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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: Newbie intro and questions
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Greetings all,

I've been lurking doing a lot of reading and finally decided to post. First, I guess an introduction is in order; name’s Bruce, served 22 years in Uncle Sam's Canoe club retiring as a Chief Operations Specialist. I have been interested in PT's since I built the PT-109 model as a kid when it first came out.
I am coming to the board in the capacity of a model builder, I primarily dapple as a scratch builder but I build kits occasionally. In this case I've begun modifying the PT-109 kit to represent PT-337.
Now comes the first question; does anyone have a picture or a drawing of what the vent of the engine room/ventilator looked like? I've roughed out the basis of the assembly but not sure what to do with the vent. Also, I'm assuming the vent went down the aft side of the assembly somehow; I'm considering showing the hatch open and need to know how it would look.


my thanks to all in advance,

Bruce

Bruce Ross


Posted By: bwross | Posted on: Aug 29, 2011 - 7:27pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Bruce;
For starters go to www.pt-boat.com for the later engine hatch. Welcome aboard.
Take care,
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 30, 2011 - 7:42am
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



[IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/erh.jpg[/IMaGe]

Al Ross



Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Aug 30, 2011 - 2:21pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm



Thank you gentlemen for the information; Ted great link referral, lots of good stuff there; Al thanks for the drawing that will come in handy.

I do have a follow up question; I notice on the website the availabilty of a DVD with Elco drawings.....is this worth the money?

thanks again.

Bruce

Bruce Ross


Posted By: bwross | Posted on: Aug 30, 2011 - 5:54pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered




I do have a follow up question; I notice on the website the availabilty of a DVD with Elco drawings.....is this worth the money?


Only if you place any value on a couple thousand factory drawings for the 77' and 80' ELCOs...[:-veryhappy-:]

Al Ross



Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Aug 31, 2011 - 2:50am
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm



Bruce;
I concur with Al.
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 31, 2011 - 9:20am
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



Hi, Bruce!

Welcome to this forum! I've been "lurking" around here since starting my USS Oyster Bay dio. The answers on PT Boats lay here in this message board.

What scale is your PT-337? Did I miss the scale?




Posted By: Carl M | Posted on: Sep 1, 2011 - 8:10pm
Total Posts: 79 | Joined: Jan 12, 2010 - 1:15pm



First, I knew the question about the plans was a dumb one as soon as I hit enter......need to think more before posting.

Hey Carl, I'm modifying the old Revell 1/72 PT-109 kit. Just trying to get the modeling drive going again so I can return to the Cook Inlet and make some progress.

Bruce

Bruce Ross


Posted By: bwross | Posted on: Sep 2, 2011 - 3:35am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Welcome to the forum Bruce. I've had some experience with this kit so if I can be of any help let me know. Looking forward to seeing some progress photos of your build.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 2, 2011 - 4:12am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



Gentlemen,
A few more questions if I may; first, I have ordered the drawing DVD so hopefully I won't have to ask all these questions in the future. But in the meantime; for some perverse reason I'm thinking about detailing out the day cabin and opening the top hatch, so the question is what was the overhead clearance (inside deck to overhead) of the day cabin?
The foredeck toe boards; looking at pictures they look to be 1" thick and about 3"-4" high, is that about right?
And finally, looking at the deck, Revell molded in some wonderful planking but studying pictures I don't note any indications of plank lines....any opinions? I'm thinking of sanding them all out at the moment but that's a lot of work.

thanks for all your help and patience,

Bruce

Bruce Ross


Posted By: bwross | Posted on: Sep 10, 2011 - 7:06pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Hi Bruce, good move buying the DVD. It is a wealth on info straight from the horse's mouth. And possibly into the mouth of super-detailing hell. Here's a list of the drawings on the DVD that should come in handy: [url]http://www.pt103.com/microfilm/Elco_80_Microfilm_List.txt[/url].

The forward 9' 5 7/8" part of the day room roof was removable for fuel tank access, you might consider that to show off the detailing better. The floor went several feet below deck and was level so inside height varied. The drawings will show you all the details.

The foot rail was 2 3/4" height. Width was 1 1/2" at the base and 1 3/16" at the top. The taper was on the outboard, the inboard was square. The scallops were 1 1/8" high with a side radius of 1 1/4". Width between the scallops was about 4 3/16" wide. You may have noticed in photos that the scallop widths were not equal, they were dependent on the frame spacing which was also not equal. Frame spacing can be found here: [url]http://www.pt103.com/PT_Boat_Components_Hull.html[/url]. The rail was mounted 12 5/8" in from outboard of the gun'l guard to inboard of the rail.

The planking may be too pronounced like a lot of panel lines on aircraft models. Hopefully someone more familiar with the Revell boat can advise you. Visibility of the planking in photos varies a lot...




Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 5:10am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am



The planking on the Revell kit is too pronounced. Planks on these boats were not laid down like on battleships. It resembles something more like a kitchen floor if that makes sense. I don't recall if there was anything between the planks but it's not noticeable especially when painted.

If you're up for it the best solution for the Revell kit is to sand out all the planking detail. If you don't have the WEM photoetch set take care not to sand out the deadlight details. Those holders for the life raft did not exist on the boats so you can remove them if you like.

When finishing the deck there are a number of options. These decks take a beating from the sun and foot traffic. If you look at photos of decks you can see that they are very faded and in some cases the paint is rubbed away exposing primer and bare wood. You can really go crazy with weathering on these decks.

Let me know if I can be of help.

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 9:01am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



Hi Bruce,
I dont know if you have seen these before, but William Maloney has posted some good photos of the inside of the Day Room on his website. Look under the heading "Crews Quarters"

[url]http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/PTBoat/index.htm[/url]

Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 9:05am
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



These are the day room interior of the 589 as completed. When you get your DVD, check them against the drawings for your series boat as there are some differences.

[IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/dr2-1.jpg[/IMaGe][IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/dr1-1.jpg[/IMaGe]

Al Ross



Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 9:25am
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm



Excellent photos Al, thank you for posting them. Day room interior shots seem to be rare.




Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 10:06am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am



Hey Al,
Is one of those doors in the Day Room for the purpose of passing a stretcher through? Which one is it? Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 11:12am
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



[IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/dr3.jpg[/IMaGe]

The ELCO drawings do not show it being fitted to the 314-367 group. I didn't see the drawings for the 372-383 group, but it is there on the PT 486 on drawings.

Al



Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 12:04pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm



Jeff, thanks for the information on the foot rail...exactly what I was looking for.

Dave, thanks for your thoughts about the deck planking on the Revell kit. Be careful about offering your help; I just may take you up on it! LOL

And Al, thanks for the posting the pictures.

I guess it makes sense that the cabin top would open since the rest of the boat was designed for accessibility. Now looking at Al's pictures, especially the one looking aft I notice what looks like hinges on the overhead. Did the roff hinge open or was it entirely removed like the engine room access panel? And I'm guessing that the mast had to be removed to open the top up.

Al I do have to ask; you mentioned to haven't seen the stretcher hatch on the group that 337 was a part of......if I don't have that hatch on the aft bulkhead.....what was there, is anything?

Thanks again guys.

Bruce

Bruce Ross
OSC Crow

Posted By: bwross | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 6:11pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered




I guess it makes sense that the cabin top would open since the rest of the boat was designed for accessibility. Now looking at Al's pictures, especially the one looking aft I notice what looks like hinges on the overhead. Did the roff hinge open or was it entirely removed like the engine room access panel? And I'm guessing that the mast had to be removed to open the top up.

Al I do have to ask; you mentioned to haven't seen the stretcher hatch on the group that 337 was a part of......if I don't have that hatch on the aft bulkhead.....what was there, is anything?
EndQuote]

These are the aft (left) and forward (right) bulkheads for the 314-367 boats. They had only a window like those on the sides in the position of the litter hatch on the later boats.

[IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/dr-1.jpg[/IMaGe]
No hinges on the roof. It unbolted and lifted off.

Al Ross



Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Sep 11, 2011 - 7:45pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm



Glad to help Bruce. Good luck with the build!

Al, notice that the drawing doesn't reflect the wider door (same door as on the forward turret) found on PT 167 and above. None of the bulkhead joiner section drawings do and as far as I know they are the only drawings that show the day room turret doors. Your photo above confirms the wider doors and removes a nagging doubt I had because of the drawings. The only other interior photo showing the (narrow) door I have is from your Allied Coastal Forces book.




Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 12, 2011 - 6:10am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am