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Topic: Several Elco questions |
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Jeff Sherry
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Oct 5, 2011 - 7:02pm
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I have been a member of this forum for several years and thought I was pretty well versed on PTs until I started to build a model of my Dad's boat-PT-342, Ron 24, SW Pacific, 1943-44. Several questions have bothered me and Dad's photo album doesn't show what I need. Dad passed in 2008 so I can't ask him..
1. Why the canvas around the aft 50 cal tub?
2. Wht the raised platforns going into the cockpit?
3. Did the hatch in front of the charthouse open toward or away from the charthouse itself? (OK, I'm using a Revell PT-109 model to work from but Dad's crew pictures..sure looks like an open hatch leaning against the charthouse
4. What clolor were the 40 MM and 20 MM and 37 MM guns? Same as the boat?
5. The 342 had a 40MM aft but I can't see in Dad's photos any sign of an arresting bar (forgive me if that's the wrong term) to the rear of the gun. They had to have one didn't they?
There may be more. Hope you can help.
Jeff Sherry
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 5, 2011 - 10:35pm
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1. The Spray Shield around the aft turrets were to protect the gunner from the spray of Salt water, which had a tendency to spray Sea water towards the rear location of the gunner. It also protected the ammo from getting drenched.
2. The step up inside the cockpit, was simply so those in the helm area (Skipper) could have better vision seeing forward and over the high arc of the windshield. Some boats did remove this step, according to a few Skippers I talked to.
3. The hatch you are talking about opened towards the charthouse
4. The guns were not the same color as the boat, but gun metal or black
5. Some boats did remove the aft 40mm mount gun suppressor rail. They certainly came that way out of the Factory, but not all boats kept them..........
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 6, 2011 - 5:05am
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Hi Jeff,
Just to add to what Frank posted...
If you're talking about the deck hatch forward of the chart house, I've seen photos of this hatch opening in both directions. I'm not sure how they came out of the factory, or if some boats have it opening one way or another. Somebody might have some specifics about this.
The rails you're referring to are not attached to the 40mm platform, correct? The rail not attached to the platform is called a depression rail. At least that's how I've heard them referred to. I've heard them referred to as another name too which somebody may be able to correct us on. Your dad's photo is your reference and I would go with it. We'd love to see the photos by the way.
Frank's correct about the guns. The gun itself is gun metal. However the mounts, platforms, etc. were generally painted the color of the boat. However in the PT Boat world it could be the color of whatever they took it from. You just never know. These guys were amazing at scavenging anything that would give them effective firepower. Try to use photos as much as you can. If no photo exists for your specific boat refer to photos of other boats from the same squadron for clues. At that point it's artistic license.
Good luck with your build and please share your work.
Dave
David Waples |
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Dick
Moderator
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Posted on: Oct 6, 2011 - 8:49am
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Deck Hatches - according to the many Elco Deck Arrangement and Inboard Profile engineering drawings from the microfilm shows both forward hatches hinged on the forward edge of the hatch with the latch handles on the aft edge. The drawings showed at least at manufacturing time the hatches were intended to open forward. However as David has mentioned photos show boats with the hatch closest to the Chart House opened in either direction. It might have been simply more convenient for access to the hatch opened to aft and leaned against the Chart House. Although all the hatches had a hold open mechanism mounted on the deck. For general reference see Jeff Davidson PT-103 website: http://www.pt103.com/PT_Boat_Components_Deck_Hatch.html
Dick . . .
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 6, 2011 - 5:45pm
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Hi Jeff,
Here is the hatch on Elco PT143. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin |
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 6, 2011 - 6:25pm
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Interesting covers over the charthouse ports...
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Jeff Sherry
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Oct 6, 2011 - 6:34pm
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Wow, thanks guys. I knew I'd get the answers I was looking for here on the forum. Thanks.
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Total Posts: 84 | Joined:
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Oct 7, 2011 - 11:52am
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Hey Jeff, good luck with the build.
A drawing for the 314-367 boats shows the helmsman's platform was 31 7/8" x about 17 3/4" x by about 4 13/16" high in the center. The forward edge was about 11" aft of the bridge. The top was covered by 2 strips of 6" wide Tri-M-ite. The step was removable, held to the lux pipe cover on the outboard end by 2 pintles and gudgeons.
I'm not sure about the 37mm and 40mm, but the .50 cals and 20mm came finished with an almost black coating called parkerizing. It's able to hold a bit of oil. Some history of the coating can be found here: http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/documents/Inst-482%20Parkerizing.pdf.
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AndrewB
New Member
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Posted on: Oct 12, 2011 - 7:33pm
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Hello Jeff
I am building a 1:20th scale ELCO see http://southcoastphotos.co.nz/?page_id=88 I have yet to decide on the boat number, I am looking for as much detail as i can get. can you please leave a message on my site and i will e-mail you
Thanks
Andrew
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