I've begun playing with photo tools and got a few results to share.

Beauty, mate....check yer pm's...
~Gunny

Gunny. I got your PM and sent you a reply. thanks.
Ed

HOw much of that is the stock kit? I really kind of like that version too (as well as the initial version of the Elco). Despite all the extra guns, it doesn't look too cluttered

Sweet! I love the second photo.

To backdate the kit I

1. Made molds and cast 2 additional 20mm guns and parts to make 3 mounts, 2 for the additional 20s and one for the 37mm. I did not use the kits 37mm mount or base.
2. Cast the bases for the 37mm and both outboard 20mm.
3. Cast a second smoke dispenser after a 495 crewman told me she carried 2.
4. Cast 3 additional 20 mm mags.
5. Cast 4 additional "Ready-ammo" boxes.
6. Built the Radome from scratch and modified the mast.
7. Augmented the 50 cal depression bars.
8. Built the port side twin 50 cal craddle, ammo boxes and mount.
9. Added 2 50 cal and mounts and ammo boxes to the starboard 20mm to make an "Acey-Ducey". They used the same boxes as the 50 turrets so I had to made curved boxes and brackets to hold them.
10. Made mounts and added the 30 cal and boxes to splash shields.
11. Cut down the engine room hatch to the correct width for this particular boat.
12. Modified the roll-off racks to be closer to an earlier style than in the kit.
13. Modified the cockpit to look a bit like the earlier style this boat had.
14. Added PE ammo belts everywhere. The kit's plastic one suck.
15. Used Gator's paint masks for all the markings and insignia.
16. I made the "Gentleman Jim" decal from a photo of the rear nameplate in the PT Boat display at Falls River, Mass. It was my first homemade decal.
17. Almost forgot, the kit's ammo belt feeders attached to the twin 50 cals are only positioned correcly if the guns are level. i wanted mine pointing up so I had to cut them and turn them correctly.

It is a great kit. I could have done less if i chose another boat to backdate, like a channel or med boat but I wanted a Ron 33 boats. Also, I didn't know what I was getting into whan i started. I learned a lot. This is my first boat model, first time casting parts and first time using paint masks but I love the outcome.

Ed

Gator,
The originals of both photos are big. They are about 22 x 16 and I'm going to look for someplace to make a poster. With a 1 inch white border it might look pretty good framed and on my office wall.
Ed

Gunny,
I sent you 3 e-mails with attachments..
Ed

Very nice!

Thanks, Ed!
I'll take a look and see what we can do!
Cheers,
~Gunny

If you want more or better, specific shots, let me know.
Ed

Ed,

beautiful job, love the MGs and ammo and detail, all around great stuff - oh, and the pix are well done too!

I just bought Photoshop and wanted to see what I could do.



Now, the real photo.



I've never done this before and the photo of the model needed to be a little better but it was fun. No crew plus cloe examination make it easy to spot as not real.
Ed

Ed, excuse a beginner's question(s), but did you build everything as sub assemblies 1st? I ask because looking at your pics from last winter, the kit looks fully built in unfinished plastic. Then the initial painting pics show a stripped down boat.

Also, what did you use to tone down the paint color?

Thanks.

Jim Flynn

Hi Ed

Excellent, excellent!
This is a good aproach on showing your built!
Just two things (a request and a advice):
Request:
Bow and stern shots, please

Advice
You have done a good job with the old photo! The only issue is the lighting.. the original one seems to be on a cloudy day (you almost get no hard shadows), so try and reproduce the weather, using a white sheet to block the direct light - you'll get a much better effect, and than just repeat the overlaying with the old photo

Congrats,
Skipper

Thanks Guys. I painted in sub-assemblies. The unpainted photos are just placed but not glued. It doesn't show well in the photos but the deck has the camo pattern on it too and then the Deck Green was sprayed over it, just like the real boat. The base colors were lightened with some flat white or light neutral grey and sprayed in random vertical passes on the hull and cabins. The deck was done in a more "wear" inspired pattern. Then they were lightened a little more and repeated but with faster, more widely spaced strokes. A third lightened pass was done even faster. The trick is to lighten just enough and do it just enough to see some effect without making it look too washed out and grey. This was my first ship so it took some practice. After paint was dry it dry it got a good coat of future followed with washes of raw and burnt umber oils that were rubbed off in the direction of the lightened paint patterns. Probably the hardest painting was the marine growth at the waterline.

Here is another photo:


and a link to more photos. Please forgive the dust in some of the photos. Some were taken before I cleaned her up and put her in her display case.
Photos
Skipper, thanks for the advice. There is a lot to learn.

Ed

Ed,

After looking at your great build and what you were able to do with it in the photos I think I'll be getting that program. You said it was Photoshop?

I used Photoshop Elements 5.0.

I bought it from a place called SRS Nova. Google them and you will find their site. They had the best price. The package arrived a few days later just as advertised. The CD was labeled "Bundle use" or something like that but it is the full program and ran on my XP Home PC perfectly.

Ed,

Thanks, I'll be ordering that for sure. The site gave a price of 36 bucks...not bad.

Yep. That is what I paid. The software takes some learning but once the light dawned it was pretty cool. There are so many options and adjustment it can be overwehming at first. It is also addictive. You have been warned!

Ed, do you mind if I put your photos in the Gator's Mask gallery?

Gator,
No problem at all. Your masks were very critical to getting the finished model the way it ended up. Withoutout them I doubt the outcome would have been as good. Please post as you wish.
Ed

BTW,
I'm thinking about building another boat. This time the 559 from Ron 29 in the Med. It had a Thunderbolt. I'll need more custom masks. Before I tried your masks on the 495, getting the markings and stand the way I wanted them was a major concern that I fretted about a lot. Now, for the 559, the markings will hardly get a second thought.

Thanks Ed. I'll post the photos this weekend.

Gator,
I was looking at your site and it looks like some of your navigation buttons (links) are pointing to the wrong locations.
Ed

Thanks for the heads up Ed. I'll check it out tonight.

edit: Mystery solved. Link repair to be conducted tonight.