This model was based on the Consolidated PBY 5 Catalina which my father , Flight Lieutenant Ben Barnes ( 209 Squadron Coastal Command ) flew on anti submarine patrols in the Indian Ocean from Mombasa in East Africa and also in the Atlantic Ocean from Kiladeas in Northern Ireland. Although the aircraft my father flew was a pure flying boat the fact that the model was constructed as a control line model necessitated that an undercarriage had to be fitted and so the model is in fact more like a Canso, the name used by the RAF for the amphibious version of the Catalina used by some squadrons.

The model is made from balsa wood the fuselages is constructed on 1/4" thk. balsa wood formers and sheeted with 3/32" thk. balsa sheeting. The Main wing is constructed using ribs individually cut from 1/8" thk. balsa sheet mounted on a main spar of 3/16" thk. balsa. The wing tip floats are set in the fixed down position the reason being that the port wing float has holes for the control lines to run through giving more stability to the model in flight and this precludes the option of making the float retract upwards to form the wing tip as they do on the full size aeroplane. Although the photographs of the model display dummy engines these can be removed and replaced by the 1cc diesel engines for flights, the reason for this is that the 1cc engines which I have are used over a range of models and I felt that to retain the look of the model dummy engines should be inserted when the diesel engines were being used on another model.

The model is a control line model and is powered by two 1 cc diesel engines. It is designed to be flown on 100 foot control lines which operate the elevators. The dimensions of the model are as follows :-  Wing span 6 feet , Length  5 feet 2 inches , Weight  6 lbs.

The model , although the amphibious version of the Catalina which my father Flight Lieutenant Ben Barnes flew during the second world war, does carry the squadron markings and designation of his aircraft.