Greetigns all

Following on from Kenny's post in the ELCO thread.

Can this boat be built as a craft that actually took part in the fighting in the Pacific?

Cheers

Al

OK no response so put another way, is it possible to do an earlier version that saw action by downgrading the armament without having to totally alter the boat?

Thoughts and ideas from the Watery People please?

BTW have an excellent New Year guys and thanks for all you help and support.

Have a good one.

Cheers

Al

Ae we used to say in the Navy, "Stand-by"!.

Took me a while, but this is what I found on the internet and also from our limited library.

Per the following site,

http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/pt/squadron.htm

The boat in Italeri’s kit was assigned to this squadron.

MTB RON 40
Commissioned 26,April 1945 LCDR George E. Cox Jr USNR
Decommissioned 21,December 1945
PT 589-600
Arrived in Samar in summer of 1945, saw no action


However, PT 598 was also in the same configuration/class as PT-565 which did see action,

MTB RON 38
Commissioned 20,December 1944 LCDR Charles A. Mills Jr. USNR
Decommissioned 24,October 1945
PT 565-576
Southwest Pacific

So, IMO, it is possible to depict the Italeri kit as one that did see combat.

Steve



Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks for that. It will give me something to research into.

Cheers

Al

A further site that I located contradicts what I posted earlier.

http://www.ptboats.org/20-04-05-squadrons-009.html

Obviously more research is required. I'll post what I find, as I'm as curious as you.

Steve

Mac,''it looks like it can be. backdated, I see that there are all kinds of mounting holes in the deck and these look like they can be filled and I think this boat can be brought back almost PT-103 class standards .If you're not a micrometre maniac, with a bit of work, all the way back to the lead class. Of course, others may know much more.

Hi Guys,

Steve,

Thanks for the links - MTB RON 2 (1) and 2 (2) seem to have had an intesting life. MTB RON 38 did fire her guns lol, lol.

Dave, great, I'll await further guidance and thoughts as I know little or nothing about these craft yet. Some reading required me thinks.

BTW what is the RON for? I haven't picked that up yet.

Cheers

Al

"RON" is short for Squadron.

Kenny

Thanks Kenny must be an American thing!! Know what I mean Ron :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Cheers

Al

Yes, also in the Med. Here's some basic info:

The superstructure configuration for PT 596 applies to PT 486-563, 565-624. Go to my website: www.coastalforcesplans.com and click on references. I've uploaded drawings showing the two basic superstructure configurations.

The following late-series boats saw action:

488-497, RON33, SW Pacific;
498-509, RON34, English Channel
510-521, RON35, English Channel
522-532, RON36, SW Pacific
533-544, RON37, Pacific
546-551, RON28, SW Pacific
552-563. RON29, Med

At what point the rocket launchers were added, I don't know. I have seen photos of 588 with them and 563 without them. I suspect they began with 565 (last group leader), but cannot confirm at this point.

Al Ross

Morning Mr Ross

A Happy New Year to you. You'll notice I'm calling you Mr Ross, that's because you are a gentleman and a scholar sir,

Many thanks indeed.

Cheers

Al

Well, I got tired of you guys whining... :-)

I uploaded another photo to http://www.coastalforcesplans.com/id21.html " TARGET="_blank"> http://www.coastalforcesplans.com/id21.html that might be of interest. It is from a BUORD publication on rockets and shows the sights and junction box for the rockets. It's a great photo in the book, but it's the old screened type, so the dots show up terribly on the scan. It's particularly interesting because it is on an early series boat, which is indicated by the throttle quadrant position. This may have been the test vessel, or perhaps a retrofit.

Al

I am currently building the kit as one of the RON33 boats. To do that I have:

molded and cast 2 additional 20 mm and mounts.
modified the 37 mm and mag to early style.
cast a mount for the 37mm
modified the roll-off racks
relocated the racks
made an SO radar dome and mast
replaced the cabin nav lamps with side mounted units
cast additional ready-ammo boxes
relocated the UHF antenna
Relocated the 37 mm
relocated the smoke generator

I still need to make:
depth charges and racks
2 30 cal pole mounts for spray shield
twin 50 cal and mount for port side mounting
custom decals


This has turned into a lot of work but it has been educational too. I think a channel or Mediterranian boat would be much easier to do.

This is a link to some photos with the major pieces set in place but not glued. some of the latest modifications are not shown in these.

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1830736

Ed

Hi Al and Ed,

Thanks for the update.

I don't think I'll get mine started before the summer!!!! It will be interesting to see what AM products appear for the kit.

Cheers

Al

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1830736

This will be the 495 boat, Oct, 1944. Still a lot to do and paint.

Hi Ducatie650,

Must have missed your originakl post along the way (sorrry). The boats looking really good so far.

Nice clean looking build and I like your paint job so far.

Cheers

Al

Thanks alan. That album link is still good and I add more photos as I go. If you are interested you can check that same link periodically.
Ed

Here is the progress so far.
Ed