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Topic: PT Gunboats (PT59, 60, & 61) Elco 77 foot |
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Lew Zee

Advanced Member

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Posted on: Sep 21, 2014 - 7:20pm
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I am posting this as a new topic as I am building the PT61 (1/20 scale, Frank's/Dumas PT65 kit). These PT boats have some unique modifications made to them.
The question I have right now is the 40mm Bofors (fore and aft) platforms on the boats, as the US Army Bofors guns were adapted to these boats in the South Pacific. I see that there are some builder installed Bofors and found photos of those. But, does anyone have information on the Pacific theater installed Bofors, specifically the base or platforms?
Lew |
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Drew Cook

TOP BOSS

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Posted on: Mar 30, 2017 - 5:18pm
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She looks great, Lew!
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Jeff D

Moderator

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Posted on: Mar 31, 2017 - 3:51am
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Very nice Lew! She looks close to being ready for the water.
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Lew Zee

Advanced Member

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Posted on: Mar 31, 2017 - 3:57pm
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This is what the boat looked like on March 19, 2017:
The guns have been updated to include the 50 cal belts and a few ore items. Now working on another six crew members.
Lew Zee |
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Drew Cook

TOP BOSS

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Posted on: Mar 31, 2017 - 4:27pm
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Excellent job, Lew...weren't the numbers on the charthouses of the 59, 60 & 61 black?
This is what I've envisioned an Italeri 1/35th scale PT 45-68 model, with extra parts to convert it to one of these babies, would look like.
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Lew Zee

Advanced Member

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Posted on: Mar 31, 2017 - 8:23pm
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Just very well might be. In the photos of the 61 in pre-gunboat configuration they were. I went through all the 59 gunboat photos and did not see any of that area. The several photos of the 59 taken in March '45 back in the states had the numbers removed. I just found a clearer photo of the 59 (the famous gunboat side view) and very faintly looks like black. It looks like they probably were. Thanks for the catch! Now to find some black decal numbers.
Lew Zee |
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TED WALTHER

TOP BOSS

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Posted on: Apr 1, 2017 - 2:21pm
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Lew
You going g to hate me for this, but your .50 twin mounts are about 12 scale inches too high, the shields were about 6 inches above the deck and the gunners sat on the deck.
Otherwise she looks great!
Take care, TED
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Lew Zee

Advanced Member

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Posted on: Apr 1, 2017 - 6:43pm
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Ted, I want constructive criticism to make the model as accurate as possible. That is why I posted it. It has been a long and difficult journey to this point.
For the image height I was looking at the 59 image (below). In revisiting the image it looks like I do have the gun too high, but the gunner appears to be slightly squatting and not sitting on the deck.
This seems to be confirmed with the side image of the 59 (below). The dual gun is higher than the singles where the gunners are sitting on the deck. With the single 50 horizontal the gunner's eye level is about even. With the dual 50 the gunner's eyes are above the sights wheil slightly bent at the knees and hunched over some.
By placing a 1/20 scale figure behind the gun and and accounting for a slight squat the mid chest height of my guns are about 3/8 inch (7.5 inches - real) too high. What do you think?
The boat is modular and almost everything can be removed for repair or correction. I have to take the radio gear out to get at the underside of the deck.
Other than these two photos I have no documentation on the dual shielded guns.
Lew Zee |
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TED WALTHER |

TOP BOSS

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Posted on: Apr 1, 2017 - 8:27pm
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Lew;
Yeah that should look right, I was thinking more of 59, that had the single .50's considerably lower, but looking at these photos, the twin .50 mounts are slightly higher on 59. So go with your new measurements and then lets see how it looks.
Take care,
TED
P.S. I just noticed, you don't have the Radar unit on the stbd side of windscreen and additional binnacle, as per Al's PT 59 drawings. are these things you will add later? |
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