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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
THUNDERBOLT SYSTEM
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I am looking for any drawings of the Thunderbolt system as my next project has changed. Yes, PT-66 is first still, but that thunderbolt has always intrigued me. I have Ed Behney's photo's of the one Don Rosencrantz made while at Elco, but if not mistaken PT-559, which I want to do had a quad 20mm mounted thunderbolt.. I would love any line drawings or the boat itself, and any help as to the actual color pattern she might have carried while with Ron 29. I think besides the thunderbolt, she carried 4 MK-XIII, and a 37mm up front. Would appreciate as always any information. I think the thunderbolt alone would be a cool build. I will use the Italeri boat for this project.. I think STAN might just kill me...........
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 3, 2011 - 4:55am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Watch your mail...
Al
Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Dec 3, 2011 - 12:14pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm
PT Boats Inc also has some good drawings of the Thunderbolt system.
Dave
David Waples
Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Dec 3, 2011 - 12:55pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm
Al
I love when Santa comes early
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 3, 2011 - 1:26pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Dave
Thanks I will check that out as well. I wonder what color PT-559 carried while in the Med.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 3, 2011 - 1:35pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Frank;
PT 559 was Thayer Blue in the Med, with yellow air regonition mark painted on deck forward, from bullnose to the aft side of the forward chain locker hatch. Also a 2-3 foot wide red stripe, for aerial recognition painted on the stern, from aft of deck to forward of smoke generator.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 4, 2011 - 11:10am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Thanks Ted, that's an interesting color scheme. I don't think I have ever seen Thayer Blue before. Are you saying the hull, deck, and superstructures were all blue? Maybe someone out there has already done one of these models before............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 4, 2011 - 12:38pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
The basic measure is MS16 - Thayer Blue vertical surfaces, Deck Blue (20-B) horizontal surfaces. These are from the WEM Colour Coats chip pages:
[IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/paint_0002.jpg[/IMaGe]
Some time back, there was a discussion on this site that showed that some or all of the boats had a light (white?) panel running along the deck edge between the yellow and red panels. If you do a search, you should come up with that.
Al
Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Dec 4, 2011 - 3:04pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm
Thanks for the color chips Al. I will check on the red and yellow surfaces as ted had mentioned.....
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 4, 2011 - 5:54pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Hi Frank,
I did some research on the 559 when I built my conversion of her. There are a couple of good photos in Frank Johnson's book which show the stripe on the stern and the markings on her bridge. In addition to the Thunderbolt she also had a single 20mm on the bow.
Here's a link to some photos of the model over at Modelwarships.com:
[url]http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/misc/patrol/pt-35-ss/ss-index.html[/url]
Steve Sobieralski
Posted By: Steve Sobieralski | Posted on: Dec 5, 2011 - 8:10am
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Feb 11, 2011 - 8:26am
Steve
I thank you for the update, and providing me with a look at your model. I think it came out fantastic. I was curious though as to where you got the color scheme for the deck. It is the first time I have seen that color decking on any PT BOAT. I think the Thayer Blue looks really nice. Another question comes to mind as to the colors you choose for the helm area. was this something you researched as well? Over-all the boat looks really fantastic. I think you should just give me that one for my Exhibit, and i can let Stan take a rest. Are you done laughing yet? Thanks again Steve, the photos will help Stan very much when we get to that project, after PT-66. I think those photos of her you should post here on the message board.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 5, 2011 - 8:40am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
The deck is deck blue. The boats were painted in Measue 16, which called for Thayer blue vertical surfaces and deck blue horizontal surfaces. However, most of the photos of Ron 22 boats seem to show that only the main deck received the deck blue, while the cabin tops were painted Thayer blue. The cockpit colors are total speculation on my part. I guessed that when the camouflage was applied things like the instrument panel, steering wheel and .50 caliber turret mechanisms might have been left in the factory gray finish, but I could be totally wrong about that.
If really you want the model I would be happy to donate it to your exhibit. I have limited display space and I can't think of a better place for it. If we can figure out a way to get it to you in one piece you are welcome to it.
Steve Sobieralski
Steve Sobieralski
Posted By: Steve Sobieralski | Posted on: Dec 5, 2011 - 9:29am
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Feb 11, 2011 - 8:26am
Steve
I would be honored to except your boat for the Exhibit. Would you please contact me off site here so we might talk. You can reach me at mosquitofleet@comcast.net. I think your offer is wonderful, and I would be honored to include your boat in any and all of my Exhibits......I would pay for any shipping and packing, and I am sure Stan would repair anything that might get damaged in transit. It would probably be qa good idea to take the boat to UPS Packing Store, or any store in your area that packages goods for shipment............................
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 5, 2011 - 11:16am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
You'll find ready-mixed (and accurate) 5-B Thayer Blue and 20-B Deck Blue here:
https://www.whiteensignmodels.com/c/Pre1945+US+Navy+Colours/46/1/
Cheers,
John Snyder
White Ensign Models
http://WhiteEnsignModels.com
Posted By: John Snyder | Posted on: Dec 5, 2011 - 1:08pm
Total Posts: 11 | Joined: Jul 6, 2010 - 2:20pm
John
Thanks very much for the update,
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 5, 2011 - 7:23pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Steve;
Awesome looking boat! You are dead on with your colors, and the cockpit area speculation could be possible.
Frank;
Didn't we have a color photo from critical past of one of the RON 29 boats, recently?
take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 7, 2011 - 8:05am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
ted
I think I recall seeing a color shot from RON 29, but I thought it was you that found it on their site. I am so pleased to be getting this boat for the Exhibit............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 7, 2011 - 8:28am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
This is the shot you're probably thinking of, Frank. Very cool with the red stripe.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Alex%20Johnson/RON29_red_stern.jpg[/image]
ALEX
Posted By: Alex Johnson | Posted on: Dec 8, 2011 - 9:21am
Total Posts: 70 | Joined: Mar 2, 2007 - 12:07pm
Thanks Alex.
That is the one I was thinking about, and the one I am sure Ted was referring to. That Thayer Blue is a pretty cool color...............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 8, 2011 - 1:20pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Alex;
Thanks, That is the one. this film footage and the others on that site are the only color footage I know taken in the Med. One photo is at HQ, it is of PT 308 and a RON 29 boat docked in St Tropez, France late 1944/early 1945, but they are stern to the camera, and that is the only view you get.
Thanks again.
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 9, 2011 - 1:36pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Anyone know the number of the boat in the picture?
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Dec 9, 2011 - 2:22pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
Will;
No unfortunatly, that guy in the photo never moves out of the way in the footage, so we are never able to see the number on the engine cover vent.
take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 10, 2011 - 5:53pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Great link Steve - that's a great build there.
Frank - if my memory is correct - I don't think there were any 37mm's in the Med - but that is just from memory, not from a confirmed source. I know the Ron15 boats were a forward 20mm; I haven't looked at tons of Ron 22 and 29 photos but I thought they were mostly bow 20mm's as well.
**Cue the photos of 22 and 29 boats with bow 37mm's** 
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Dec 11, 2011 - 8:39am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Good Point Steve
I will need to do some digging into this, although I thought I had a photo of PT-559 with what looks to be a covered up 37MM on the bow. I will need to look though to be sure.................
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 11, 2011 - 8:59am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Boats assigned to Ron 29 at one time did have 37mm mounts, but they may not have been added until after they finished their Med tour.
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Dec 11, 2011 - 10:55am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
I was looking at this photo from before. I think AL Ross posted it somewhere before. This is RON29 in Bastia with a zoom on PT561 I think. We were discussing the stripe on the front for recognition. I dont see no 37mm's on the bow! Jerry
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/PT561RON29Bastia.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/PT561RON29Bastiazoom.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 11, 2011 - 1:18pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
I'll buy that one Jerry, and it also looks like one of those boats is carrying a MK-VIII Torpedo as well in a roll off rack. Thanks for the zoom shot. Boy, what a Diorama that would make.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 12, 2011 - 1:41am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
There is a series of photos, which I'm sure most of you have seen, of the ex-Ron 29 boats making a post-war trip to Chicago. At that time some of the boats, specifically the 557, have a bow mounted 37mm and rocket launchers, as well as retaining the forward 20mm. There is also a photo somewhere, a bow-on shot at speed I think, of the 559 with the 37mm on the bow. I believe these extra armaments were added after the boats were transferred stateside to a training squadron. There are several photos of the 557 and 559 in the Med with only the forward 20mm.
Steve Sobieralski
Posted By: Steve Sobieralski | Posted on: Dec 12, 2011 - 6:01am
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Feb 11, 2011 - 8:26am
Steve
You are correct. I have a few shots of those boats after coming home to the States in which they were mounted with the 37MM Auto Cannon. In viewing several photos of Ron 29 in the Med, none that I could see had the 37MM on their bows. The 559 you made Steve, is in fact correct for the period.................
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 12, 2011 - 6:29am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Is that trip the one shown in Dick's Youtube page? [url]http://www.youtube.com/user/rjwgdi[/url]
SH
Posted By: Hadly | Posted on: Dec 12, 2011 - 8:13am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered