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Л Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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Л Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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Л Topic: Huckins 1/72 and 1/35 Models
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All,

Here's a status on my Huckins PT Boat kit project. I started with the 1/72 version and am also working on an R/C capable 1/35 scale version and have posted a few photos showing the slow progress (darn that real job). Taking full advantage of the boxy design, these kits will be laser cut (laserboard and plywood).

Biggest challenge was in determining the actual layout and making the boat drawings. The Huckins drawings from Jacksonville were helpful, but almost all were early drawings and not of the actual production boats. Fortunately the awesome photo collection at Memphis and Battleship Cove, coupled with the National Archives material (a thousand thanks to Chip Marshall) allowed me to gather all the needed material. I couldn't believe how many variations these 18 boats went through, but my favorite is the early 1944 Ron 26 version. These all had been fitted out with SO Radars before they left Florida and had the port bow mounted 20mm, four Mk13 torps, three depth charges, aft 40mm, and for about a month, either a bow mounted single 50 cal, or twin 30 cal (aircraft). Boat color was gray with white block numbers.

The plan is to rely on donor kits for most of the boat weapons. I'm working on an SO radar for the 1/72 scale to fill that void. Deck hatches will all be cut out and can be detailed open (or closed). I will also provide a sep detail kit for the engine compartment complete with bulkheads, vents, exhaust, supports, and 3 cast Packard engines (both scales) by my friends at Crow River.

The below photos show the early work (the superstructure and gun tubs are just sitting on the deck). The deck framing was a fun project and gives the boat the deck shear and camber. The engine compartment, and in the 1/35 scale the fuel tank compartment, can be accessed. The GRP hulls are by Christian Sheppard-Capurro and are beautiful works of art.

I don't have any estimate on when these will be ready as kits, but will continue to squeeze in the work when I can and provide updates on this thread. The first 1/35 scale build is destined for the PT Boat Museum and I've promised the first kit to Frank. Huckins Yachts will receive one of my 1/72 builds as a thanks for all their support on my book project.

Happy Holidays!

Cheers,
Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Dec 10, 2014 - 9:11am
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Lookin' good!

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Dec 10, 2014 - 9:37am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

This is going to be wonderful and a much needed addition to those of us that love the PT BOATS. Although Huckins only built 18 boats, they are still a part of history and thanks to Andy, they will one day be available to build. In 1/35 scale this is going to be an impressive boat.

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Dec 10, 2014 - 10:42am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

Just.............Wow!

Posted By: cdsc123 | Posted on: Dec 10, 2014 - 3:19pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Andy, nice work! Are you going to release kits of these? Also, are those 50 cal. tubs made of the brass ends of shotgun shells? I think I see a drilled out primer pocket in the bottom of them!

Mike

Posted By: Michael Vorrasi | Posted on: Dec 11, 2014 - 11:02am
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Jul 1, 2013 - 11:46am

Hi Mike,

These will be kits and the tubes are from cut 19/32 brass tubing. I also have a small company called Train Troll [url]http://www.traintroll.com[/url], and make mostly waterline craft for HO and O scale train layouts. Right now I'm in the process of trying to complete the instructions for my HO scale towboat release.

The Huckins kits are the first in a new line of kits I hope to release under Naval Classics.com. I've also been puttering around with a Revell Elco decking update, but trying to splice my deck in with the Revell injection molded pieces has just not worked to my liking. Below is a photo of the decking.

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Dec 11, 2014 - 1:59pm
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Andy;
What a nice looking model, as Frank said it will be a nice addition.
While in Hawaii this week I saw a hand full of possible ЈsurvivorsЈЈ at the Waikiki yatch basin/marina, however, I was driving with the family and could not stop to investigate them, other priorities you know:0)
I know most of RON 26 and at least two RON 1 77Д ELCO boats were sold off in Hawaii after the war, I wonder how many survive today. RON 26 CO, Lester Gamble remained in Hawaii after the war and became a successful businessman, he would probably been the best local source for info on this subject.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 11, 2014 - 5:56pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Puttered a bit more. first photo shows the deck framing for the 1/35 scale and the other shows the 1/72 spray shield. A bit of a chore to create the shield in 1/72 scale (reason I normally model in 1/48 scale). Pat's 3D printing would make short work of this

Cheers,
Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Dec 12, 2014 - 10:31am
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Andy,
Three things I did not ever expect to see:

1) World peace
2) Chicago Cubs in the World Series
3) 1/72 Huckins type Pt boat KIT

Still standing by for #'s 1+2.

Beautiful job, keep up the good work.

ROSS FISHER

ross@dupagels.lib.il.us

Posted By: ROSS FISHER | Posted on: Dec 13, 2014 - 10:53am
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Jul 23, 2008 - 10:03am

Puttered some more recently on the 1/72 scale. Added more hull and deck items, as well as positioned (not glued yet) the Revell torpedoes for the Ron 14, PT 98-102 original version. Will need to detail the tubes, tube mounts and training details.

Starting to look like the boat.
- Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Dec 26, 2014 - 5:02am
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Andy, the job you are doing is simply wonderful. It is so refreshing to see the HUCKINS boat being built. It is just one of those boats that is lost in History because it didn't see action. Lt. Les Gamble, the CO of Ron 26, wrote in the forward of my book, HUCKINS boats were without a doubt the smoothest riding PT's we had. Keep up the good work on the build, it looks great...................

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Dec 26, 2014 - 6:30am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

Smooth enough to take the First Lady out for a spin back in March 1944! She and RADM Train sat comfortably on wicker chairs positioned on top of PT-98's engine compartment. This day outing was during Eleanor's 1944 tour of Panama:

My Day - 29 March, 1944

- Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Dec 26, 2014 - 7:09am
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

That is excellent work Andy! Thanks for sharing your progress.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Dec 26, 2014 - 10:38am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Andy,
Your workmanship on the Huckins boats is exceptional. I did enough competitive ship building back in the day (1975-1985) to appreciate your craftsmanship.
I was a 1/72 builder; kit-bashing in that scale will help keep costs down, but niche marketing being what it is, these will still be very expensive to produce.
With 3 cast Packard engines, bulkheads, brass tubing, etc, they could be quite costly. Wikipedia informs me that the Navy paid
$265,500 per Huckins Boat. But you should be able to bring the per-kit cost in under that...at least the 1/72 version.
(Throw in an in-scale Lt. Les Gamble and Eleanor Roosevelt in a deck chair and all bets are off.)

Ross Fisher

(I've been out of ship building a while, what does GRP stand for?)

ross@dupagels.lib.il.us

Posted By: ROSS FISHER | Posted on: Dec 31, 2014 - 8:12am
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Jul 23, 2008 - 10:03am

Hi Ross,

Thank you for the kind words. I do low volume kits as my hobby business, but these kits will be a bit more than my usual ones due to the custom hull work. Glass reinforced plastic is the GRP I referred to. No estimates on kit cost.

Andy.

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Dec 31, 2014 - 9:02am
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm