1/72 Revell Gato Class - flags and thoughts

I don't think they flew flags at sea at all. Most pictures don't even show a jackstaff in place. The only time they likely flew flags was entering or leaving habour or when moored. 

US naval practice is, when not underway, to fly the Union Jack from a mast at the bow and the National ensign from a mast at the stern.   When underway the ensign is flown from the main mast.  On a wartime fleet boat this may be a short gaff mast on the aft of the conning tower. 

As far as decal flags, cut a piece of wine cork lead (yes, I know it is not really lead), prime it white, and apply the decal to both sides.  Seal. You should be able to impart some flutter to the flag

SUBS; Inport - Jack near the bow, National Ensign at the stern. Underway - nothing flown.

A submarine underway is supposed to be without visual identity; stealth is their survival. In actuality, they might have the Ensign flying when entering or leaving port, but only briefly.

Thank you for your replies.  It helped a lot and I will keep the sub in the "underway" configuration - minus the ensign, jack, and numbers.   Appreciate it!!

You can get cloth flags from Loyalhanna Dockyard.  I'd use the B size (1" long) USA 20 (48 star) national ensign and the A size (3/4" long) or AA size (1/2" long) USA 11 (48 star) jack for the 1/72nd scale GATO.

As others have said, I vote for "underway" to avoid having to hassle with flags.

I've tried the wine foil method, and thinner foils, for 1/700 signal flags and haven't had any success (I suspect it more a case of my ham handedness than anything else). I did have some success at imparting flutter after the flags were on a halyard by lightly brushing the ends or bottoms of the decals with decal solution.

If wartime you need a 48 star flag:

And not a 50 star Modern National Ensign:

The pattern of stars in the canton (the blue bit) will "show" at even small scale.  The Union Jack must match, too.

As some trivia, when I was born, this was the US flag:

The 49 star flag basically only flew for a year, before being replaces 4 July 1960 after the admission of Hawai'i as th e50th State.

Submarines were one of the few ships not (necessarily) required to fly their Call Sign letter flags while under way in Harbor or Approach Pilot jurisdiction.  This reflects two things, one that the signal flags would be tiny in #7 (sub & small craft) sizing, and that submarines are not generally considered vessels that Pilots can manover.

Thanks Capt'n !