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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: 1/35 scale 40mm Bofors
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2856

Now that the 623 is finished and I'm waiting for it to cool off out here so I can get some new photos of her, I have been thinking about a new project. It was a toss-up between the waterfront of the Elco Bayonne facility or a large Pacific type PT Base. Using some photos in Frank's and Victor's outstanding books, I was able to scale-down some dimensions on the Elco Plant. I should have listened to Frankie when he said, "It's going to be to large". With a waterfront of over 1,450 feet, I would need over 90 feet to do it in the same scale as the 623, and if I down size and use my Italeri boats, I will still need over 42 feet just for the waterfront ! So, that is not going to happen. Instead, I'll stick with the base idea and keep it around 4' x 12'. More on that later. While searching for some trucks to use in the new diorama, I came across a great kit by Hobby Boss in 1/35 scale of a GMC CCKW 353 transport truck. The best thing here is it has a 40mm Bofors mount on the back. Build the truck as a transport and now you have an awesome 1/35 scale 40mm Bofors to mount on the bow of that Italeri kit you have on the shelf, or better yet, wait for the new 109 kit and really get crazy. Hope this inspires some new ideas. I'm going to build this truck as a mobile crane. We'll see what happens. I would love any suggestions.

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Oct 4, 2012 - 9:10am
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Roy;
FYI.....PT 174 RON 10(LTjg. Russel W. Rome, Skipper) was the only 80' ELCO to have the 40mm gun mounted on the bow, and this was a factory modification. This lasted until mid- late 1944, when the 40mm was removed from the fordeck, the sterss was too much on the hull. This was also found to be true in the first generation Gunboats(PT 59-61) and the 2nd generation(PT 282-285). PT 174 finished the war with an ELCO Thunderbolt on the stern and standard 20mm(1) and 37mm gun(1) on bow.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Oct 4, 2012 - 7:18pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks for that info Ted.

One of my 1/32 scale Lindberg models has the 40 mm on the bow. I gjuess I`ll move it to the aft deck whilst I`m refurbishing that model.

Cheers

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

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Oct 4, 2012 - 11:25pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm

Depends on what you are trying to replicate in your Diorama Roy. Have you decided what Base you are trying to build, or are you doing just common base set up and forgo which Base. Frank Ryczek built the type of base you are trying to do. Has he sent you photo's of this build as of yet.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 5, 2012 - 1:36am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

I have been in close contact with Frank R. about the awesome job he did with his as well as helping on yours. This base diorama is going to be a generic set-up so I am not confined to "having" to do it a certain way and stick to the way any certain base was set-up. For me, I enjoy the freedom and is also why the 623 was the perfect number for the big boat. You are also right about the pants, but my crew is right out of Melville. Ha They are dirty but not faded yet.

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Oct 6, 2012 - 8:36pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Roy, glad you are talking to Frank R. He has some great ideas and even better skills at building things that would have been on a PT BASE. I am sure you are getting some good ideas from looking at his photos. I am sure myself and all the guys here on the message board will be looking forward to seeing your photos as you progress with this most massive project.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 7, 2012 - 4:44am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Ahoy there Roy-

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that I have been away from this message board for a very long time but I just had to reply to my new friend, Roy Forbes.

I think a mobile crane is a great idea, Roy for conversion to the Hobby Boss kit!

I'm saving up my pennies in high hopes of getting my hands on the new Italerie 103 class PT kits. I would really like to do a RON -10 boat, the 169 "ZEBRA SNAFU" in zebra stripe camouflage! I have 3 of the older Lindberg kits, and back in the day they were the only large PT kits around! Seems as if you wait long enough and wish hard enough you get what you wish for.

Roy, you will be receiving a very special shipment from base Tulagi due to arrive at your base this coming Saturday. Let me know when you get the shipment.

Glad to be back on the board, guys!

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 - 12:48pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm

Good to see you again, Frank.....

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Oct 7, 2012 - 7:37pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Glad your back Frank, nice to hear from you.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 7, 2012 - 9:04pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am