The PT Boat Forum
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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

ť Topic: Elco Cradle
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1085

In my attempts to provide as much History for people to view in my Exhibits, I will be having the Elco Naval Division Crane made up in 1/72 scale. I have many pictures of the Crane, including the most recent photo's of the Crane where she now sits in honor of those who built the boats in Bayonne, N.J.

We will ne using Revell'e 109 Kit to simulate launching. I have not decided which boat number to use. The crane will be scratch built using photo's and a few diagrams. Now here is where you guys can help me. I do not have any drawings of the Elco Cradle. The boat would have been in a cradle when launched, then sunk in the Basin, and then floated free from the cradle. If anyone out here has any drawings of the cradle, please contact me on the board or E-Mail me a mosquitofleet@comcast.net I am also having an exact replica of PT 374 made, using Ialeri's Kit. This will be in honor of my friend Wallace MacNeish, Gunners Mate 1st. We hope to surprise him at my home some time next year. Sooo, I have a few projects to keep my builders busy, snd more items to make my wife go mad.............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Nov 22, 2008 - 4:32pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank,
PT Boats Inc. sells the original drawings for the cradle. I picked up a set from them. Between the drawing and the photos showing the loading of the 109 you should be able to make an excellent reproduction.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Nov 22, 2008 - 8:41pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Hi, Frank do you have the DVD Giant Killers from the PT Boat Museum it shows a boat being launched from begining to end and in colour to! If you are going to build a diroma it has a lot of visual info in it.
Cheers David.

D.buck

Posted By: David Buck | Posted on: Nov 23, 2008 - 3:01am
Total Posts: 332 | Joined: May 4, 2008 - 2:59am

Thank You Guys. I have the original 16MM Films of Giant Killers and Devil Boats, and have them in knocked down DVD form. It does show some good footage of the Launching..........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Nov 23, 2008 - 4:36am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank;
I will contact you off line tomorrow.
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Nov 24, 2008 - 7:05pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Hi Frank,
You should look at Pats PT Boat Pages which he designed on Autocad an Elco PT Boat Cradle. Here is the link to his webpage. I hope this is helpful! He has some great closeups and such focusing on cradles! Jerry

[url]http://geocities.com/y2patmat/pt/cradle/cradle.htm[/url]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 24, 2008 - 7:17pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Jerry, Thanks again although I have seen the page before. If I am not mistaken that cradle is for the 70 & 77 Foot Elco Boats and not the 80 Footer. I think the 80 footer was a bit different, and that is what I need. PT BOATS INC. is sending me a line drawing, so we shall see what it looks like when it arrives. Jerry, for modelers sake, maybe you can make the HIGGINS CRADLE available to the message board. While on the subject, Elco had this one massive twin boom crane that became prety famous, and is now errected as a memorial. Do you have a shot of the Crane which was used at HIGGINS. I have never seen their Crane in any pictures.........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Nov 25, 2008 - 11:52am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am