PT-109

The wheel is a six spoke cast aluminum unit with separate spoke handles.   A seventh handle ("suicide knob") was added in a horizontal position to facilitate rapid turning.  I've posted a photo of one taken from the ELCO Parts Book on my Coastal Forces Plans (www.coastalforcesplans.com) site under "References".

Al

Celestino wrote:

I am not able to post pics unless I sign on to one of the photo hosting sites and then transfer the link. Cannot post photos directly from my saved files. Or, better said, I do not know how to if it is possible.

Sing up for your photo hosting at www.photobucket.com it's FREE

I am not able to post pics unless I sign on to one of the photo hosting sites and then transfer the link. Cannot post photos directly from my saved files. Or, better said, I do not know how to if it is possible.

Dubau wrote:

Hay Ed.................................  Git 'er Done! Git 'er Done!!  ................ And I want to see some PICS !!! Bud

Hay Ed.................................  Git 'er Done! Git 'er Done!!  ................

And I want to see some PICS !!!

Bud

Celestino wrote:

Regarding the .50s. I notice some boats have muzzle guards on the tips of the .50s, others have as we are accustomed to from aircraft-bare muzzles. What type did PT-109 have. Thanks for the DC dims. Making one for the boat. When is the deadline for the build?

Here's one of the pics i was thinking of
http://www.battleshipcove.org/Assets/Images%20-%20General/News/gallery-news-kit-pt/news-kit-pt109crew-b.jpg

You can see the 50s in it &  as Dave says the "mast issue" is up for debate

No crucifying around here!    The mast issue is open for interpretation.  There are only two photos of the 109 that I've ever seen at the time Kennedy skippered the boat.  Neither indicates a mast.  I asked Dick Keresey, skipper of PT-105 about this, and he said that it was either folded down or gone.  He said it was not unusual for masts to be gone from the boats during this period.

Is it gone?  Is it folded?  Was it removed from a previous failed radar experiement prior to Kennedy?  Did another crew salvage it between commands?  Nobody knows for sure.  It just doesn't show up in two photos and that's not enough proof to say it didn't have a mast.

To me the mast is a signature piece of the boat.  It looks kind of naked without it.  At the end of the day build it as you wish based on the evidence available.  Build it so you'll be happy with the results. 

As for the windows.... the wind screen was probably armor.  The windows of the chart house were painted over and not armor according to Dick Keresey.  As long as you don't make them clear and just paint over them you should be fine. 

Have fun.

Dave

Folks, one more. The windshield screen and main cabin ports-two forward, one either side. I am guessing these also had armored visors. Cannot see boats in combat with glass so nearby to cause splinter casualties.

Yes, I read regarding no mast on PT-109 by the time JFK assumed command.

You know, just trying to do a reasonably nice job. Not a museum piece. No PE. scratching the rails bollards, hand grabs and stuff. But the windshield thing would be an eyesore. Same with the mast.

Oh yeah, no stanchions up front.

Original build of Airfix E-boat is in primer and assembled in sections. Just need to apply paint. Still not sure what scheme to use.

The 109 50 cal's had flash guards.  I'm not sure if that's the correct name for them or not.

I can tell you the deadline for finishing my 109 boat is when I complete it.  Now that winter is coming I'll have more time to devote to it. 

Dave

Celestino wrote:

What grit did you use to sand down the decks? Do we really need to sand down the decks on a PT-109 boat? Regarding the .50s. I notice some boats have muzzle guards on the tips of the .50s, others have as we are accustomed to from aircraft-bare muzzles. What type did PT-109 have. Thanks for the DC dims. Making one for the boat. When is the deadline for the build?

I used sanding sticks mostly & then wet sanded with 600 grit. Started with the coarse & moved upto the fine. I used a dremel tool to remove the moulded on detail that needs to be removed & I've been using Michel's pics of the PT-117 as he is also using the WEM PE set.

I'll have to check my references on the muzzle guards for the .50s. Good question

I so believe the deadline for the G/B is Dec. 1st. Greg moved it up due to a death in my family. (Thanks again for that Greg!)

What grit did you use to sand down the decks? Do we really need to sand down the decks on a PT-109 boat?

Regarding the .50s. I notice some boats have muzzle guards on the tips of the .50s, others have as we are accustomed to from aircraft-bare muzzles. What type did PT-109 have.

Thanks for the DC dims. Making one for the boat.

When is the deadline for the build?

The Packard V-12's used in the PT boats were, if I remember right, V-1710's.  That's 1710

cubic inched.  WAY bigger than anything Packard ever put in a car.

Ray

cthulhu77 wrote:

Shoot, whadya want me to do? extend the deadline again???? LOL...      Looking forward to the new products!                                 Greg

user="John @ WEM"] Be patient, and we'll have them available later this year/early next year, complete with their own photoetch. We're doing USN Mk.14 torpedoes in conjunction with the Revell 1/72 Gato-class sub, and they'll be just fine for your 109-boat. In fact, you can pre-order them now. Cheers, John Snyder, White Ensign Models, http://WhiteEnsignModels.com

Shoot, whadya want me to do? extend the deadline again???? LOL...

   Looking forward to the new products!

                                Greg

Be patient, and we'll have them available later this year/early next year, complete with their own photoetch. We're doing USN Mk.14 torpedoes in conjunction with the Revell 1/72 Gato-class sub, and they'll be just fine for your 109-boat. In fact, you can pre-order them now.

Cheers,

John Snyder, White Ensign Models, http://WhiteEnsignModels.com

alross2 wrote:

When you have a ratio like 1/72, that simply means that one unit of measurement (inches, feet, yards, millimeters, meters, etc.) on the model is equal to 72 of the same unit of measurement on the real thing.  In your example (torpedo), the unit of measurement of the real thing is inches (21" diameter ), so to figure the diameter of the torpedo on the model, divide 21" by 72, which is approximately .291".  Expressed as a fraction, this is just under 19/64".  A 1/72 scale torpedo that was 5/8" (approximately .625") in diameter would equate to a 45" diameter real one.  Man, can you imagine the size of the hole that would make in the side of a ship... :-}. Al Ross

When you have a ratio like 1/72, that simply means that one unit of measurement (inches, feet, yards, millimeters, meters, etc.) on the model is equal to 72 of the same unit of measurement on the real thing.  In your example (torpedo), the unit of measurement of the real thing is inches (21" diameter ), so to figure the diameter of the torpedo on the model, divide 21" by 72, which is approximately .291".  Expressed as a fraction, this is just under 19/64". 

A 1/72 scale torpedo that was 5/8" (approximately .625") in diameter would equate to a 45" diameter real one.  Man, can you imagine the size of the hole that would make in the side of a ship... :-}.

Al Ross

Hippy-Ed wrote:

I came upon a sratchbuilt  D/C on steelnavy.com recently and the guy (name escapes me at the moment) used a 3/8' dia. tube to make the D/C  (Garth, he's a buddy of yours)

PTConsultingNHR wrote:

Hippy Ed, Didn't that data I sent you help at all? Garth