Revell 1/72 US Navy Submarine Gato-Class Platinum Edition

Well, here she is. Has actually been done a couple of weeks but got sent away for work and never got round to taking any photos.

I am reasonably pleased with how she turned out, the weathering is not quite how I envisioned it, dot filters are definitely something I need to work on. I sort of did it in stages, a couple of panels at time, and found it nigh on impossible to get the same results each time...........some panels I am happy with, others not so much. I think I cleaned it all off 3 or 4 times until I thought 'enough, that will have to do!'  I only ended up dirtying up one side as I couldn't find the enthusiasm to do the other side!!

I am happy with how the weathering turned out on the grey, but weathering the black was challenging and it is here that I am not so happy.

So this is how she is.............comments and critique welcome as would help in the future.

Port Side views ('dirty' side)

Starboard Views (the 'clean' side)

Top side views:

Overall Steve, I think that you did an awesome job and she looks great!  Personally, I think that the weathering on the port side looks very realistic and good.  I have also built this kit and I wish mine looked half as good as yours!  Well done!

TJS 

Steve, I agree with TJS that the port side looks great.  Overall build is really great. I had an uncle that was in a Gato class sub in WWII and I've been putting aside money to get that kit. I'll keep an eye on your build when I get mine.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

.  .  .  and nice job on the broom.

Steve,

Nice work, but, it appears to me that the draft decals need setting solution. Be careful or they may fall off.

Tubosteve

comments and critique welcome as would help in the future.

A hiccup--that Baker (now Bravo) signal flag is "swallow tailed"--there's no white triangle, but the red is the shape of the flag.

Revell let you down a bit with the flags--those are Size 1 or 2, and a submarine would be issued Size 6 or 7 (about a quarter of the isze you have).   Signal flags are fitted with a "pennant"--a line aproximately  the same length as a the "fly" (height) of the flag used.  Having a flag-sized space between each of the flags aids in read-ability.  You show a "gap" my flying a bare pennant.

What's odd is that the Jack and Ensign look to be near the correct Size 6 for a submarine (Subs might have a #4 as a "Sunday" Ensign.)

Revell also let you down with the decals.  A war-time vessel (implied by the broom) has nearly no marking on it at all.  The large "shadowed" numerals are decidedly post-war (as in circa 1947).  Draft markings not exactly common on subs in the main (the untility on a "variable draft" vessel is dubious at best).

You built it with what you ere given and did a grand job of it, and that's what matters.

Top notch. Beautiful build.  Photograph her near a calm lake in the background, and she could be at sea. 

Bob

So based on what CapnMac82 stated with regard to the flag sizes, a quick google search shows: Size 6 (2 ft. x 2 ft. 7 in.)

So in 1/72 that would be 0.333" (8.466mm) high x 0.431" (10.936mm) long........correct?

Guess I'm gonna have to find an image of each flag and scale it so it prints out at te above sizes.

CapnMac82

Signal flags are fitted with a "pennant"--a line aproximately  the same length as a the "fly" (height) of the flag used.  Having a flag-sized space between each of the flags aids in read-ability.  You show a "gap" my flying a bare pennant

CapnMac82, excuse my nautical ignorance but can you explain/expand on the above?

If I may, for CapnMac, 

Flag hoist flags and pennants are made with a ring at the top and a 'tail' at the bottom. At the bottom of the 'hoist line there is a snap hook. So, in order to run up a flag, the hoist line is clipped into the ring and then the flag is pulled out and the next letter is clipped into the tail of the preceding flag. This tail, as the Capn was saying, provides a gap between the flags so they can be seen individually in the line, making reading the messege much easier, especially at distance.

In the photo, note the ring at the top of the flag, in this case an 'Alpha' flag (indicating diving operations), and the tail at the bottom with a snaphook attached. (This is a mock-up as I pulled out the original line.)

As for size, this flag is a size 8, which is about 19" at hoist and about 21" in length. A size 8 pennant is about 13" at the hoist and 29" long.

HooYah Deep Sea

If I may, for CapnMac,

You may indeed.  Especially as I managed to invert Hoist and fly in the above.  Sigh.

That image exactly renders a swallow-tailed signal flag. 

In the days of sail, the flags and their pennants used a wooden toggle at the top and an eye at the bottom.  These were replaced with rings and snap hooks.

Been gabbing with the old bubleheads I know.  And, even being as ancient as I, none are old enough for "pig boat" service.  But several were noting that the diesel boats were sent out with "PT Boat" flags sets (e.g. #7 or #8), rather than Destroyer/Escort sizes (e.g. % & 6). 

Several have noted that it was going to be rare to have a Diesel boat on a Buoy or in and anchorage to where they'd need to fly their Radio Call Sign.  Rafted up to a pier or Tender, you can send messages by Runer, rather than radio.

It's become rather an interesting scavenger hunt into history.  (Isn't that why "we" do this--just an excuse to buy more books, as Bill signs it?)

Hey, we can't be expected to remember EVERYTHING .  .  .   I completely forgot that 'bravo' was a swallowtail.

When I go shooting out in the toolies, I fly 'bravo' on a fiberglas pole; but it's just a rectangular, red golf pin flag.   Still works though. 

So here are the 'new' flags, will fit them tomorrow:

Looks like it was a fun build.  I have yet to see someone properly "accurize" the Gato kit.