ISW PC-461 project

The answer is ... it depends!

Seriously, though, in 1/350 you have to remember that photoetch is FLAT, aka two-dimensional. In 1/700 (what I build), you can get away with flat 20- and 40-mm guns because they're so fricking small, no one can really tell anyway! Doubling that size to 1/350, though, and to my eye at least, flat metal really starts looking like ... flat metal. So a three-dimensional 40-mm quad mounting is going to look more "right" to my eye than a two-dimensional one in that scale.

But that's just me. It's your model! You have to build what makes you happy (and what you can afford) and then go from there.

As far as PE goes, Gold Medal Models is about the best in the business. And if you have any specific questions about a kit or contents, Bill at Pacific Front Hobbies will answer e-mails in a day or two. Both are very reputable companies I have ordered from many times.

mfsob wrote:

In 1/350 you have to remember that photoetch is FLAT, aka two-dimensional. In 1/700 (what I build), you can get away with flat 20- and 40-mm guns because they're so fricking small, no one can really tell anyway! Doubling that size to 1/350, though, and to my eye at least, flat metal really starts looking like ... flat metal. So a three-dimensional 40-mm quad mounting is going to look more "right" to my eye than a two-dimensional one in that scale. If you have any specific questions about a kit or contents, Bill at Pacific Front Hobbies will answer e-mails in a day or two. Both are very reputable companies I have ordered from many times.

Thanks for the reply. I'm new at this and had not thought about a possible two-dimensional look. I don't believe I would like that. I'll contact Pacific Front Hobbies and order up the L'Arsenal rifles if they have them. 

I did go ahead and order GMM's 40mm & 20mm sheet direct. I'll use that PE sheet for practice in trying to assemble small PE parts.  

Thanks again for the heads up.  

Been out of touch for that past few days.   I'll be home tomorrow with info & links regarding detail sets.  

I need to double check, but IIRC the GMM 40mm set is pretty much platform rails, and perhaps shields which were not used on small craft for weight savings.   There isn't a lot of details for the mount.   The GMM 20mm detail set is some handwheels, shield, and sight to ve applied to the kit's plastic parts.  

Off the top of my head, the link to GMM is www.goldmedal.com  you can always google it.  There are pix pf the frets.

EdGrune wrote:

Been out of touch for that past few days.   I'll be home tomorrow with info & links regarding detail sets.

Thanks ED. Look forward to your post.

We were out and about today and on arriving home found a package from Commander Series Models Inc. waiting. Must be the PC-461. Going to wait until after dinner before checking the contents. Can hardly wait.  

Pat

mfsob wrote:

You're going to wait? Now that is commendable restraint!

Man, I had not grasp the physical size I would be working with until I opened the box. My wife took one look and said "oh my!" One thing for sure is I'll be wearing the magnifiers for most of the cleanup and assembly work I think. Don't get me wrong I'm still looking forward to the attempt though.

I've gained a great deal of respect for you 1/700 scale folks already.

Talked to Bill at Pacific Front and ordered the L'Arsenal 1/350 scale US Navy 20mm Oerlikon AA Guns. They were out of stock so he put  some on back ordered for me. I will not be hurrying this project so they'll probably be along in plenty of time.

Bill did have Jeff Herne's book "Fletcher/Sumner/Gearing Class Destroyers" so I ordered it. I want it for a future project when I feel that I'm ready for a more advanced ship like the Johnston DD-557 by Yankee Modelworks that's on my short list.

Thanks again for suggesting Pacific Front. Nice gent to talk to.

DD-557 wrote:

Made the order Tuesday with ISW for the ship and it should be in the mail today. Also sent an order to Astral Publishing for Wm. J. Veigle’s book “PC Patrol Craft of World War II”.

The Veigle book is mostly reminisences of former sailors.   While interesting, that alone will not help you detail the ship.   What Veigle does have, and is perhaps worth the purchase price, is a set of detail drawings.  These come from a former crewman who was a trained draftsman in his pre-war life.   In his down time he drew what he saw.   There are no drawings of the weapons, but these are available elsewhere.    

Some of the detail drawings may show details which are too small for 1:350 scale, such as the fire extinguisher manifold for the engine room.   These items can be replicated in ISW's 1:160 PC kit (one of my on going projects).     Remember that the ISW kit is a learner kit which will give you the experience and confidence to approach the YMW kit.    Your goal is to complete it without getting wrapped around the axle (too much).  You want the confidence and experience so that you can complete the YMW kit.

This is the GMM 20 & 40mm detail set.   Note that is is mostly sheilds and sights and is designed to augment kit parts.   The set is not a standalone weapon set as is the L'Arsenal sets

Ed - I assumed that the drawings came with Veigle's book, which I ordered last week. Went to his website after reading your post and didn't see where I could order the drawings. Would like to have a set. Do you have a url of/or the info for ordering the drawings?  Your right about not getting wrapped around the axle. I can do that when I get the bit in my teeth.

I'll have to take a look at the ISW 1:160 PC kit that you have in the yard. Sounds interesting. 

The father of a friend of mine served aboard what I think was a PC type during WWII in the pacific. I plan on contacting the son to get more information. I remember some time ago his dad telling me about being in a typhoon for a number of days, which may have been what is sometimes called Halsey's Typhoon, and thought they were not going to make it. It was a terrible experience for him. I think he was 18 at the time. There is more to his story, but I'll leave it at that. He was a real gent but is no longer with us.

DD-557 wrote:

Ed - I assumed that the drawings came with Veigle's book, which I ordered last week. Went to his website after reading your post and didn't see where I could order the drawings. Would like to have a set. Do you have a url of/or the info for ordering the drawings?  Your right about not getting wrapped around the axle. I can do that when I get the bit in my teeth.

The drawings are included with the book.  There is one 11x17 fold out drawing which is plan & elevation.  IIRC it is keyed to the smaller plates (the book is upstairs and I don't have the umpf to go check it).   There are 30 or so smaller drawing plates (5x9 inches) bound in the book.  

Ed - Would you tell me the what the finished length of your ISW's 1:160 PC kit's hull will be?

I'm beginning to think about a paint booth and want to consider what size I should be thinking about based on projects I may want to do in the future.

PS Received the GMM PE 1:350 watertight hatches sheet today. Grand!

The kit is at home and I'm at work.

Lets do the math.

173 foot ship in 1:160 scale  := 173/160 :=1.08 feet or 12.975 inches (13 is close enough)

Thanks Ed, you set me straight on a couple of things.

Regarding the GMM order: I also received their 'Photoetching for THe Plastic Ship Modeler' handbook by Loren Perry. Read through it last night and found it full of informatiom about working with PE. IMO it is worth the read, and handy reference, especially for a beginner like me.