1/72 Gato pic

     Hey Mav

   EXCELLENT!!!!! What a great build. Your weathering is outstanding. Well i guess its time to head back to pearl and get some of those barnacles scraped off for the next patrol.

  Keep up the great work!   Regards, Macleod

P.S. I love the display base {pure class}!

really nice!

gary

beautiful model and great weathering.   congratulations on a fine build.

which Type VII?  the early/mid VIIC, or the VIIC/41? 

Did you build this straight from the box or did you make any additions?  Very nice build.

Dave

She's beautiful! Can you post a few more pic's of her? I been waiting to see if there would be any interior sets put out for the Gato before I start mine.

Scott 

   That is indeed a beautiful job. Really professional. And, I too, started out with 1;32 armor. It's still my favorite scale.

   In fact, my first R/C sub model is in 1:32. She's a 637(Sturgeon) class nuke. I decided to build her in 92, started construction in 93, and it continues to this day. I hope to have her exterior finished by November. (I have way too many other projects)

   As for interiors, my Type VIIC is still waiting for the forward battery and after torpedo/motor room kits, from CMK. As for the Revell Gato, she's slowly turning into a Tench Class, Gun Boat. Now, if CMK (or any one else) comes out with interior compartments, I'll have to get a second Gato and do the same Tench as a Guppy IIA.

Ahhhh, so many models, so little time.

Mike K.

I think the numbers where taken off the subs when they were deployed to combat patrols so as not to allow the enemy to identify individual subs.

The images over at Navsource for Gato submarines seem to indicate this when you can see the numbers clear at the time of launchings but are no longer visable in latter images of the sub on patrol. I believe this why each submarine had their own 'battle flag'. A large banner that would show the boats name, number, and emblem and their score of sunken ships. The sub's crew could bring out the battle flag in port to show off their accomplishments and put it away when they go back out on patrol.

Here's a direct link to Navsource's Fleet boat image page:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/04idx.htm

From just after the war, up until the late 60s, subs had their hull numbers on both sides of the sail. By then, the name boards and gangway banners were already in common usage.

Since then, you only see sail hull numbers at launching, or for special photo ops.

So the kit is actually short on decals. Dry transfers look better, anyhow (IMHO).

Mike K.