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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: PT-166 under construction
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2996

PT-166 under construction

Model builder Pat Hutchens sent me these photos of the new Italeri PT-109 he is building as PT-166. I thought you would like to see the boat under construction, which really looks good...............

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/1091_zpsea37c41c.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/1092_zps142d75f0.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/1093_zpseeb947df.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/1094_zpsd51bee0b.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 12:49pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank;
Pat's model looks outstanding, but something is missing, isn't it?

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ted%20Walther/PT-166.jpg[/image]

PT 166 RON 10 December 1942(she was placed in service 22 Decmber 1942).
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 2:51pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

FYI;
LTjg. William C. Battle was Skipper and Ens. George "Barney" Ross was Exec of PT 166, RON 10, when she was strafed by four USAAF B-25's on 20 July 1943, south of Ferguson Passage, while returning from patrol with PT 164 "FUBAR" (ENS. W. S. Whi1tney), and PT 168 "RAIDEN MAIDEN"(LT Edward Maculley III). PT 166 caught fire and later blew up. The crew, some wounded, went over the side just in time. They were all picked up by PT 164. PT 168, which was also on fire, but the crew put out the flames, picked up 3 survivors of the B-25 that was shot down, by 166 and 168 gunners.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 3:29pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted was she always Zebra painted before she was destroyed? Notice the port side cockpit wall, which is incorrect. I already told Pat about fixing this, which he said is an easy fix. Boat look's great so far. I hope Pat is not mad at me for posting these photos.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 4:10pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank;
From what I have seen RON 10 Boats carried Zebra on hull until at least November 1943, when PT 167 was "torpedoed". However, it was "field modified" from mostly white and black to greenish(Zinc Chromate was definetly used in this mixture) and black stripes, and Navy green deck and topside.
The next photo grouping I have seen of RON 10 photos is at Green Island in Jan 1944, and all the boats are all painted Navy Green by this time period.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 5:32pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Victor Chun's first book, "American PT Boats in World War II" (1997) has a couple of aerial photos of PT 166 afire after the friendly-fire incident of 20 July, 1943 on page 21 (credited to the PT Boat Museum).

In the first of the two b&w photos, The 166 and another Ron 10 boat standing by (the 164?) are definitely in zebra stripes, but the stripes appear to be a mixture of dark, darker, and lighter stripes (green, black, and white?).

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 7:25pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Drew;
I have seen Victor's photos, recently, since I just picked up an original copy, I last had this book in my hand in the late 1980's when I had my local library, loaned it to me!
Originally, the colors for the adapter system were White and Black stripes with a version of Sky blue, and Light gray. While I don't know about the other colors which I can only imagine were altered accordingly, the white was altered as stated, the two others were probably mixed likewise. Making them slightly darker to create the same "Useless" effect. Yes, I admit a guess, but as all of us here, an educated guess.
Take care,
TED
Totally and completely off subject, but, anyone here like my homeboys, Brian Setzer and the Stray Cats? I am listening to my Massapequa, N.Y. brothers as I write this.

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 8:59pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Drew;
Yes that is PT 164 standing off the burning PT 166. PT 164 had SCR-517 Radar as in the photo. PT 168 did not at this time, and by this time was off to save the B-25 crewmembers.
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 9:05pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

I like Pat's weathering job so far on the 166 model. She looks used, just like the real deal. . .

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 9:25pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Will;
It does look awesome! I wonder if he uses brush or airbrush. Airbrush is an on going war with me, I can spray a real Corvette, but models seem to kick my butt. So I stick to what I know, as Shepard Paine taught me, though Monogram Models.........old school.
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 2, 2013 - 10:06pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

She's coming along nicely. The only recommendation I can throw out is to fix the cockpit port side armor. All that lovely framing shouldn't be visible.

That looks like airbrush work to me. Good use of different shades and filters? Would love to hear more about his approach.

There's nothing wrong with brush painting a model. The challenge is to eliminate brush strokes which can be done with good technique. Some of the best finishes I've seen on scale models were done with brush only. Ted, if brush painting works for you go with it! For me it's a combination of the two usually.

Most important... have fun!

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jan 3, 2013 - 5:20am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

I noticed gaps between the deck and cabin on the starboard side. Is this OK, or something to be fixed later during the build?
Mike Winters
Santa Rosa, CA

Posted By: Michael Winters | Posted on: Jan 4, 2013 - 10:18am
Total Posts: 1 | Joined: Jan 4, 2013 - 10:16am

Mike, I am sure the charthouse and cabin structures, are put together, but not yet secured to the deck. I highly doubt this much of a gap would exist with this kit.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 4, 2013 - 2:42pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank, don't mind at all that you posted these...glad you did! Sorry I've been absent the last few days. I'll try to go back through and address some of the questions individually.

Pat

Posted By: Pat Hutchens | Posted on: Jan 5, 2013 - 6:54pm
Total Posts: 36 | Joined: Nov 24, 2012 - 6:03am

Frank, don't mind at all that you posted these...glad you did! Sorry I've been absent the last few days. I'll try to go back through and address some of the questions individually.

Pat

Posted By: Pat Hutchens | Posted on: Jan 5, 2013 - 6:56pm
Total Posts: 36 | Joined: Nov 24, 2012 - 6:03am

Ted, I use a Paasche VL airbrush. I've tried other good ones, but this one has done well for me. I'm putting on a base coat of Tamiya XF-61 Dark Green, followed by an overspray of Tamiya XF-73, JGSDF D. Green. I weather mostly with Burnt Sienna oil paint, but some other shades as well. This was my first attempt at "filtering" on the hull, but I'm satisfied with it.
I may scrap the idea of putting 166 on this boat, as I was unaware it was a "zebra" boat. Much as I like PT's, I'm a novice compared to many of the guys here...but I'm here to learn!

Pat

Posted By: Pat Hutchens | Posted on: Jan 5, 2013 - 7:16pm
Total Posts: 36 | Joined: Nov 24, 2012 - 6:03am

Pat;
I would think it over some more, you can paint, that is evident. PT 166 RON 10 is a unusual and also unique choice. The Adapter system is not that difficult once you get into it, however, you have to do some additional research, here because,no two boats matched, EACH boat in RON 10 was painted differently, and not only that Port sides were completely different from Starboard sides on each boat. The Starboard veiw of PT 166 that I posted here, is the only view of her that I have. Maybe HQ has (since 1997, when I copied this photo) obtained other angles of PT 166, showing Port side and stern. It is worth a try, because, no one else will have a PT 166 model.
I hope this gets the creative juices flowing!!!! Good Luck!
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 8, 2013 - 10:23am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted, I appreciate your confidence in my build. I really don't mind giving the hull a go at it, as long as I can get some further opinions that the deck structures and tubes may have been painted green by early July, '43. I'm not energetic enough to backtrack that far! I'm also attempting a half-hearted lazarette and galley area to "fill" the open hatches. Aside from that and a set of Model Master .50 barrels, and some Eduard etch gun details, this will be a pretty stock build.
I have Mr. Chuns book(s), so I can try to follow the starboard pattern from the photo of her sinking. I'll just wing it best I can on the port, and take my lumps from the critics.
One thing I learned on my 596 kit (which I did as PT-603) the deck structures fit best if glued from the bottom, where the tabs come through the slots, BEFORE gluing the deck to the hull. The fit is "mushy" if you try to force them on the deck afterwards because there is no structural support. In my pics that Frank posted, the cabins are just dropped there for progress purposes, for now.

Pat

Posted By: Pat Hutchens | Posted on: Jan 8, 2013 - 5:38pm
Total Posts: 36 | Joined: Nov 24, 2012 - 6:03am

Pat;
Thanks for the 596 model info, as I am doing two RON 40 boats in a diorama as we speak. PT 603.... Roger Jones' (the Skipper)boat , did you read his book, or did you have a different reason?
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 8, 2013 - 6:52pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted,
Until two years ago, when I retired from 25 years of police work, a fellow detective I worked with is the son of one of the crew, Angelo Crapyou. I built the boat as a gift from his family for Christmas, 2008. Mr. Crapyou resides about 4 blocks from me. I see him out occasionally walking his dog.
Send me an e-mail at hutch157@yahoo.com and I'll forward the pics I sent Frank.

Pat

Posted By: Pat Hutchens | Posted on: Jan 8, 2013 - 7:27pm
Total Posts: 36 | Joined: Nov 24, 2012 - 6:03am

Pat, I just sent Ted the photos of PT-603 that you had sent to me..............................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 8, 2013 - 10:32pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frankl
Thanks.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 9, 2013 - 6:03am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Frank;
Thanks.
Take care,
TED
Dick:
Can you please delete my earlier post, and keep this one?
Thanks,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 9, 2013 - 6:29am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Pat's PT 166 Update.

Frank

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/pt166-01.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/pt166-02.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/pt166-03.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/pt166-04.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 14, 2013 - 7:19am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Pat;
Unless you can find a photo of the Port side and stern from HQ(which I don't know if they even have them), you might have to wing it, if you decide to go this way let me know, as I have at least one photo of all in Zebra except 163, 165 and 172, some have muliple angles.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 14, 2013 - 7:59am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Steve,

I would not know - so I can't answer you with any sense of authority. Sorry.

Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Jan 20, 2013 - 9:13am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered