John,
Al's plans and data will be a big help. They were for me. Below are several links to more random photos taken during the build. In my research I had the good fortune to talk with 1st and 2nd generation crew of the 495 as well as the son ( Don Brown) of the skipper of the 495's squadron-mate, PT493. Their help was invaluable. One of the links is to photos of the 493 and 495 as well as other Ron 33 boats.
The 495 was called Miss Fury initially but was renamed Gentleman Jim after a crewman killed shortly after reaching the combat zone in July of '44.
My early research led to the 493 boat and color photo evidence that it and the rest of Ron 33 were painted in a green/brown camo scheme. I believe that this was true for their action in New Guinea. John Snyder of WEM reviewed the photos and felt the brown color was probably close to Brown #4. Discussions with the son of the 493's skipper's son indicated that the brown/green pattern was carried across the deck and other horizontal surfaces. One of the links shows my green/brown paint schemes. There were 3 of them, stripping the paint between changes and then finally settling on the green/green scheme.
After finding and getting to know a crewman, Ray Wilbur, from the 495 and his son, I learned that the 495, at the time of the battle of Surigao Strait was green /green with deck green horizontals. A photo of the foredeck of the 495 shows the faint outline of the green/brown pattern covered with the deck green. It is hard to see in the model's photos but i tried to duplicate this by painting over the green/brown deck with the deck green of my final paint scheme. The battle happened in Oct '44, 2 days after the mass movement of PT boats from New Guinea to the P.I.
The 495 was with the 493 during the battle when the 493 was lost to enemy fire. The 495 pulled the 493 off the rocks on which she grounded herself to allow the crew to be rescued so that she could sink into deep water to avoid capture.
The 495 was involved in an action with the 489 and 491 boats on the night of Nov 19/20, '44. During this action several barges were destroyed, one, exchanging gunfire while trying to ram the 495 was sunk by gunfire from the 495 at a distance of 10-15 feet.
Later in the same action, the 495 was damaged by a near-miss from a Japanese floatplane bomb. All of the crew was injured, with one, I believe, lost. Ray Wilbur was seriously wounded. While returning to get medical attention, the 489 boat and 495 collided. The 495 lost a portion of her stern but made it back for repair. Ray was returned to the states to begin a long recovery. He was a major source of help and inspiration and I cannot thank him enough. Don Brown also provided so much help and information that I don't know how to thank him either.
For the markings, insignia and stand lettering I used pain masks from Gator's paint masks. They were custom made and worked perfectly. I made the Gentleman Jim decal and used an Archer flag.
I used WEM paints, thinned with lacquer, sealed with Furure polish, weathered with oils and finished with dullcoat, also thinned with lacquer .
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1822847
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1827174
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1830736
Ron 33 photos:
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1840703
Green/Brown scheme:
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1941216
Photos of the final model:
http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1578
Here is a copy of what I did to backdate the kit that I posted in another thread:
To backdate the kit I
1. Made molds and cast 2 additional 20mm guns and parts to make 3 mounts, 2 for the additional 20s and one for the 37mm. I did not use the kits 37mm mount or base.
2. Cast the bases for the 37mm and both outboard 20mm.
3. Cast a second smoke dispenser after a 495 crewman told me she carried 2.
4. Cast 3 additional 20 mm mags.
5. Cast 4 additional "Ready-ammo" boxes.
6. Built the Radome from scratch and modified the mast.
7. Augmented the 50 cal depression bars.
8. Built the port side twin 50 cal craddle, ammo boxes and mount.
9. Added 2 50 cal and mounts and ammo boxes to the starboard 20mm to make an "Acey-Ducey". They used the same boxes as the 50 turrets so I had to made curved boxes and brackets to hold them.
10. Made mounts and added the 30 cal and boxes to splash shields.
11. Cut down the engine room hatch to the correct width for this particular boat.
12. Modified the roll-off racks to be closer to an earlier style than in the kit.
13. Modified the cockpit to look a bit like the earlier style this boat had.
14. Added PE ammo belts everywhere. The kit's plastic ones suck.
15. Used Gator's paint masks for all the markings and insignia.
16. I made the "Gentleman Jim" decal from a photo of the rear nameplate in the PT Boat display at Falls River, Mass. It was my first homemade decal.
17. Almost forgot, the kit's ammo belt feeders attached to the twin 50 cals are only positioned correcly if the guns are level. i wanted mine pointing up so I had to cut them and turn them correctly.
18. Added flash hiders to the 2 twin 50s mounted in turrets.
I hope this helps.
Ed Casacia