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: 75 inch model of ELCO 80' PT boat
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=543

Hi everyone......just browsing the internet I came across your website. I'm an amateur WWII buff (amongst many other hobbies) and was always fascinated by the PT boats.

I have two 75" hand built models of an ELCO 80' boat. Yes, over 6 feet. Beam is approximately 19" and mast height 27". I'm getting ready to convert one to R/C use with triple gas zenoah engines...figured that was fitting. The other for the time being will stay static.

They are built out of plywood, balsa and pine (wood construction is fitting too....lol), weigh around 30 lbs and by the time I finish outfitting the R/C one will probably be around 55 lbs.

Amazing detail on these, and I'd love to post pictures here for everyone but the pictures are not hosted on a website......just here on my hard drive. Don't know how scale accurate they are, but they were built from scale drawings....so I believe they are fairly so.

If anyone would like pictures feel free to email me at aronhk_md@yahoo.com

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 10, 2007 - 3:23pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I sent an e-mail for photos and will see if i can host them.
Ed

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Dec 10, 2007 - 5:52pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Thanks Ed. As I mentioned in my reply to your email as a kid I dreamed about saving an old warship from the recyclers. Owning these models is as close as I'll ever come to owning a warship.....lol. Fuel use will be substantially less too.

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 10, 2007 - 7:12pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Here you go.
[url]http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1944486[/url]

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Dec 10, 2007 - 7:45pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Thanks again Ed for hosting the photos. Since I don't know a whole lot about specific history on the PT boats anyones comments about them will be welcome. I am pretty sure the numbers do not accurately reflect any particular boats. Its my belief they were just pulled from the builder's imagination.

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 10, 2007 - 8:01pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Aron

With that size boat, I should have no problem fitting my Packard Engine into it, lol. A very nice boat, one that would be an awesome conversation piece in anyone's collection. You have done an outstanding job creating such a large boat.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 10, 2007 - 10:41pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank.........I've built a lot of models, but not these....I wish I could take credit, but I can't. The gentleman who built these had made quite a few of them. They aren't perfect....meaning the fit and finish, but considering he would make two at a time and finish them in a month.......I was pretty amazed.

I do love looking at them though, and being good with my hands as well, I'm going to make one of them roar.....lol.

Don't know if you have heard these Zenoah gas engines with tuned pipes, but they put out a cacophany of sound. Three of them roaring in unison should be reminiscent of the real thing.

Aron

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 10, 2007 - 11:03pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

The basic structure looks pretty good. At that scale there is a lifetime of details that could be added/improved.

You are correct about the numbers, 241 was a Higgins boat, not an Elco.

Very cool boats. I would love to see and hear them when you are finished adding the motors.
Ed

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Dec 11, 2007 - 7:12am
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Ed....you are right.....some of the very talented modellers could spend a lifetime detailing a model that size. They are welcome to come over and work on one of mine.....LOL. With my limited time available I hope to have mine ready for the water by spring.

I'm just glad I got two from him.....never know when he'll stop building, and models in this size range often sell for thousands of $$$.

Thanks for all the help and input.

Aron

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 11, 2007 - 7:35am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Your models are certainly BIG sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Garth

Posted By: TGarth Connelly | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 1:51pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Size matters.

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 2:11pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Yeah, but in that scale? Where could you display them in your home?

You've got a question, I've got an answer.

Posted By: TGarth Connelly | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 2:25pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

It's not the size of your torpedo. It's how you use it.

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 2:27pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

LOL.....too funny. Actually since the boat is only 19 inches wide any 7 ft long wall will do. I have two of these.....one on display in my office, the other in my hallway at home.

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 3:00pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Can I have your house?

Posted By: TGarth Connelly | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 3:04pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

When I sell it.....sure! Actually I'm going to see if that gentleman will build me a 90" version this summer.

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 3:12pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

90 inches?

You've got a question, I've got an answer.

Posted By: TGarth Connelly | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 3:36pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Yes 90"......or basically a 1/5th increase in size. Just for fun and why not. I can do 90", but I can't do 80 feet.....lol

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 15, 2007 - 4:54pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Interesting. What do you do with these models? Do you R/C them?

You've got a question, I've got an answer.

Posted By: TGarth Connelly | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 9:31am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

One for the time being is a display, the other will have R/C engines installed over this winter. The 90" one I'm not sure yet. The guy who makes them enjoys making them, so why not keep him busy....lol.

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 9:53am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

COOL. Who is it?

You've got a question, I've got an answer.

Posted By: TGarth Connelly | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 11:20am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I know him as Bruce.....lol.

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 1:19pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ah.

You've got a question, I've got an answer.

Posted By: TGarth Connelly | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 1:30pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ahoy there-

If you are going to R/C that monster, which way are you going-gas or electric? I'd love to see her on a pond on the step! My 3 1/32 scale R/C PT are toys compared to that big MAMA!

Frank Ryczek

HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 3:51pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm

You could stay busy just detailing one of these monsters. My models are at the Exhibit in Springfield, but they will be coming home, and I am running out of room. Good News though, my youngest is moving out January 1st and moving in with his Girlfriend. Guess who has dibbs on that room...........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 4:35pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Hello Frank.....and Frank....lol. The plan was to use twin Zenoah 26 cc engines, either in an inline configuration where the engines are attached to each other by crankshafts, or in a twin side by side running separate props.

Either way I'm not sure how scale I can get with the drive systems without spending a lot of money, so I'm thinking about it. Originally I thought about triple engines and triple drives, but talking to others convinced me it was really overkill power-wise.

Anyone interested in these boats can contact me....for now the guy who builds them is still building. He told me he is near completion on two more.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Posted By: aronhk | Posted on: Dec 16, 2007 - 8:00pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered