US Coast Guard 83 footers

Agreed:  these boats were among the many unsung heroes of World War II.  You probably already know that Robert Scheina's U.S. Coast Guard Cutters and Craft of World War II devotes a pretty big section (12 pages) to them, including a career summary for each of the 230 individual boats.  The book also includes a rather simplified profile and deck plan. 

Quite a few years ago I was hired to do a series of drawings of CG vessels for the Coast Guard Historian's Office.  One of them was an 83-footer.  I honestly don't remember what the Historian's Office provided in the way of plans and photos, but I have the impression that quite a bit of material is available.  The Coast Guard Historian, Dr. Bob Browning, is a first-rate gent and sympathetic to the needs of model builders; I'm confident that an e-mail or letter to his office would get a helpful response.  The CG website is www.uscg.mil ; there's a "history" button on the homepage that will take you to the extensive Historian's Office section.

Offhand I can't recall ever having seen a model of one of those boats.  That's a shame.  They're historically significant and, though perhaps lacking the brutal, somebody-throw-me-a-piece-of-raw-meat appearance of the PT boats, not unattractive.

dkmacin wrote:

(I do have a copy of the some plans, as well as a few pictures of scratch built models from some vets).

Your plans, do they include lines or are they just plan view & elevation?

With a set of lines, a xerox, and some Evergreen you can create a hull.   This is a scratchbuilt 133' USCG buoy tender in 1:192 scale that I'm working on.

Sheet it with Evergreen or fill the gaps with resin/Bondo.   Sand back to the ribs.  Repeat as required

Apply Evergreen strip stock as the rubrails, bilge keels, etc.   The superstructure is plexiglass clad with Evergreen.   Use one of the common modeling scales so that you have aftermarket support for finishing details such as boats, guns, etc.

slightly

amazing people and boats

those guys /girls go out in seas rough enough to often destroy boats much bigger than their's to save (rescue) their fellow human beings

now that is to me as much as going into combat

Ed Grune-

Why would anyone want to spend valuable time building a model of a 133 foot shuddering !#%* house????

I would!  As I had the good(?) fortune of spending three years chasing bouys up and down(east) the coast of Maine.  Ah yes the good old WHITE LUPINE, what a busy little black hull wonder.....well, we had 458 aids to navigation to tend and since the other tender down in Portland was frequently without power(read broken down) we had their nav aids as well as their lighthouses to re- fuel. I hope to build a diorama of the old girl fueling Mohegan Island light station. I had the good sense to take a bunch of photos of that spring day, it should make an interesting diorama, (complete with the attack goats that made straffing runs at the re fueling crew on the island, them rams are mean By the way Ed, your model looks top notch...theres an excellent web site at Historic American Building Survey/Historic Engineering record group. Someone photograped the White Lupine at the CG yard just before it was turned over to the Estonian Navy, tons of builders photos, almost like a walk around, black and white photos, good reference. Well as the ship's  motto stated (and this applies to building model boats)  "HATE TO WASTE A DAY". 

Thanks --

I figured that it would be a unique subject.   I found the hull lines on the Library of Congress/Historic American Engineering Record site you mentioned.   The hull was simple and all the superstructure is just plain boxes.  I also grabbed off the pictures from the LoC site.  The USCG Historian also has a monograph on the 133 foot buoy tenders.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBCUTTERS/NPS_133_HAER_Report.pdf

I have been in contact with Iron Shipwright to see if they are interested in using my model as a master for a resin kit.  I've reworked some of the details to make it better as a model kit.   Post back an address and I'll see about sending one to you if (when) it gets to production.

dkmacin

Now this is a class of vessel that gets no respect!
I have found enough information to be dangerous, maybe CGBob, jtilley or Jeff Hern can help with some info.
(I do have a copy of the some plans, as well as a few pictures of scratch built models from some vets).
These boats and crews were responsible for the rescue of soldiers during the landings at Normandy amoung other duties.
Anyone know of any models of them?

Don

I am having a 41" 1/24 scale built for me since I served as CMoMM on CG 83464/CG43 Rescue Flotilla 1 at Normandy 6/6/44-----would appreciate anything you would share about 83's such as plans, pics, etc----have plans from 'Floating Dockyard but they are of the first coinbtract with bronze wheelhouse and 464 had the nplywood job---plans are really for the peacetime first 40 contract with little of the wartime gear shown---thanks in advance---Jack Read CMoMM USCG---WW2