The launching of the USS Puffer (SS-268) diorama COMPLETE.

ManShipCo was guided by Electric Boat, and there were some EB people helping ManShipCo.  I was told by one of the COBIA volunteers last year at SubFest, that Manitowoc boats had wood decking over a longer section of the hull than the other companies boats. 

Bob I’m curious,

I can’t tell form the pictures but do you know if the boats launched were already painted in MS9 (all black with Dark Grey 5-D horizontal surfaces) or possibly MS10 (Ocean Grey 5-O above the waterline), or were they primed with natural wood decks and painted later in New Orleans?

Navsource has some interesting pictures.  They show this water color print by artist Tom Denton - lloks like Measure 9, overall Black scheme.

I wonder how much of that color variation is due to splash from water during the launch (depending on when the photo was taken).  I would assume that most of the hull would be painted while still on the ways and she was dry and accessible.  On the other hand, all of those pics of various boats show a big variance of colors in places, even boat to boat.

Great idea, Steve!!  Absolutely stoked to see your idea being put into an actual diorama.  I will be following your efforts as I have a great affection for American World War II submarines.  My grandfather was a motor mac and eventually left the Navy after 28 years of service.  He was a plank owner on the USS Jack, SS-259, a Groton built Gato.  So, your project really got me excited to see an American WWII sub being built.  (Can't believe how close those folks are to those flying support beams in the pictures!!!  Obviously, there wasn't much risk assessment being done at the time!! LOL

Dave

Thanks Dave, 

Whenever I come up a new nutty idea I'm always fascinated with with the research I and others come up.

This hobby has taught me more about history than I would ever learn with a history degree. 

M-C, thanks for this step by step process that you are presenting. This is something that I want to learn and I appreciate anything that you are willing to share. This is a very cool project.

Steve

Thanks Bakster, jump aboard and well learn together.

Nice on the picture at the show.  Seeing what you do, that will go along way toward providing context on the dio, and should help secure some of the goodies awarded.

Nice job so far on the base and boat both.  Don't put in the rusted out corroded metal on the plane mechanism though.......

Looking very nice, that works for me.

Thanks GH,

My hope is that the gel will dry clear enough where one can see the color but it's not on the surface. Most of it will be covered with cotton, but the hint will be there.

I also grabbed a few parts from the spares box and am constructing the bow plane mechanism. Next will be installing the deck cross members.

Steve,

I am in awe on how quick and awesome this build is coming alone. I believe there is a first place plaque coming your way at the SL contest. I have taken snap shots of your instructions so far so that I can follow your steps in the water area of the dio. Absolutely a wonderful job friend. 

On the medium stuff it wanted to dry kind of cloudy on me in a thicker coat, something around an 1/8 of an inch thick. But the temp varied in the shop from 50 to 70 degrees.

modelcrazy

I started the deck cross members. I used .02” strips. Below is the bow plane mechanism.

 

Are you building this "scratch" deckless becasue they luanched with no deck or?

Hokey

Are you building this "scratch" deckless becasue they luanched with no deck or?

Yes, every pic I see of the Wisconsin launchings were deckless, which adds a whole lot more work for me.

LOL oh ya I see that now! Didn't notice in earlier posts. You need the work I'm sure!

MC, your model is looking excellent!  Thanks for the update... Keep them coming.

Ooooooooooooooooooo..looks good. 

Thanks GH,

I need to "groom" the cotton into something that looks more like spray, then AB some varnish to stiffen it. After that I will apply some more as needed. Making the cotton look like spray and not cotton is the tough part everything up till now is easy.

This build sure has a lot of "Wow Factor" being built into it (as usual). 

Jim  

Looking good MC.  I am taking notes.