grandfather was in the Aussie airforce in Darwin in ww2 and worked with the catalina's the only thing that spoiled this post was the shocking camera work ,such a pity but great aircraft well done

Sounds like the real thing. Awesome

Why are there no retractable wingtip floats? Even if you don’t plan to operate on water, the wing doesn’t look right without them?

I would think the maiden flight of such an impeccable aircraft; that obviously, required fastidious craftsmanship, Job-ish patience, and engineering knowledge; would deserve, if not demand, the use of a superior quality, technically advanced, or at least a modern video camera that is able to focus and record motion with sufficient clarity to present a pleasant experience to the viewer rather than, as so eloquently expressed by StonyRC, a bloody toaster! Wonderful aircraft though, from what I could make out.

ACTION MAN, brings to you the PBY Catalina. save your marooned soldier at sea! Pilots and Rubber dingy pack sold separately

If I ever get one mine will have an onboard camera and look like it’s ready to take off loaded and built for water.

1010: Now THAT is flying at its best!

Fantastic! Thanks for posting. What's next? :) RichE San Diego, CA

A beautiful aircraft and a beautiful representation of it... However, I am a little puzzled at the engine choice - with this much work gone into the creation, why not give it a Moki 5-cylinder radial (or any other make of the same), and take it to a whole new level with that beautiful sound?

Hate the video shake but loved the flight. It is very rare to hear two engines synced so well.

Needs to work on water. Very nice work, perfect so far. Just one of my pet peeves. A flying boat should....boat.

Nice PBY, kept hoping for a water landing though.

$50,ooo toy plane....$5 toy camera.........prettiest plane ever made ,real shame the video doesn't show it....still get a thumbs up...

Fantastic model!!! Why can´t photogaphers not learn to protect the mic from wind???

Camera man is a little rocky. Great take off. Great Catalina.

You can take an old sock and put the camera inside with the lens sticking out to cut out on the wind noise. Just an old trick.

Fantastic catalina! my grandfather was crew on them in ww2 based in Darwin Australia ,excellent job building &flying her well done pity about quality of video though

The only thing i wished they had done differently is use the large model radial engines in this bird. Would have sounded more authentic. Still, an epic build

such a lovely Catalina filmed very unsharp and unprof. Better capt nxt time!!! good luck!

Pretty gutsy flying it in a gale. But it handled it. BEE-YOU-TEE-FUL job. i'm from Sandy Eggo where they were built. Blows here all the time too...but not 20 g 25.

Awesome!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!GRACIAS

Beautiful aircraft but holy cow the sound is really annoying and the up and down shaky video effect is just pathetic and distracting.

Got to love you Aussies The authorities are here to watch you - no worries. Bit of a hurricane blowing - no worries. Worst footage since the bigfoot film - no worries. Beautiful build mate, I hope she's still airworthy. From a jealous pom.

.The engine selection related solely to the maximum prop size the model would take. sadly even though a Moki would fit in the cowl the maximum prop I could fit was a 28/12. This left a 20mm separation at the centre. The best horsepower for this size prop and to accommodate the 247 lbs was the DA 150 which performed outstandingly.

Espectacular muy bien 👍 Les mando un saludo muy cordial para todos desde Buenos Aires Argentina 👍.

Did anyone else notice the wing end sponson's were not on yet?

Who in their correct mind would down vote this? Excellent, thank you.

so how much was the materials alone cost? i have a cd plans for one lol

USS Chandeleur (AV-10) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia --- Dad passed a few years ago, during WWII he was stationed aboard this "seaplane tender", he was a flight engineer on a PBY serving in the South Pacific, I have the ships book, sadly he left the ship before the book was compiled. Dad told me many stories and this is where he learned to fly.... Lots of memories..... beautiful plane.....

The wind noise is beyond irritating! Sweet plane though! Beautiful job!

What happens to this hobby if all the ground crews unionize ?

will it take off and land in water?