pt-109

A few photos of PT-109 can be found at the Naval Historical Center site as well as some information about the boat's short history. Bear in mind, however, that there are few, if any photographs exist of PT-109 in her final fit.

By the way, welcome to the hobby, a model of PT-109 built with my dad was what got me into the hobby in the first place

Thanks that really helps alot.

Also check out www.pt-boat.com (not 109 but some excellent drawings etc, www.geocities.com/patspt41/ (some interesting links here) and www.ptboats.org

Some hints on making a an accurate PT-109 from the Revell kit after Kennedy took command...
1. PT-109 either had the mast in the lowered position or it didn't exist at all. When Kennedy got it the boat was well used. Photos of the 109 clearly show no mast. Speaking with the skipper of PT-105 this is what he thought.
2. PT-109 had roll off depth charges forward of the front pair of torpedo tubes. Kennedy had a torpedo accident with the port (left) forward torpedo. It accidentaly launched and blew the port depth charger right threw the deck. The deck was repaired but never replaced leaving only the depth charger on the starboard side of the boat. It would be accurate to build it either way. You will need to either buy them after market or scratch build them. You can find photos of them at some of the links provided earlier.
3. The boat should be painted a dark green. The original color was created mixing black and yellow paint. There are not accurate records of what the color really looked like.
4. The kit decals are not good. But DO NOT use the large letters that they show going on the bow. The 109 didn't have that. The only numbers are on the starboard turret, the gun mount on the stern and the front of the chart house.
5. Don't put up the rope stanchions on the fore deck. These were considered dangerous for the crews in combat and were stowed and never used.
6. Don't worry about the anti-tank gun that was lashed on the deck just prior to the boat being sunk. There's really nothing available in this scale and it wasn't there long enough to worry about.

These are the basic fixes for a beginer. There are more that can be done if you are a more advanced modeler. For example White Ensign Models makes a nice photo etch set for the boat. There are a lot of other minor modifications that can be done to make it more accurate that you can pick up on by looking at photos at the sites mentioned above.

Now, if you want to build the boat prior to Kennedy as it appeared coming out of the factory, do everything I mentioned above except put up the mast, paint the boat a two toned gray (top surfaces like the deck being darker) put up the rope stanchions and forget the depth charges.

Another hint. Do a Google search for PT-109 and select images. You'll see a lot of real bad interpretations there, but you will find some photos of the real boat.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly. I can give your more detail that you will ever care to know. davidwaples@comcast.net

David,
I agree with all but #6. . .
Kennedy scrounged the gun himself and had it lashed to the deck so I think it is a must.
Hasagawa makes a jeep and 37mm kit in 1/72 that is quite good and for about $7 you can get it through Squadron.
Your correct it wasn't there very long, Donovan states in the book PT109 that it was installed the day of the last sortee. So while it was there the night the 109 was sunk, it is not really necessary to have it on deck to make a PT109.
How's about stirring the pot a bit and modeling the PT Kennedy had command of after the 109?

Don

White Ensign Models now does the 37mm from -109
http://www.whiteensignmodels.com/acatalog/index.html?http%3A//www.whiteensignmodels.com/acatalog/catalogbody.html&CatalogBody
Looks good with much better detail than the Hasagawa kit. Course, you pay more for the gun and the Hasagawa kit comes with a Jeep and trailer.

Hi Don,
I didn't realize that WEM had a 37mm for the 109 boat. Why not.

Interesting you should bring up the 59 boat that Kennedy had for a short time after he was rescued. Now THAT is a gunboat! Lots of guns, radar and no torps. I suggested to Accurate Miniatures that they create that kit (70' Elco). They responded with some interest but of course nothing came of that. There's only one good 70 Elco kit that I've seen out there and that's produced primarily for RC. I'd love to see that in 1/48. I think Trumpeter needs something to do.

I'm still working on my 1/48 105 boat. I really really really need to finish that project.

I know the feeling of having to finish!
My 109m isn't going to do it herself and already I'm thinking of making the PT with the all white and black stripes. . .just so my eyes can get the work out they so badly need.


Don

hi guys
i have my own pt boat here which iam working on (actually 2 of em) one will be pt 109 the night she was rammed and the othere straight from the box, but ive found out there 3 windows missing from the kit , 2 either side of wheel house and looking aft on the engine room centre line on the roof line which are not even scribed on the kits , actually mine are PT 109 MADE IN 1963 AND THE 157 MADE IN 1973.
THERES A BOOK BY SQUADRON SIGNAL WITH CLOSE UP PLANS AND ACTUALLY SHOW PT 109 WITH RADIO MASTS RAISED AT THROTTLE.

HOPE THIS HELPS
SEAN SEWELL

Sean,
The photo of the 109 boat in the Squadron publication you're referring to is actually PT-105 doctored up to look like the 109 boat. In actuality the 109 probably looked just like this at Panama. But it took on an entirely new complexion by the time JFK became skipper in the Solomons.
Dave

Check FSMs index of past issues. I believe there are at least two articles on modeling the PT-109. One of them (mid 80s I think) was about modifing Lingberg's 1/32 PT kit to the Pt-109.

Hey There,

I too remember building revell's Pt-109 on at least two occasions as a young
person...The first time I learned about it was at a wax display when I was
4 and my parents took me to disney world. There you could see a display
which depicted 109 after it has been sliced in two by the destroyer. Kennedy
and some of his crew were clinging to a section of the boat floating in the
water. After that I was obsessed with the topic and my dad bought me the
kit.

Anyway...I've visited the USS Massachusetts memorial and there are two
restored pt boats, one in grey and the other in pacific green. I have some
photos if your interested. Just say the word and I'll send them to you. If I
get a chance I'll try to scan them for you and post them here.

Talk with you later,
Tank