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

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: PT-623 Build
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2817

Hi All,

I'm new to "posting" on this board, but have been reading for some time. After getting back in the hobby after several distractions over the years, I decided to build another PT now that so many new products and advancements in the hobby were being made. The newest boat, the 623 was only going to take 8 months but once I got started, the project lasted 3 times longer than planed but I was thrilled with the outcome. So I wanted to share a few photos of the completed project with you.

By now I do have 2 full crews, one for patrol and one for General Quarters, a fully detailed dock with supplies, an on-board camera for both stills and video shot from the boat while underway and a lot more deck detail done but it is way to hot on the river to go down to the Colorado River for more photos right now. She does have a working radar and can fire all 16 rockets at once or in groups of 4 by radio. I wouldn't go into all the details here but if you have the last issue of "All Hands", Alyce included a story on the build.

As a side note, I have been a member of PT Boats, Inc. since 1975 and remember well the many wonderful conversations with "Boats" back in the day. I was at the Museum Dedication in 1976 when I donated a scratch built 5 foot PT-327 to the museum and demonstrated my 326 boat from a rowboat during the morning for all the folks and dignitaries that were there. Recently my wife Susan and I took a drive over to HQ to see Alyce this past spring and we had a ball.

I hope to be a more frequent poster to this board. I hope you enjoy some of my current photos of PT-623 build below:

Roy

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-012.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-039.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-046.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-098.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-108.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-113.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-064.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-074.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Roy%20Forbes/PT-623-034.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 9:29am
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

looks awesome Italeri?

Jim Melanson

Posted By: Jim Melanson | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 9:40am
Total Posts: 17 | Joined: Dec 20, 2006 - 8:16am

Roy . . .

What can be said - Excellent !

Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 10:02am
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

post a vid of her running!! I have a few models I need to finish/build. Motorized of course.
A lindberg 103 class, a 77 PT 20 class, and Italeri 586 kit (needs to be motorized) and a Duma Higgins kit.

Jim Melanson

Posted By: Jim Melanson | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 10:21am
Total Posts: 17 | Joined: Dec 20, 2006 - 8:16am

Hi Jim,

Not Italeri, This gal is 5 feet long and scratch built from Baltic Birch, styrene and lots of brass.
I'm going to do a DVD of her in action using an onboard video, a second camera boat running along side and footage from shore. There will also be footage of the 3 Japanese A6M Zeros that flew together at the Chino Air Show this year added in "attacking" her. But it needs to get much cooler for that to happen.....

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 11:16am
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Awesome job, Roy!

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 11:19am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Roy, every time I see her, I can't wait until you ship it to my house. Beautiful job my friend, enjoyed our visit.................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 11:22am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Roy;
What a beautiful boat!!! I notice she has a name and Pin-up artwork, what is she called? Thanks to Will I know PT 625 was named Coral Queen, but none is listed for PT 623.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 12:43pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Roy, I second Will's comment [b]"Awesome"[/b]

Posted By: Hadly | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 3:53pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Ted,
The 623 and 624 were never completed. After they both were about 80% finished, the Navy cancelled the contract on these two boats at which point they were then refitted for civilian use and sold. There is only one photo in existence of the 624 taken at the Elco Plant during this time and no photos seem to exist of the 623. It is for this and several other reasons I chose this boat to model. I named her "South Sea Sinner" having somewhat of a free hand with her. I did however want to model one of the boats in that 620-624 group that had the new "factory" modifications done to her forward weapons and torpedo rack placements.

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 4:38pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Frank......It seems that the poster I sent you must not be large enough. I could send you a full size one that is so much easier to ship then the boat in exchange for a certain flag.

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 4:44pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Ray;
What a fitting name! I like it! I now the photo of PT 624 you speak of. too bad we can't find out what happened to her or PT 624 after they entered civilian use.
I have found a website of interest though :

[url]http://www.internationallegendsofdiving.com/FeaturedLegends/Jordan_Klein_bio.htm[/url]

This guy was the Underwater Cinematographer and lead dive coordinator for such movies as Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Never Say Never Again, Etc.
Notice 80' PT dive boat called "MAKO". I wonder what boat this really was, it looks like an ELCO with portholes installed, or could this be PT 617, which when found, was found in the Bahamas as a dive boat. Any clues?????
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 6:23pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

HI Roy,
Excellent work! The model looks great under power. Very nice photography to compliment a wonderful build. Thanks for sharing your work.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 6, 2012 - 9:13pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

my old boat the 761 was one of the cancelled orders. She was thee most complete when the war ended.

Jim Melanson

Posted By: Jim Melanson | Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 5:12am
Total Posts: 17 | Joined: Dec 20, 2006 - 8:16am

I am trying to find the document's Chuck Marshall sent me regarding the cancelled boat orders. It may be down stairs and I will have to scan. I thought the 617 was in FL according to Barnes (who is originally from Gloucester where I am from) the guy Mr Newbury bought her from. other than being worm eaten she was not altered very much as you can see in the photo.

Jim Melanson

Posted By: Jim Melanson | Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 5:26am
Total Posts: 17 | Joined: Dec 20, 2006 - 8:16am

Roy,

Very, very nice! Excellent job. The boat looks great.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 8:52am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Let's see Roy, a photo of your model boat in exchange for one of my original BATTLE FLAGS from PT-377, you must have been drinking too much Torpedo Juice when you posted that one, lol.........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 12:18pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Top notch ! ! ! I wish I had your skill set, she is a beauty.

BO

Posted By: Black Ops | Posted on: Sep 8, 2012 - 8:42am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Nice work Roy, and big in the beam just like I like them! I look forward to seeing videos of her underway.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 9, 2012 - 4:21am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Roy-

Beautiful, just beautiful! Detail is so crisp and clean it's amazing to look at!

Friend /Modeler RONS 10 & 43
Frank J. Ryczek, Jr.

HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 7, 2012 - 12:53pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm