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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: PT-17 Balsa Model
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I was wondering if anyone else has ever seen a Balsa model of the 77' Elco PT-17. My Grandfather gave it to me when I was a child, I want to say it was made during the war, but it was at least 13 or so inches long. It has been lost along with most of my childhood toys, but I was wondering if this rings any bells?
Later
Kelly Doke

Kelly@Kellyscars.net



Posted By: KFD | Posted on: Mar 30, 2009 - 10:49pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



That's the old Ideal kit. They show up once in awhile on eBay; in fact, I think there's one on there now.

From a scale standpoint, it's very, very inaccurate. The hull is wrong, the superstructure is wrong. If memory serves, it has red fibre props. Marine Model Company came out with PT 10 about the same time. It is very much like the Ideal kit, but has a hardwood hull.

I have the MM kit, the Comet kit of PT9, and maybe the Ideal kit. They're fun to have, but nothing I'll ever build.

Al Ross



Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Mar 31, 2009 - 2:48am
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm



One of the reasons I have so many of these early Kits in my Exhibit is because they represent what was available at that time. No matter how right or wrong, they made some young kid pretty happy, myself included. Although most of them do not measure up to Museum quality models made today, Historically they represent an important part of the mystique of the PT Boats.

When my 1944 Varney Model was made by my friend Stan Pienkowski, I wanted it built just as it would have been in those days. Many of my old Balsa Kits were constructed in the same manner. Now, along those same lines I do have a few that were updated with new parts and such, as with my FEMU Diorama because it had to be. I think that when buying these old model kits, builders should keep that in mind, and build them the way they were meant to be. If anything you can purchase a few kits and build them in several different ways. I know that many folks were impressed with the many PT Boat models available to the public, when they came to my Exhibit. Seeing them built with nothing extra lends to the whole PT Boat experience. Just my thoughts...........



Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 31, 2009 - 6:46am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



Kelly,

These kits appear on eBay on a frequent basis. If you serch for PT Boats regularly you will find these. They can usually be purchased at a moderate price.

If I recall the hulls are a rectangular block of wood that needs to be carved. As Al mentioned they are not accurate. I have three of these kits purely for the sake of having them.

Bill

Bill Smallshaw

Posted By: smallwi | Posted on: Mar 31, 2009 - 10:11am
Total Posts: 130 | Joined: Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm




My right from the box built 1944 Varney model:

Frank

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/1944Varney001.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/1944Varney002.jpg[/image]





Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 31, 2009 - 11:45pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



That's not bad Frank .................



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 9:02am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Very nice, Frank. Thanks for posting the photos!

It seems obvious that the later Lindberg 1/64th plastic 80' Elco kit was modeled after the Varney balsa one.

They're almost identical...

(Somehow, this post got a red "mad face" icon stuck on it -- don't know why, 'cause I didn't put it there!)



Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 3:02pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am



That's the rumor Drew, the Varney begat the Lindberg and I believe the Ideal 1:64 kits - which begat the 1:32 Lindberg kit.

Garth



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 3:20pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Garth,

I wish the Lindberg 1/32nd scale boat's hull was as nicely shaped as the hull of the 1/64th scale kit's -- that would have solved almost half the 1/32nd scale kit's many problems right there!



Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 5:39pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am



I wonder if the Lindberg 1/32 scale hull is the same as the hull they use on the Chris Craft Constellation. The picture of the latter on the Lindberg website sure looks like their 1/32 scale PT 109 hull.

Cheers from Peter

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

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 8:02pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm



COULD be Peter ........... who knows?

BUT - What the Frakk do I know?



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Apr 3, 2009 - 7:34am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Has anyone actually turned the 1/32 Lindberg into a HIGGINS PT. The Hull design on that Kit more closely resembles a Higgins then an Elco. I would love to see a few photo's of an unpgrade done on a 1/32 scale Lindberg. Garth, I know you have a nice one, converted by Stan Pienkowski some years back. Any photo's to share.



Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 14, 2009 - 5:05am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



I had them - yes Frank. But ............ I've no idea where they're now ............. that model is at my house at the Cape ...........





Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Apr 14, 2009 - 7:14am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Garth

If I am not mistaken, I think Stan has a picture or two of the re-build he did for you. I will ask him and if he does, will post it here............



Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 14, 2009 - 8:55am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



OK ........... Go ahead.



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Apr 14, 2009 - 9:08am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered