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 Author  Topic: So many boats, so little time
rebsr52339

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 12, 2012 - 3:37pm



“Which boat should I model” is a phrase I often here from modelers of my own interest, that is subs and PT's. I don’t think I am letting any cats out of the bag here. The experience of “observation” is a critical trait one should have when selecting a model to build of “any” representation of a full size subject. When I was looking thru Victor Chun’s book, “American PT Boats in WWII Vol. I”, one of the references for getting documentation for my 1/20 scale boat, I saw a great photo on P53, upper. I scanned it here but if you have Victors book (Who doesn’t) look at it there. It shows boats of Ron 34 docked at Portland Bill, England. While studying this photograph I was taken aback with the variety of paint, markings and equipment variations on the boats shown in this one prized photograph. There are approximately 11 boats? in the photo. When selecting a “Boat to model”, generic is not an option unless you are at the moment of launching at the factory, and that is not even a good bet. Lets take a closer look at this photo.
Look at the boat hull #s. They are located on the stern and the back of the engine deck vent/hatch on most of the boats, and, probably other places as well. We can also see there is no number on the stern of boat #504, far left. Look at the 40MM “storage cans” maybe, on the back of the boats. Two sets appear to be a dark color, deck green? And the other set appears to be a lt. Grey? Maybe. And how about the hull “dapple” camouflage? God I love it. These colors may either be “Ocean grey/green, british aircraft colors, or another variation of them. Check out the boat with the bow-on shot. Starboard side looks to have a two colors of paint with what looks like a hard paint line separating them.
Check out the radar pods and the masts. Some were off white or lt. Grey or even a combination of both. Some could be deck green or even the ocean grey of the RAF. Paint from the USN may have been hard to come by at that time. Heck the dark colors could even be OD. Take a look at the “ash cans”. There is a dark finish, dapple? on some and light finish on boat PT-518 along with the smoke generator.
The foul weather in the English Channel,fog, proximity to the English and French coast may have influenced the crews to paint the boats like the British aircraft.
E-mail discussions with Bridgeman (PT-157 First Up and the model build) about the “exact” finish, equipment and layout of these boats will put you in the nut house. BTW, Bridgeman’s books belong in everyones library. As he said, and I agree, pick a boat with the “most” photographic documentation and a specific time slot and then, go for it. Bridgeman was very fortunate in having at least two members of the PT-157 around to corroborate his conclusions. Even with all of that you will find yourself making changes as you get new info.
In 65+ years of modeling I have found two things to be true. You cannot have too much first hand info or enough photos. You always “need” that one more book to find that one more photo.
Well just my two cents and happy modeling. As my beautiful wife once commented to one of her girlfriends, “Mind his hobbies! Not at all. I know where he is every night and more important, I know just what he is playing with” Love her to death.


REB

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rebsr52339

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 13, 2012 - 2:29am
BTW, I want to thank Victor Chun for permission to use the photo and Bridgeman for doing such a great job on his two books.
Did you guys check out that boat in the photo below. Look at the triangular camo strip down the side of the hull. I am wondering if the boat skippers were the ones who gave permission to vary the paint scheme or did they need permission from the squadron commander.

Thanks guys. Appreciate it.

REB

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29navy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of 29navy  Posted on: Aug 14, 2012 - 4:17am
If you're talking about the boat in the bottom picture, that one is a British boat.

Charlie

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rebsr52339

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 14, 2012 - 6:00am
Hi Charlie, yea I did notice that. I guess the whole point I was trying to make is the incredible amount of diversity in the application of the camouflage schemes by all countries. It appears that almost "nothing" was standard "in the field". I guess that is what makes research so interesting to us rivet counters.

REB

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PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: Aug 14, 2012 - 7:20am
Is that British boat an Air Sea FRescue craft? It doesn't look like an MTB or MGB to me despite the covered 20 mm (recognizeabe by the gun platform) on the rear deck aft of the cabin.

Cheers

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

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rebsr52339

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 14, 2012 - 7:39am
That is a posability PTB. How about this. The deck cabin structure "looks like" a 77 ft. Elco. Could it be? Look at the exhausts. If so was it converted or modified to some British standards? Do you think that rear mount could be a multible 20MM gun mount?
Man what an interesting pair of photos on the same page. Thanks Victor Chun. Lots of food for thought.

REB

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Aug 14, 2012 - 2:10pm
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!

This is MGB 55, a 70' British Powerboat Company motor gunboat. Originally part of a French order, the group was taken over by the RN and served as MGB 50-67.

Here's a shot of MGB 58 in its original configuration with the twin .303 Lewis turrets on the coachroof and a 20mm aft


and MGB 61 as modified with the twin Vickers MKV .5 turrets abeam the cockpit and 20mm aft.



Al


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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Aug 14, 2012 - 4:12pm
You are the man, Al.

Will

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