U.S. Gato Class Submarine 1941, 1942, 1943 1:350

     I knew about most of the Changes on the Gato class but it is eye opening to see a comparison of the variations of the fairwater over the War years.

     I have not picked up any of the AFV Gato kits. It seems they are always out of stock where ever I look.  Thank you for the Pictures. 

     My stash only consists of the old Revell 1/178 Gato and the Riich 1/200 1944 kit. I did build the old Lindberg 1/240 Gato (Looks like a Balao) but it needed a bunch of work to even look like a Sub.

     Did you have to make any correction on the AFV kits?  Did they come with the correct Conning tower/Fairwater for the proper year ( ie: Cigarette deck, Periscope shears, Deck details,...)?

 Thanks for Creating the post and cool pictures.

     Nino

Thanks so much for you kind comments, Nino. AFV Gato kits are hard to find now - not on LuckyModel HK, Hobbyeasy HK, HobbySearch JP and HobbyLink JP. But there are a plenty on ebay if you're willing to pay around $40 a piece, shipping included.

Apart from 1:350 Gato's, my collection also includes 2 x 1:144 Gato from Trumpeter and a 1:72 from Revell. As for Lindberg, I have 2 x 1:72 IJN I-53 - the largest submarine model produced in plastic.

I think "Artama" the builder of these 3 subs did not make any correction to the AFV kits, they probably don't need it. 

My pleasure.

MM

He did a nice job on all three of them.

Nino-  I did the '43 version, and used some pieces from the '41, decks are different, limber holes are different, towers and fairwaters are different. I didn't have any issues in the build, and they even come with a fret of PE.

Why did Artama show the periscopes raised?

goldhammer

He did a nice job on all three of them.

 

Nino-  I did the '43 version, and used some pieces from the '41, decks are different, limber holes are different, towers and fairwaters are different. I didn't have any issues in the build, and they even come with a fret of PE.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for your kind words, goldhammer.

GMorrison

Why did Artama show the periscopes raised?

 

 

I looked up the instructions of the 3 versions and saw nothing wrong with what he did. He just followed them. Why do you think the periscopes should not be raised?

On both of mine the scopes and shears are a one piece molding, scopes down.

Basically, the only time raised if on the surface would be for maintaince, or to come into port with a broom lashed to one to signify a clean sweep.

Model Maniac

 

 

GMorrison

Why did Artama show the periscopes raised?

 

 

 

 

 

I looked up the instructions of the 3 versions and saw nothing wrong with what he did. He just followed them. Why do you think the periscopes should not be raised?

 

But it just makes it seem like your builders are kind of robotic.

Another time would be on patrol when surfaced to get a look from a higher vantage point than the bridge or lookout platforms, when doing and end around (to get in front of a contact) or to try and get an early look at a radar or smoke contact.