Academy 1/72 PBM5A Mariner USN Aircraft (ex-Minicraft) Kit

ALL PRE-ORDERS MUST BE PLACED ON A SEPARATE ORDER

Now that Minicraft Models has been sold to Academy, we can expect a plethora of new offerings from the South Korean manufacturer. The PBM5A has always been a favorite with our customers and it's wonderful to see this great kit is going to be available soon.

The Martin PBM Mariner was designed as a stable mate to the immensely successful PBY Catalina. It is a large cantilever, gull-winged, twin-engine flying boat. The wing and tail surfaces required no external bracing like so many flying boats that preceded it making it highly aerodynamic. The first PBM-1s entered service with the U.S. Navy in September of 1940 and subsequent models would serve with the U.S. up until about 1956. Other countries like Uruguay would operate them well into the 60’s.

The PBM-5 for which this kit is based would herald in retractable landing gear making her one of if not the largest amphibious aircraft ever. For a piston, prop, twin engine bird this thing is a WHOPPER. With its deep fuselage and wingspan of 118’ it dwarfs four-engine bombers like the B-17 out spanning it by almost 15’.