The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi


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


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


» Topic: Building the Revell PT 109
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2192



Hello everyone,

I have read this board for ages but just recently registered. I am building the
Revell 1/72 PT-109 except I'm not doing the 109.

I have the Ross and Lambert Allied Coastal Forces Volume II and Victor Chun's
book on PT Boats. I also have the At Close Quarters by Robert J. Bukeley Jr.
Plus a couple of squadron books on PT Boats.

I mention this so that some won't think I haven't done my own research on the
question I am about to ask.

I want to build this kit as an early elco boat in the Solomons with the torpedoe tubes. Simply enough except I want to add a 37 mm to the bow and the SO Radar to the mast and maybe depth charges. I have the WEM PE set and want to use as much
of the PE set as possible due to it's cost.

I believe that adding a 37mm and SO Radar would require a boat during early to mid 1943? From my reading I know that Squadrons 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and maybe others were based in the Solomons, at least for a time, before some of them went to New Guinea.

Anyway it is very hard to determine what boat to build with the features I want to add to it. I don't want a multi-camoflage scheme, just a basic green will do. However, finding photos of a boat with what I want has been impossible for me unless I have
just missed one in the books that I have. I do realize that there was no set standard
on how these boats were armed in the field other that the basic torpedoes, 2 twin 50's and rear 20 mm.

So I am hoping that the experts on this board can help me out here. Can someone
tell me which boat or boats had the particular armament/colors I want to model?

If someone has some pictures of a particular boat with the armament/color I want
that would be wonderful. If not, just the boat number would be ok.

Thanks for any help,

Greg Butler




Posted By: GregB | Posted on: May 13, 2011 - 3:23pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: May 12, 2011 - 9:08am



Hi Greg,
I managed to photograph this at the Archives. I am not sure if this will be helpful, but this view of an M4 37mm Oldsmobile Automatic Cannon is certainly on an 80 ft Elco in 1943 most likely. Jerry
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/LoadingMk437mmcannononElcoPT.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 13, 2011 - 6:18pm
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



Greg

Welcome to the board. If you E Mail me, at mosquitofleet@comcast.net I will show you a project we did using 1/72 boat. We added SO Radar, 37mm on the bow, yet keeping the Torpedo Tubes.



Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 13, 2011 - 8:22pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



Greg

I forgot. Look under PT-108/Sub Project final photos on this message board. I posted photos of our project and one of the boats you are looking to build, PT-108. Just put the title PT-108/Sub Project Photos after you press search, and they wil pop up. GOOD LUCK.



Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 13, 2011 - 8:28pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



Greg,

The 109 did not have SO-Type radar when she was lost .... although there is evidence to indicate that prior to Kennedy assuming command that an US Army Air Corps radar set was experimently fitted to her and the array was mounted on her bow, more than likely on the stem.

The 37-mm gun that the 109 was fitted with for all of 24 hours was an US Army M3 field piece on its carriage without its tires.

Does this help?

Garth



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 6:14am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



I'm not sure how locked into the 37mm on the bow you are, but I have a few ideas for you.

1. PT-337 in Victor Chungs book on page 34. However note that this boat has a 20mm on the port bow and not a 37mm. It is probably painted Measure 31/5P which is a combination of Navy Green and Ocean Green.

2. PT-105. This is the boat I'm currently working on. I'm building this model as Mr. Keresey had her with a .50 cal on the foredeck right behind the cleat. Note that the cleat on this boat is different than the kit cleat. It's more like a 4x4 sticking out of the deck with a bar through it. While this boat was not "tropical green" it was as reported by both skippers (Mr. Keresey and Mr. Iles) to be "battleship gray" which I believe to be Measure 1 or 5-D (Dark Gray) Mr. Iles reported that there was a 37mm on the bow when he took it from Mr. Keresey but he's not sure.

3. PT-333 in David Doyle's book is interesting as well. It's also in Measure 31/5P but it looks very similar to the PT-337 in Victor's book.

All these boats had tubes on them at the time they were photographed or in the case of the 105 described to me. I've not had any luck finding a photo of a boat as you wish to build.
Maybe one of these will appeal to you though.

Good luck with your project. I've had some experience with this kit and will be glad to help if I can.

Dave


David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 6:36am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



Thanks to all who replied. I thought that finding a picture like I wanted was a long shot but if one existed one of you guys here would know of it.

Jerry - thanks for the picture of the 37mm. That's what I thinking of making mine look like.

Frank - I have seen the photos of your diorama. The photos of it and the photos
of David Waples PT-109 inspired me to start building my kit.

Garth - thanks for the reply, however, I'm not doing the 109,

David - thanks for the ideas. I may end up just picking a boat number and fitting it out
like I want with the idea that it's possible the boat was fitted out this way at
some point in it's career. But I will look at the pictures you mention.

Thanks again!
GregB



Posted By: GregB | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 1:37pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: May 12, 2011 - 9:08am



Yeah, sorry ... I realized that AFTER I hit post, ... D'oh!

You could think of doing one of the RON 12 boats in New Guinea - or one of the RON 10 boats in New Guinea ...

They might fit your bill Greg.

Garth



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 2:58pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Greg: I have some photos of the 154 & 157 boats that look like they might fill the bill. Tough to know exactly when they lost the tubes and added the extra armament, though.

I'll e-mail you a couple of shots if you'd like.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 7:14pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm




Thanks to all who replied. I thought that finding a picture like I wanted was a long shot but if one existed one of you guys here would know of it.

Jerry - thanks for the picture of the 37mm. That's what I thinking of making mine look like.

Frank - I have seen the photos of your diorama. The photos of it and the photos
of David Waples PT-109 inspired me to start building my kit.

Garth - thanks for the reply, however, I'm not doing the 109,

David - thanks for the ideas. I may end up just picking a boat number and fitting it out
like I want with the idea that it's possible the boat was fitted out this way at
some point in it's career. But I will look at the pictures you mention.

Thanks again!
GregB



Not a bad idea Greg. I'm sure all those earlier PT's started off with tubes before they received roll off racks as evidenced by the boats I mentioned. These boats were in a constant state of change. Enjoy the build.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 7:18pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



I remember seeing a photo of - I THINK - PT-115 at idle in Rendova Harbor which had the torpedo tubes and a SO-Type radar. A man is sitting astride the starboard forward tube and the boat had its smoke generator mounted going fore-aft on the centerline of the boat rather than having it going port-starboard.

That could be a boat to model.

Garth



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 15, 2011 - 9:54am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Garth,

You are absolutely right. I have that picture.

I'm guessing that at some point and time that boat (or another very similiar to it) had a 37MM on the bow before the tubes were removed.

Thanks,
GregB



Posted By: GregB | Posted on: May 15, 2011 - 12:36pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: May 12, 2011 - 9:08am



Oh, heck yeah..................

Probably after that photo was taken.

Garth



Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 15, 2011 - 2:33pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered