Corgi AA36104 1:72 Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina Black Cat White 69 William Pfleeger USN VP-34 New Guinea 1944
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A striking and highly collectable 1:72 scale diecast representation of Consolidated PBY Catalina “Black Cat” White 69, associated with Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger of United States Navy Patrol Squadron VP-34 during operations around New Guinea in 1944. Released as part of the Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series, AA36104 recreates one of the distinctive black-painted Catalinas used for night operations across the Pacific and was limited to 2,310 pieces worldwide.
VP-34 was one of the United States Navy patrol squadrons which became known as the “Black Cats” during the Second World War. The nickname originated from the flat-black finish applied to their Catalinas and the nocturnal missions which became a speciality of these aircraft and their crews.
The squadron deployed to Samarai, off the eastern tip of New Guinea, during December 1943 and operated throughout the region during 1944. Black Cat crews undertook demanding long-range night sorties against Japanese shipping, barges, shore installations and other targets while also carrying out reconnaissance and air-sea rescue duties.
White 69 is associated with Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger and carries the almost entirely black finish characteristic of these night-fighting Catalinas. The restrained camouflage dramatically contrasts with the white US national insignia and tactical markings, producing one of the most distinctive schemes applied to the famous PBY.
Pfleeger and his Catalina are also associated with a notable rescue during 1944, when three survivors were recovered from a B-24 Liberator which had ditched while returning from a raid against Truk. Such missions demonstrated the versatility of Catalina crews, who could transition between offensive strikes, reconnaissance and life-saving rescue operations.
Truk was one of Japan's most important naval bases in the Central Pacific and was frequently described by Allied personnel as the “Gibraltar of the Pacific”. Attacks against the base formed part of the continuing Allied effort to weaken Japanese naval and air power while advancing towards the Philippines and the Japanese home islands.
The Consolidated PBY Catalina first flew in 1935 and became one of the most successful maritime patrol aircraft of the Second World War. Its exceptional endurance, broad parasol wing and ability to operate from water made it particularly valuable across the enormous distances of the Pacific Theatre.
Catalinas undertook maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, night attack, transport and search-and-rescue operations. Their ability to remain airborne for extended periods and land close to survivors made them particularly effective in the air-sea rescue role, where many downed Allied airmen owed their lives to Catalina crews.
AA36104 is commonly catalogued by Corgi specialist references as a PBY-5A Catalina, although some surviving dealer catalogues identify the release as a PBY-5. This listing retains the PBY-5A designation most commonly associated with the Corgi release while noting the catalogue variation for collector accuracy.
This substantial Aviation Archive model features extensive diecast construction, the Catalina's enormous high-mounted wing, detailed observation blisters, cockpit glazing, rotating propellers and finely reproduced surface detailing. Its dramatic Black Cat finish, White 69 markings and low production run make AA36104 a particularly distinctive Pacific War release.
Fact Sheet
Brand: Corgi
Series: Aviation Archive Collector Series
Scale: 1:72
Model Code/MPN: AA36104
Aircraft: Consolidated PBY Catalina
Corgi Catalogue Variant: PBY-5A Catalina
Catalogue Note: Some surviving dealer references alternatively list AA36104 as a PBY-5
Aircraft Number: White 69
Aircraft Name / Scheme: Black Cat
Associated Pilot: Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger
Unit/Markings: US Navy VP-34 “Black Cats”
Formation: Fleet Air Wing 17
Location: New Guinea / South-West Pacific
Associated Base: Samarai, New Guinea
Year/Date: 1944
Operator/Country: United States Navy / United States
Conflict: Second World War
Theatre: Pacific Theatre
Role: Maritime Patrol / Night Attack / Reconnaissance / Air-Sea Rescue
Associated Mission: Rescue of three B-24 survivors returning from a raid on Truk
Limited Edition: 2,310 pieces worldwide
Material: Heavyweight diecast metal with detailed plastic sub-components
Special Features: Distinctive flat-black Black Cat finish, authentic White 69 markings, large observation blisters, detailed cockpit glazing, rotating twin propellers, extensive surface detailing and original presentation display stand
Dimensions
Length: 10.75" or 27.3 cm
Width (Wingspan): 17.25" or 43.8 cm
Model Condition - New/Mint (10/10)
- The model has not been displayed previously.
- The accessories remain sealed.
- The model comes complete.
Box condition - Excellent (8/10)
- The box is in excellent condition for its age, with some shelf wear present.
Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.
Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
This model has sold. Its condition details have been removed because they described the specific item that was available. If another example becomes available, it will be inspected and listed with its own condition details and photographs.
Grading Criteria
Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.
Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.
Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.
Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.
Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.
Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.
Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.
Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.
If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.
For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.
Dispatch & Tracking
Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.
If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.
Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.
UK Delivery
-
Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.
-
Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.
-
Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.
International Delivery
We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.
-
Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.
-
Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.
Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.
If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.
Import Duties & Taxes
For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.
Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.
If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.
We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.
Returns
You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.
Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.
We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.
To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.
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- Description
- Condition
- Condition
- Grading
- Shipping
- Returns
A striking and highly collectable 1:72 scale diecast representation of Consolidated PBY Catalina “Black Cat” White 69, associated with Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger of United States Navy Patrol Squadron VP-34 during operations around New Guinea in 1944. Released as part of the Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series, AA36104 recreates one of the distinctive black-painted Catalinas used for night operations across the Pacific and was limited to 2,310 pieces worldwide.
VP-34 was one of the United States Navy patrol squadrons which became known as the “Black Cats” during the Second World War. The nickname originated from the flat-black finish applied to their Catalinas and the nocturnal missions which became a speciality of these aircraft and their crews.
The squadron deployed to Samarai, off the eastern tip of New Guinea, during December 1943 and operated throughout the region during 1944. Black Cat crews undertook demanding long-range night sorties against Japanese shipping, barges, shore installations and other targets while also carrying out reconnaissance and air-sea rescue duties.
White 69 is associated with Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger and carries the almost entirely black finish characteristic of these night-fighting Catalinas. The restrained camouflage dramatically contrasts with the white US national insignia and tactical markings, producing one of the most distinctive schemes applied to the famous PBY.
Pfleeger and his Catalina are also associated with a notable rescue during 1944, when three survivors were recovered from a B-24 Liberator which had ditched while returning from a raid against Truk. Such missions demonstrated the versatility of Catalina crews, who could transition between offensive strikes, reconnaissance and life-saving rescue operations.
Truk was one of Japan's most important naval bases in the Central Pacific and was frequently described by Allied personnel as the “Gibraltar of the Pacific”. Attacks against the base formed part of the continuing Allied effort to weaken Japanese naval and air power while advancing towards the Philippines and the Japanese home islands.
The Consolidated PBY Catalina first flew in 1935 and became one of the most successful maritime patrol aircraft of the Second World War. Its exceptional endurance, broad parasol wing and ability to operate from water made it particularly valuable across the enormous distances of the Pacific Theatre.
Catalinas undertook maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, night attack, transport and search-and-rescue operations. Their ability to remain airborne for extended periods and land close to survivors made them particularly effective in the air-sea rescue role, where many downed Allied airmen owed their lives to Catalina crews.
AA36104 is commonly catalogued by Corgi specialist references as a PBY-5A Catalina, although some surviving dealer catalogues identify the release as a PBY-5. This listing retains the PBY-5A designation most commonly associated with the Corgi release while noting the catalogue variation for collector accuracy.
This substantial Aviation Archive model features extensive diecast construction, the Catalina's enormous high-mounted wing, detailed observation blisters, cockpit glazing, rotating propellers and finely reproduced surface detailing. Its dramatic Black Cat finish, White 69 markings and low production run make AA36104 a particularly distinctive Pacific War release.
Fact Sheet
Brand: Corgi
Series: Aviation Archive Collector Series
Scale: 1:72
Model Code/MPN: AA36104
Aircraft: Consolidated PBY Catalina
Corgi Catalogue Variant: PBY-5A Catalina
Catalogue Note: Some surviving dealer references alternatively list AA36104 as a PBY-5
Aircraft Number: White 69
Aircraft Name / Scheme: Black Cat
Associated Pilot: Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger
Unit/Markings: US Navy VP-34 “Black Cats”
Formation: Fleet Air Wing 17
Location: New Guinea / South-West Pacific
Associated Base: Samarai, New Guinea
Year/Date: 1944
Operator/Country: United States Navy / United States
Conflict: Second World War
Theatre: Pacific Theatre
Role: Maritime Patrol / Night Attack / Reconnaissance / Air-Sea Rescue
Associated Mission: Rescue of three B-24 survivors returning from a raid on Truk
Limited Edition: 2,310 pieces worldwide
Material: Heavyweight diecast metal with detailed plastic sub-components
Special Features: Distinctive flat-black Black Cat finish, authentic White 69 markings, large observation blisters, detailed cockpit glazing, rotating twin propellers, extensive surface detailing and original presentation display stand
Dimensions
Length: 10.75" or 27.3 cm
Width (Wingspan): 17.25" or 43.8 cm
Model Condition - New/Mint (10/10)
- The model has not been displayed previously.
- The accessories remain sealed.
- The model comes complete.
Box condition - Excellent (8/10)
- The box is in excellent condition for its age, with some shelf wear present.
Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.
Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
This model has sold. Its condition details have been removed because they described the specific item that was available. If another example becomes available, it will be inspected and listed with its own condition details and photographs.
Grading Criteria
Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.
Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.
Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.
Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.
Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.
Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.
Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.
Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.
If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.
For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.
Dispatch & Tracking
Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.
If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.
Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.
UK Delivery
-
Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.
-
Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.
-
Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.
International Delivery
We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.
-
Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.
-
Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.
Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.
If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.
Import Duties & Taxes
For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.
Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.
If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.
We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.
Returns
You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.
Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.
We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.
To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.
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