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Topic: PT CAMOFLADGE |
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 9, 2008 - 11:48am
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HELLO EVERYBODY-
I HAVE WHAT I FEEL IS A RATHER INTERESTING QUESTION ABOUT CAMOFLADGE ON PT BOATS.
WERE THE BOATS PAINTED IN CAME 'MEASURE' AT THE FACTORY ON IN THE FIELD OR BOTH?
I HAVE MODELED TWO LINDBERG 1/32 SCALE PT'S - THE 169 FROM RON 10 IN ZEBRA STRIPE CAMO AND THE 196 THE LAST OF THE ELCO CONTRACT BOATS IN A WAVY MEASURE.
WHAT'S THE STORY ON THIS GUYS? I RECEIVED AN ANSWER BACK FROM THE OLD BOARD CONCERNING THE RON-10 BOATS, THEY ALL WORE STRIPES BUT NO TWO BOAT WERE EXACTLY ALIKE! HOW MUCH PAINTING WAS DONE IN THE FIELD WHEN IT CAME TO CAMO?
THANKS GUYS!
FRANK RYCZEK, JR.
MODELER/FRIEND RON 10
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 9, 2008 - 3:39pm
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Frank;
Other than RON 10, I think the Elco boats were painted grey for most of the first series(PT 103-186) Acorrding to Al's book, PT 187 was the first boat to have factory applied Measure 31/5P camoflage however, there appears to be some inconsistancies, probably beacuse of time and production constraints. I know RON 29 boats (PT 552-563) were origially painted measure 31/5P from the factory, then repainted prior to going to the Med. However, RON 37 boats were accepted in Navy Grey and then repainted at Fifes on Long ISland in Measure 31/20L. Get Al Ross's book "Allied Coastal Forces of World Warll" Volume ll, he answers most of these questions.
Take care,
TED
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Ed B
Advanced Member
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Posted on: May 9, 2008 - 5:59pm
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Well, this picture of PT 171 is an Elco factory photo dated Jan 16, 1943, which is about 2 weeks after the boat was completed for the Navy. So I'd say the camo was factory applied. Same goes for PT 169.
[IMG]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT171Zebra.jpg[/IMG] |
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Ed B
Advanced Member
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Posted on: May 9, 2008 - 6:03pm
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Oops, forgot to change IMG to image. Hope this works:
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newsnerd99
New Member
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Posted on: May 9, 2008 - 6:29pm
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My grandfather was only in the Pacific (aboard a PT) for about six months. He used to joke that the military would paint anything that looked dirty - that it was easier to paint something than either fix it or clean it. He talked about having downtime while the boat was painted. I would imagine that boats, after being painted at the factory, were painted several times as needed.
Here is a shot Pop described at the 243 fresh from the paint shop, 1945. Here's the one thing I find odd about this picture...they painted the torpedoes as well! Obviously they weren't planning to use them soon. I would imagine that this was very late in the war (if not after the bombs were dropped in August.)
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 9, 2008 - 8:45pm
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Ed;
I said besides RON 10, last time I checked RON 10 in 1942-43 consisted of boats PT 163-174. Yes the adapter system was factory applied, as was RON 15 boats(Higgins) that were painted like this. I only have seen photos of PT 207 and 208, as far as I know boats in this RON were painted all kinds of colors from blue and grey, to pink and Zebra.
Take care,
TED
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Michael
MASTER
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Posted on: May 9, 2008 - 11:49pm
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PT 170 "ZEBRA"
This photo is taken from Frank D Johnson's book,"United States PT Boats of World War 2.
The Caption to the photo reads,
During late 1942/early 1943 while the Bureau of Ships attempted to develop effective camoflage schemes for PT Boats.Elco was directed to apply a ZEBRA pattern to PT 170.This pattern was later field tested in the combat zones.Other than attention.nothing overly remarkable was gained with the scheme.Obviously the intent was to confuse the enemy as to the type of craft,its size and direction of travel.Concealment was not one of the patterns strongpoints.
Michael |
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 10, 2008 - 8:14am
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Thanks guys for the input and the pictures as well! When I painted my model of the 169 I actually used the photo sent by Mike in Frank Johnsons book for the stripe patterns, although the picture is the 170 boat.
The model wwas a "bear" to paint a lot of masking and then remasking! I have to admit here and now my eyes were crossed for several weeks after that painting session on the 169 model! I bet the guys at the factory felt the same way afterwards!
If you want to see a nice shot of my 169 patroling our local model club pond for Japanese troop movements, check out this link-
photobucket-Tulagi diorama
Let me know what you guys think!
Thanks again!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON 10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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Gary Szot
MASTER
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Posted on: May 10, 2008 - 10:43am
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Frank
Here is a pic of PT 170 and PT 171 fresh out of the factory and being shipped to the south pacific.
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 10, 2008 - 2:01pm
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Does anyone know at what point in those boats trip to the forward area that the white stripes in the zebra patterns were overpainted green?
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