Restoring a PBY to static condition ...

[DH82EH]

As usual on this site, some great photos and some great observations.
I too agree that we are looking at two aircraft.
The cutouts on the instrument panels are very different as well as the observations of the turret, blisters and clipper bow.
As far as the beaching gear, it would be at a very significant point structurally. Even with landing gear, you still need the ability to jack the whole aircraft.
These already existing points just make too much sense to not use them.

I really like that the aircraft is displayed, perched on the beaching gear mounting points. Great to see that she's under cover.

Thanks Mark

[Mark Allen M]

You guys are probably correct on the two plane theory, but I'm still thinking it's the same PBY. As per the SDASM's website write up on this PBY. There was a North Island initial restoration less the turret and blisters but paint applied, then barged to the SD Convair facility for final restoration where The turret and blisters were added as well as a revised paint scheme applied.

I will agree that the photo of the modernized instrument panel probably is a second PBY.

[flightsimer]

You guys are probably correct on the two plane theory, but I'm still thinking it's the same PBY. As per the SDASM's website write up on this PBY. There was a North Island initial restoration less the turret and blisters but paint applied, then barged to the SD Convair facility for final restoration where The turret and blisters were added as well as a revised paint scheme applied.

I will agree that the photo of the modernized instrument panel probably is a second PBY.

There are actually pictures of three different pby's in this thread. The initial restoration pby, a second pby on a concrete pad on display and the third being trucked through the city.

The paint between all three are different. Unless they completely repainted the initial pby while at convair, they are not the same.

The first pby has soft lines between all the contrast colors and the insignia has a white outline. The third pby has hard lines between the contrast colors and the insignia is not outlined. The second pby has the ocean blue curve down under the waterline at the front, which is paint white on the other two birds. It also has a different nose from the other two.

[Mark Allen M]

Although not concerned enough to lose any sleep over, (but I do hate being wrong lol) I'm still convinced that while yes there is a photo or two of a different PBY in the series. The PBY that has two different paint schemes and turret and blisters added in the second phase restoration IS the same PBY.

There was a North Island initial restoration less the turret and blisters but paint applied, then barged to the SD Convair facility for final restoration where The turret and blisters were added as well as a revised paint scheme applied.

If It wasn't for being wrong more times than not, I wouldn't hate being wrong so much.
But in this case I'm waiting for someone to prove me wrong.
(before I have to try to prove myself right)
On the other hand, if I am indeed proven wrong that would mean we have perhaps two (3?) PBY's floating around as opposed to just the one I'm claiming there is in this thread. That would be a good thing ...right?

[Dnil]

the pby on the concrete circle really looks like N4934H when she was static in front of CNATRA at NAS Corpus Christi.

[David Legg]

My take on this is that all of the photos show SDASM's N5590V except the one of the Catalina on the circular plinth which is indeed N4934H at Corpus Christi and, probably, the cockpit panel shot which is clearly a Catalina but not one I can currently identify.

[CoastieJohn]

Here's a little more info I received from some smart folks regarding BuNo. 48406 if anyone is interested. This may be old news to some.
It was in Coast Guard inventory for approx 7 years.

The aircraft was in.....

- Port Angeles approx 8/45
- San Francisco approx 9/45
- Port Angeles on 1/8/52

In 1956 it was N55590V

Another source offered the below. If anyone knows what happened with it between 4/14/53 and 9/25/58, I'd be interested.

BuNo 48406

- Transferred to USCG from USN on 05/09/46. Appears to have been put in brief storage either at ECG or TVC pending survey of status prior to its withdrawn from storage and modification to USCG needs. It also received a JATO mod kit.

- Assignments pretty well match up with XXXXX history as the machine was put up for sale at ECG on 3/14/53.

- The first U.S. Certificate of Airworthiness was not issued until 9/25/58. Based on my experience going over like records in the past, the period twixt 4/14/53 and 9/25/58 tends to indicate sale to & operation of a South American operator - either civil or military, prior to returning to the US as N5590V.

[David Legg]

If anyone knows what happened with it between 4/14/53 and 9/25/58, I'd be interested.

It was in storage at Litchfield Park, AZ until 1956 after which it was acquired by Thomas Kendall and went to Orange County for conversion to civilian status, becoming N5590V. No South American connection

[CoastieJohn]

Thanks Dave!