75th Anniversary of 1943 (World at War)

Torpedo tubes painted:

I gave them a faint highlight of the lightened base color, and a black pinwash; same thing with the life rafts.  Everything received a final top coat of Humbrol "Satin."

One item that wasn't easily available were the boat numbers.  Commercially, I couldn't find anything small enough, so I used aircraft numbers from Starfighter Decals 1/700 Midway set.  They included white numbers, and enough of them to do the three boats.

I placed them below the window line, because there wasn't enough room above it, where it appears most boat numbers were placed--although a few models of PT boats I found on the net show the number below the window.

Technically, there should be numbers on each .50 gun turret and on the base of the aft 20mm--but I didn't have enough, and nothing nearly small enough for the tiny 20mm base.

Finally, I rigged up a base from cardboard covered with aluminum foil, painted to represent waves and wakes with acrylic craft paint.  Not overly thrilled with how it turned out, but at least it gives the PT's something to "sail" on.

Thanks, Steve.  I used sprue cutters to detach them from the attachment points, but at this scale, who can say if I didn't also remove some footwear?  

The only time I tried 1/700 3D figures I kept breaking the feet off when removing them from the tree. They sure look better than 2D PE figures though.

I haven't ever put people on 1/700 ships, but I thought that PT boats without a crew would look kind of like little "Mary Celeste's."

The only suitable crew I could find came from Blue Ridge's 3D printed 20mm crew.  The have serveral different poses.

They come out of the package like this.

I cut three lines of them out of their nest, then cut each little person apart and stuck them on lids from water bottles, so I could handle them.

I used Vallejo paints; first time I used them and thought they were really good for figures.

Then I tried to brush them with Micro's flat finish, but the flat finished refused to be flat; left them all glossy, even though I shook and stirred the bottle.  I ended up putting them all on a strip of masking tape, then spraying them with Humbrol Matte, and they turned out much better.

Some I painted as officers in khaki's, but I used Vallejo's Iraqui sand color; the Vallejo Khaki I thought was too dark.  The rest got crew uniforms in light and dark shades of blue.

I don't know, Steve.  The last book I read on the subject said the crew made it to Plum Pudding Island by clinging to a plank.  Kennedy, of course, famously swam and hauled "Pappy" McMahon there by gripping the strap of his kapok life preserver in his teeth.

It's hard to imagine the 109 didn't have rings, since the 37mm on the bow displaced the usual life raft, and it doesn't seem like the crew stowed it anywhere else aboard.

They had a long way to swim if they didn't have any.

Oh, and I forgot:  PE life rings.

The instructions say it is not known if PT 109 carried them, but I figured they would add some color to the monochrome paint scheme.

I painted them in MM's "Radom Tan," then gave them a wash of Vallejo's Khaki.

Steve:  dipoles are a pleasure that has been denied me on this build; when my vision returns, I might give it a try. . .later; much, much.

Griffin:  I plan to put all three on an ocean base made from aluminum foil, as described here:  

http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=2527

I don't trust myself with gels and liquids.

I think the PE from WEM does come from sunny CA, but the resin ships stayed in the UK.  

Wow that stuff is tiny! Is it going to be a diorama or just the one boat? I thought that WEM was based right here is sunny Southern California? IDK

LOL Check, that's tiny. Just be happy they aren't having you put on the dipoles on the radars. 

Bish:  the PE frets are labeled from WEM dated from the year 2000, and they performed like other WEM PE I've used, so there shouldn't be a problem.  WEM is my first choice for US Navy radar for bigger ships.

There isn't much PE to be used on each boat.

Each boat has a PE windscreen, a two-part mast, a pair of twin .50's, a one-piece guard for the 20mm and the 20mm itself, which sits on a pedestal cast into the deck.

The fret also contains the 37mm anti-tank gun Kennedy had strapped down to the bow.  It comes in three pieces.  I painted it in "MTB Green," to contrast with the "Tropical Green."

The oval blank spots held Blue Ridge's 3-D printed life rafts, which are going to go on the 157 and 162 boats in place of 109's artillery piece.

I didn't realise that Check. I thought all the WEM stuff other than paint had gone over to the US. Interesting to know. I have to gtet a couple of their PE sets for Steves British ships build. So i'll be looking forwardto seeing what the PE is like to work with.

Only if you promise not to cut one of the PT's in half, Steve.

I probably should have mentioned that the boats on the left are painted in "Tropical Green" and the two on the right are "MTB Green."

Very cool Check. Perhaps I need to send you my Aoba or Chokai to go with them.

For my 1943 project, I chose PT 109, in 1/700 scale.

This is a resin casting from White Ensign Models.  When WEM stopped production, the stock was acquired by Atlantic Models in the UK, owned by Peter Hall.  He was a pleasure to deal with; very prompt with communications and delivery.

The kit consists of two resin PT boats and two frets of nice, petite PE parts.  That might make you think you could build two PT boats; you can't.  WEM only included six torpedos with each two boats.  I ordered two of the kits, so the final product will be three PT boats: 109, along with 157 and 162, both present in Blackett Strait when 109 was sunk on 2 August, 1943.

WEM's packaging left something to be desired.  All the ventilator tubes were broken or damaged on all the boats, due to them knocking around in the bag.  At this scale, I figured it didn't matter, so I removed all of the remaining ones, and sanded the area smooth.

Tiny resin depth charges were also included, but the casting was not very crisp, so I decided to replace them with styrene plastic rod.

That said, the boats themselves are very well done, with sufficient detail.  Shapes look good and they are nice representations of the Elco 80' boat.

PT 109 was the seventh boat build in the 80' class, and delivered to the US Navy on 10 July, 1942.  She reached the Pacific in August, 1942, and was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Number 2, based at Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands.  She participated in combat assignments around Guadalcanal.

On 23 April, 1943, PT 109 was assigned to the command of Lt. (j.g.) John F. Kennedy.

It is believed that the boat was painted in a dark green color once she arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia.  Sovereign's Colourcoats paint (formerly WEM paints) offered two options in their range:  "MTB Green" and "Tropical Green."  Instructions in the kit specified "Tropical Green," but I bought "MTB Green," too, and painted two of the boats in that color.  I started off painting the bottom in Colourcoats "Antifouling Red," then applied the upper surface greens.

Thanks for looking in.

Cheers Bish.

Totally stunning Steve, done yourself proud again.

Jack, Check, Tony, Mark, Scott, thank you for the high praise.

Steve,

Excellent work on the translucent colors and the effects of the wave pattern.  The whole presentation has good balance.  

Steve, I concur with all the comments, that is truly stunning, well done.

Wow, that is stunning Steve. It's just about the best I've seen.

Regards

Tony

Excellent work, Steve.  The quality of your work and the sea-base presentation is exceptionally effective.  It truly is outstanding!

I will pick a photo that shows the whole ship, even at the risk of not being able to see some of the incredible detail you've put into it; but I think the overall accomplishment needs to be on display.

And--I look very much forward to seeing what you come up with next.  Thanks for your contribution to the GB.    

The finished-build photo is posted.

Steve, really outstanding work here, and great display. 

Good luck at the show, all the best.

regards,

Jack

Check,

Here are the final pics of the Scharnhorst. I have some 1/72 armor to do for this GB next.

Pick which ever pic you want.

Excellent work, Mark; looking good!  I always liked the lines of the Corsair. 

Looks good Mark and nice to hear it builds up as nicley as everyone says.

Hello everyone, just a quick update on the little progress I have done this weekend, on and off, whilst watching the World Cup! The Tamiya 1/72 F4U-1 has started to take shape.

Wings have been added to the fuselage, and the horizontal stabilisers. Also added the engine to the cowling and cowling flaps in the open position. A little filler has been added to both wing roots and along the nose. There have been no fit issues and it has so far been a real joy to build.

I have also drilled out the formation lights, and will add the fairing over the unused bottom window. I have in isolation also assembled the undercarriage, and sprayed Zinc Chromate to the wing air/oil coolers and will fit when I get back to some building next weekend.

Thanks for looking.

Steve:  by the look of things, you'll do really well at EagleQuest!

Back in business.

Scott:  that's a boxful of parts!  I always like watching you build carriers!

Thanks again guys. The plaque should be ready in a couple of days, then I'll get better pics.