Question on The Gatos

torybear wrote:

I just got the Trumpeter Gato model (1/144 scale) and it is a good kit. Could not wait to open the box, I love the smell of plastic in the morning. I see that it does NOT have propeller guards. I have found some models of the Gatos have them and some do not. It this an addition to the boat in later stages or an omission? I have pictures of the guards so I can construct them. Did the earlier boats not have them?

The propeller guard was designed to be removable.  It was installed when alongside a dock, pier, or other ship/sub to protect the prop from damage.   Like you indicate. adding one is a simple process using some styrene strip stock.

torybear wrote:

Also, is Nautica the best detail kit for this kit? I would like to upgrade the boat, I have read that the conning tower was modified in the field to cut down it's profile at sea. Thanks, Mike

I believe you mean Nautilus Models.  Right now they are the only detail set for this kit.   The other players have either decided to sit it out (Toms, GMM) or are working on armament sets only (WEM, Iron Bottom Sound).   

This photo compares the Nautilus Gurnard conning tower with the kit tower  (parts are just stacked - not glued).   The Gurnard had the covered conning station removed, leaving the raised gun platform.  The plating on the periscope shears was removed, as was the plating around the cigarette deck.   The kit includes the main induction valve heads which go under the cigarette deck,  a 20mm gun for the forward gun deck and a 4-inch gun for the after deck 

This is the brass fret which accompanies the set.   It is very good and should be a must-have replacement on its own to improve the as-built Gato kit.   The stanchions are finely done and must be realistically rigged with monofilament or silk thread. 

Actually the propeller guards were part of the sub, early in the war the japanese started throwing grappling hooks over the side when they thought there was a sub in the area, one sub was caught on the prop guards and was almost dragged to the surface before managing to escape.*

They were also removed to avoid snagging mines, when in port some stations would bring out temperory guards which laid over the stern, other stations the captain would moor stern away from the dock. There are some good pictures of this in Floating Dry Docks E-Book of the Gato class.

*This little known fact was from the book "The Bravest Man" the story of CmDr Dick O'Kaye the highest scoring sub captain in the war. Well worth a read if you are into modelling the Gato or Balao class subs.

TD4438 wrote:

That would have to qualify as 'Extreme Fishing'.

Just imagine the japanese captain telling this story in his favourite pub when back in town...