Steradent tubes are clever. My PT boat's build scale is 1/24 and I played with many ideas to get a realistic shape and diameter of 22" Mk XIII's. I did not want excess weight so I tried plastic tubes with cut ping pong ball heads, but nothing gave the look I wanted

I eventually used some large aluminum cigar tubes that a friend gave me. The 7/8" diameter on these was the .04" undersized but they have their own bulb nose and they are so light. My model has roll off racks, so the smaller diameter works better with the rack size

Also these tubes have lots of inside space in the event I try to motorize them like John Drain did on his site.

Hi Peter,
How is the refurbishment of your PT boat going? any pics.
regards Roy

Hi Peter,
I have tried to keep the weight down to a minimum, as my back is in a poor way, so had to come up with ways to reduce mass without compromising the build.

examples
a/ Aluminium prop shafts
b/ 0.8 mm ply (skins and deck)
c/ rudders resin blades

Regards Roy

I think if one of your torpedoes hit the target, there would be no teeth left to clean. They look good though. Mine are solid wood on my PTB which we think is an Elco 80ft PTB.
Peter.

Hi Doug,
Any Drawing would be of help, I have collected a few!
The Serident tubes are under scale by a 1mm in diameter will haver to put plenty of paint on them!
A picture of an Italeri 1/35 Scale Elco PT 109 Kit by Stuart Hurley also from the 103 web site, its a detail build of the 109, modified from original.

http://www.pt103.com/Italeri_PT109_Build_Stuart_Hurley_3.htm...

AFTER SOME RESEARCH OF ORIGINAL PHOTOS I THINK THE PT103 WEB SITE IS CORRECT SEE PIC 3 FROM THE FACTORY AND PIC 7 OF PT105.

Regards Roy

http://www.pt103.com/Italeri_PT109_Build_Stuart_Hurley_3.html

🔗

"the torpedo tubes are made from two 'Sterident' tubes"
Now there's an idea!😀
I use the German equivalent, Kukident😉, have a small carton of 'em saved for ...!? The 'Sure they'll come in handy for something' principle😁 Bit over scale for my 1/35er though🤔
Looking forward to your next instalment Roy👍
Cheers, Doug 😎
BTW: attached a pic extracted from the US Bureau Of Ships plans of the PTB 103 class.
Clearly shows that the day cabin forward window starboard side did have a rain/spray deflector fitted.
Shown dotted as it's behind the torpedo tube.
Only the windows at the forward and aft ends of the cabins seem to be without.
I have more of these extracts and photos of the cockpit and other details (PT109) if you need them just YELL😉
PS: I know that pic you posted of 'PT103'.
It comes from Jeff Davidson's excellent set of CGI pics from a 3D printer build, NOT from an original boat!
A small boo boo there😉

Hi Doug,
Thanks for the glue tip, if I have problems I will buy some.
I have tried to keep the weight down to a minimum, as my back is in a poor way, so it hopefully will be between 5 and 8kg
Example the torpedo tubes are made from two 'Sterident' tubes (denture cleaning tablets) I have only just started making them.
When I get time I try to weight it.

Regards Roy

Thanks for that info Roy 👍
A lucky fit with the fish food lid😀
I'll have to look for mini portions for my 35 scale gun tubs! Given me an idea though, shopping tomorrow😉
"The gun turret ring was a cut out of a fish food container, I have stuck it down with non expanding Gorilla glue, just hope it holds as the plastic is a bit flexible."
I use Deluxe Materials R/C Modellers Canopy Glue for plastic to wood joints Roy.
That's what it's designed for, probably originally for aircraft canopies.
I bought it to fix the acrylic 'glass' windows in my Sea Scout. Worked great, dries crystal clear and don't shrink or expand😊
Like I told Marky; I don't let wild animals in the house, except maybe Gisela when I've exceeded my miniscule authority😁 Joking aside; she's worth her weight in Lithium bless her!😍

Thanks for adding the tape measure👍
So that chunk is just over 1/4 of the whole beast😮
She's gonna be a behemoth, what do you estimate the final weight will be?
Following with extreme interest.
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi Martin,
The Fish are Silver dollars (common name) 2x male 5-6in 2x female 3-4in, they are related to Piranha, but prefer vegetation (hence plastic plants) they are non aggressive, but are skittish and panicky.

Regards Roy

Hi Roy,
Your PT Boat is quite a size.
The fish look like piranha.
Do you have to make sure you have all your fingers after Each feeding time LOL!

Martin.

Hi Doug,
The gun turret ring was a cut out of a fish food container, I have stuck it down with non expanding Gorilla glue, just hope it holds as the plastic is a bit flexible.
Added a measuring tape, so you can judge scale.
The turrets were a plumbers joint for 60mm pipe, I think?

Regards Roy

Nice neat job Roy👍
Excellent work,
Very shipshape and 'Bayonne' fashion!
What did you make the gun tub ring from? Some kind of jar top?
That is something I still have to do on my 1:35 version.
She is developing into one nice 'beast'😉
At 1:20 she must be a Four Footer😮
Would be nice to see a 'stick of inches' in the photos.
Keep it up,
Cheers, Doug 😎

As you say CB90 part of the fun of scratch building, I have even been known to make the same part five times until i got it looking how i wanted it.

So keep at it, you are doing a great job.

Martin555.

Thanks for the pictures they give us an update no matter what order they are in.
Rick

Hi ARTH,
Here some You tube videos of their construction at Bayonne

https://youtu.be/Z8tQP3s9DIQ
https://youtu.be/8e6Ei5UvLqI
https://youtu.be/MN47z3n52-c

Regards
Roy

https://youtu.be/Z8tQP3s9DIQ

🔗

https://youtu.be/8e6Ei5UvLqI

🔗

https://youtu.be/MN47z3n52-c

🔗

▶️

Awesome ! i live 4 miles from where they were built in bayonne , new jersey usa .

Hi GC Ladd,
I'm glad you are now inspired to finish your model, the things we do in life are often limited by 3 things, Time, Money and Motivation.
It sounds like you have done a lot of work on the craft, you just got to bring it all together for the final push.

Good Luck
Roy

Coming along nicely Roy,
JB

Nice build progress. I have a 1/24 scale Elco 80 footer (40" long) that I started many years ago from a modified fibreglass PT boat hull I bought from Dynamic Models, back in the late 80's . Every winter I tell myself "this is the winter that I will get this sucker painted", and after 10 years it has yet to happen. I have spent to many hours drawing and scratch building scale PT boat components with AutoCAD to just have them sit in a box waiting to be painted and mounted to the hull. You have inspired me to get my butt in gear and get this one finished.

GC Ladd

She does look good .
Rick

She is looking good Roy,

Martin555.