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Merit's PT Boat

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Mr. Chin did send me an email with a 'proto-type' of the decal sheet and here it is:

A modeler can easily finish the kit as any of the PT-565 to PT-624 production series of the Elco eighty-foot PT boat design. Of course, only the boats of Squadron 40 (PT-589 to PT-600) in 1945 was placed into service and sent to the Philippines. However, the war ended before this squadron saw action against the Japanese. The rest of the production series were not completed, placed in commission and were doing a shake-down cruise when the war ended or cancelled.

The kit arrived and I poured over the sprue trees, one by one and I have to say that impressed does not begin to describe my opinion of this kit. There is absolutely no flash on any of the trees, no injection marks or anything of the kind.

What impressed me the most about what I saw was the amount of detail incorporated into the kit's parts. I realize that this is the 21-st century and anything is possible and doable, and OK, I am in my mid-fifties and I tend to be amazed by technological advancements that remind me of what I saw on Star Trek, but still....

The detail is incredible!

I can debunk the claim that this kit is just a scaled down re-pop of the 1:35 scale PT-596 kit. How can I make such a statement? Simple. The Italeri kit had the after, port machine gun turret molded as part of the dayroom kit. This kit does not. The turret is a separate piece which is meant to be attached to the dayroom cabin.

About the Author

About TimConnelly (TGarthConnelly)
FROM: CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES

I've authored PT BOATS IN ACTION, VOSPER MTBs IN ACTION and I've co-authored SCHNELLBOOT IN ACTION. I've had articles appear in MODEL SHIP BUILDER, SHIPS IN SCALE, and the IPMS/USA's MODELERS JOURNAL.


Comments

All though the drums are a little different they should still pass as POL drums. The fuel drums are smother but I think these drums appear more like the type our community garage receive each year on the yearly sealift. The barrel is normally black with the top being painted different depending on the contents I think but am not sure about that part. Definitely looks like something that would be useful with the cargo trucks used by logistics corps.
APR 26, 2014 - 07:25 AM
At the risk of sounding stupid or ignorant ... what is a POL drum?
APR 27, 2014 - 03:58 AM
Petrol, Oil, and something else that starts with L??
APR 28, 2014 - 02:07 AM
OK. Now, ... next stupid question ... what drums? This kit doesn't have drums ..............
APR 28, 2014 - 02:10 AM
Ahoy Garth, I think Al posted this in the wrong section, it really does not make any sense or pertain to your thread on the Merit PT. Have a great day, Joe
APR 28, 2014 - 02:53 AM
Hi Joe. Ah, good .... Thought I was going woo-woo again, hahaha.
APR 28, 2014 - 03:22 AM
I have no idea how this commment ended up in this section. I made this comment in the armour section regarding a pallet lift truck with some drums and box's included. L - Lubricants just to finish the answer on what POL stands for. Computers are a mysterious item some days.
APR 28, 2014 - 05:55 AM
In U.S. supply parlance POL stands for Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants.
JUN 26, 2014 - 06:36 AM
Any idea as to when we can expect this?
MAY 30, 2017 - 04:24 AM
It's been out for a couple of years now.
JUN 22, 2017 - 05:36 AM