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📝 Late War Elco PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 35 Views · 8 Likes · 1 Comment
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It’s a beautiful day and I have finally reached the point of this build that I always fear…painting. I think painting is a personal phobia for me since I have messed up a model or two models over the years causing me to have to strip and repaint. Last week all the details were removed and carefully stored for priming at a later date.
I started to prep the hull for priming by roughing up the fiberglass gel coat and the deck with 600 grit sand paper. I will apply alkyd gray primer to the entire model followed by flat greens and a copperoyd/red below the waterline.
Testors Model Master paints are a good match based on swatches used on US Navy World War II Ships. A colour guide I purchased from Snyder and Short (20 years ago) will be used as an accuracy guide.
I would like to try Measure 31/20L, done by Alan D. Knox in his original build back in the 80’s but being realistic I know I am not capable of painting at this level. I will probably paint the hull and cabins MTB Green with 20-G Deck Green and a copperoyd lower hull that was typical of early PT Boats.
I started to prep the hull for priming by roughing up the fiberglass gel coat and the deck with 600 grit sand paper. I will apply alkyd gray primer to the entire model followed by flat greens and a copperoyd/red below the waterline.
Testors Model Master paints are a good match based on swatches used on US Navy World War II Ships. A colour guide I purchased from Snyder and Short (20 years ago) will be used as an accuracy guide.
I would like to try Measure 31/20L, done by Alan D. Knox in his original build back in the 80’s but being realistic I know I am not capable of painting at this level. I will probably paint the hull and cabins MTB Green with 20-G Deck Green and a copperoyd lower hull that was typical of early PT Boats.
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💬 Re: Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 62 Views · 3 Likes
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Thanks AllessandroSPQR. I have been building RC ship models for years (since 1980), but this model is one that has been a "progressive" build that just got side-tracked, after shifting my career from engineering to teaching. My wife shutters when she sees me looking for new build idea...the house is just not big enough for my collection.
This model is back on track now for it's final paint and assembly that I hope to complete in the next couple of months.
This model is back on track now for it's final paint and assembly that I hope to complete in the next couple of months.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 13 Likes
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The exhaust on the rear was one of the features that are affected by the change in the hulls geometry. These items were purchased from John Haynes and modified with the require tubing details. Each of the three exhaust sets were fixed to a 1/32” thick ply mounting plate to be installed as a sub-assembly after the hull was painted. The plates have two alignments pins that are recessed into the back of the hull for assembly. On the inside of the hull behind the mufflers a 1/32" thick fibreglassed plate has been added to prevent water ingress into the hull.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 9 Likes
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About a year ago I made a tow hook for the bow of this model, that was typical of the late war Elco boats. I had it “tacked” on and it aesthetically looked okay and is accurate to this series of Elco PT boats. As an item that will be a detriment to water flow around the hull’s “V” nose I have opted not to put it on the model. PT boats were customized by their crews in the field, so the crew of this boat has opted to remove the tow hook to get a better fluid dynamic flow to defeat their Axis adversary in the Pacific Theater.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 8 Likes
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Two of the last major details on this model was the gas cannister and the roll-off depth charge racks. PT 596 never had depth charge racks as a permenent fixture, but I am sure they were available to mount if needed. I made one rack to mount on the left side of the hull at the stern opposite the gas cannister.
The gas canister was turned down on my lathe from a piece of ½” OD acrylic rod. The inside was drilled out and a domed head, cut on my lathe from a broken mechanical pencil was solvent welded to the acrylic tube
Numerous details such as toe rails on the forward deck and several types of deck and cabin vents were also drawn and made to enhance the accuracy of this model.
The gas canister was turned down on my lathe from a piece of ½” OD acrylic rod. The inside was drilled out and a domed head, cut on my lathe from a broken mechanical pencil was solvent welded to the acrylic tube
Numerous details such as toe rails on the forward deck and several types of deck and cabin vents were also drawn and made to enhance the accuracy of this model.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 7 Likes
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The forward 37mm deck gun was a relatively easy scratch build from styrene sheet and tube. The ammo rack was the most difficult creating the necessary detail to make it look realistic.
My Lego guy has become a valued multitasking member of this MTB crew, until I acquire some 1/24 scale crew figures for this model.
My Lego guy has become a valued multitasking member of this MTB crew, until I acquire some 1/24 scale crew figures for this model.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 7 Likes
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The side mounted rocket launchers were built next. I originally was going to make the six tubes on each cluster from brass and brass sheet, so that a projectile could be launched from the model. That plan changed after learning that in Canada owning firearms is not a right and it is illegal to fire any projectile horizontally without a registered permit.
It was still fun playing around with brass tube and ladyfinger fire crackers (from the US) to make a pen size scale rocket launcher. The design was revised to make lighter non-operational rocket launchers from styrene tube. The tube swivel bases went though several revisions until I was satisfied with the result.
It was still fun playing around with brass tube and ladyfinger fire crackers (from the US) to make a pen size scale rocket launcher. The design was revised to make lighter non-operational rocket launchers from styrene tube. The tube swivel bases went though several revisions until I was satisfied with the result.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 7 Likes
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The 50 cal machine guns were one of the most difficult parts to get research information for drawing and building. John’s casting detail was incredible, catching stuff that I never noticed in much of my own drawing research. I decided to get John’s gun turrets while ordering the cast guns to eliminate the need to use 2” PVC pipe. The turrets are a two piece assembly (upper and lower) and are a perfect match for the cutouts I made in the forward and day cabins. Although guns on the actual boats never operated in this manner, I have a mechanism created from a servo that will allow the upper turret section to rotate independent of the fixed lower section to provide a bit of animation to the model. I am not sure yet if will use this feature.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 9 Likes
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John Haynes provided me with castings for the 20mm gun that eliminated a lot of tedious detail work on the barrel. A few additional details and a gun base provided an exceptionally model to add to the Elco.
I deviated from the true accuracy of the 20mm gun used on the actual boat by adding rear shoulder slings to the back of the gun which I will justify as a "crew-made" modification.
I deviated from the true accuracy of the 20mm gun used on the actual boat by adding rear shoulder slings to the back of the gun which I will justify as a "crew-made" modification.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 8 Likes
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The initial plan for torpedoes was to make them from 7/8” OD cigar tubes (shown) which are absolutely perfect OD at this build scale.
Not being satisfied with the tail geometry I bought torpedo tubes and several other details including a 20mm cannon, gun turrets, 50cal guns, deck lights and rear exhausts from John R Haynes (www.johnrhaynes.com), after reading the article in the September 2006 issue of Marine Modelling International about his 1/24 scale semi kit that was built by David Semper for the magazine article.
To get these parts done, the plan was modified to include non-operational tubes provided by John Haynes. They look decent in the roll-off racks and who knows, maybe I can still create torpedoes since I still have half-a-dozen aluminum cigar tubes and John’s tail sections which could be hollowed out on my lathe to suit electric prop drive components.
John Haynes was extremely helpful providing me with numerous part and model details that were difficult to get accurate drawing details for fabrication. The qualities of his parts are exceptional requiring little effort to deburr and clean-up the castings. I was really disappointed a few years ago while checking his site during the Covid days to see a note on his site that he is no longer selling fittings. I hope everything is going well for John.
Not being satisfied with the tail geometry I bought torpedo tubes and several other details including a 20mm cannon, gun turrets, 50cal guns, deck lights and rear exhausts from John R Haynes (www.johnrhaynes.com), after reading the article in the September 2006 issue of Marine Modelling International about his 1/24 scale semi kit that was built by David Semper for the magazine article.
To get these parts done, the plan was modified to include non-operational tubes provided by John Haynes. They look decent in the roll-off racks and who knows, maybe I can still create torpedoes since I still have half-a-dozen aluminum cigar tubes and John’s tail sections which could be hollowed out on my lathe to suit electric prop drive components.
John Haynes was extremely helpful providing me with numerous part and model details that were difficult to get accurate drawing details for fabrication. The qualities of his parts are exceptional requiring little effort to deburr and clean-up the castings. I was really disappointed a few years ago while checking his site during the Covid days to see a note on his site that he is no longer selling fittings. I hope everything is going well for John.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 80 Views · 11 Likes
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The roll off torpedo racks proved to be extremely challenging when acquiring detail and determining if it is possible to make them operational.
John Drain at PT Boats.com was a great help to me when I inquired about the laser cut 1/20 scale racks that he was selling for his 1/20 scale Elco model. I asked him about the possibility of scaling down his racks to 1/24 scale and he responded very quickly and provided me with some really nicely cut plywood parts for my model.
Shortly afterward I noticed that he has put the 1/24 racks on his site, and I hope he has been successful selling this product to those modelers who prefer to build models at one of the standard architectural scales (1/2” = 1’, 3/8” = 1’, 1/4” = 1’…) like myself.
John Drain’s 1/24 racks that he created for me are meant to be used with a torpedo release, triggered by a magnetic switch in the tube. I installed micro servos in the rack that will release the rack arms and allow them to roll off the racks into the water. I am not sure if I will ever use this feature but it is installed in the event that I have an engineering inspiration for operational torpedoes.
John Drain at PT Boats.com was a great help to me when I inquired about the laser cut 1/20 scale racks that he was selling for his 1/20 scale Elco model. I asked him about the possibility of scaling down his racks to 1/24 scale and he responded very quickly and provided me with some really nicely cut plywood parts for my model.
Shortly afterward I noticed that he has put the 1/24 racks on his site, and I hope he has been successful selling this product to those modelers who prefer to build models at one of the standard architectural scales (1/2” = 1’, 3/8” = 1’, 1/4” = 1’…) like myself.
John Drain’s 1/24 racks that he created for me are meant to be used with a torpedo release, triggered by a magnetic switch in the tube. I installed micro servos in the rack that will release the rack arms and allow them to roll off the racks into the water. I am not sure if I will ever use this feature but it is installed in the event that I have an engineering inspiration for operational torpedoes.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 74 Views · 7 Likes
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I took a bit of a detailing break and decided to start building deck details. How complex could it be to make ammo boxes and deck vents?
Started by building most of the details on the rear platform. The Bofors gun rest I held off on until I could verify the geometry.
The 40mm shell rack went through two builds as I acquired more information about its construction.
The two deck conical vents are the only items from the fittings kit I ordered from Dynamic that I have used to date on this model.
The life raft stowage container (shown) went through a couple of builds because of it’s not so rectangular geometry. The 20mm ammo box was quite simple. One was made for the stern platform and a second at the front where the 20mm gun is located. Most of these details were made from .020 or .030 styrene sheet.
Started by building most of the details on the rear platform. The Bofors gun rest I held off on until I could verify the geometry.
The 40mm shell rack went through two builds as I acquired more information about its construction.
The two deck conical vents are the only items from the fittings kit I ordered from Dynamic that I have used to date on this model.
The life raft stowage container (shown) went through a couple of builds because of it’s not so rectangular geometry. The 20mm ammo box was quite simple. One was made for the stern platform and a second at the front where the 20mm gun is located. Most of these details were made from .020 or .030 styrene sheet.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 71 Views · 6 Likes
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The carly float was a bit different. I found two versions of this item in my research. The first had a circular float cross section, The second had a rectangular cross sections. Further research put the rectangular cross-section as the version common on these boats. I made this by alternating grain layer of 1/8” thick balsa laminated together and sanded smooth. Someone told me that on the actual PT boats these were made of balsa, although I have no idea if that is true
A mounting rack made from 1/8” thick balsa was added to the chart house after completion of the carly float. Oars for both boats were stir stick construction. Some additional rope detail needs to be added to the carly float after painting.
A mounting rack made from 1/8” thick balsa was added to the chart house after completion of the carly float. Oars for both boats were stir stick construction. Some additional rope detail needs to be added to the carly float after painting.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 71 Views · 7 Likes
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Since I was into day cabin details, my wife thought I should do the dinghy on the day cabin roof and the carly float on the chart house..
The dinghy was an easy draw in CAD, and is complete with keel, bulkheads. It builds just like the actual row boat and looks pretty cool. I have a similar version of this dinghy that I recently built for an Egrete Tugboat that I started back in January 2023. As shown the day cabin details with the dinghy look reasonable.
The dinghy was an easy draw in CAD, and is complete with keel, bulkheads. It builds just like the actual row boat and looks pretty cool. I have a similar version of this dinghy that I recently built for an Egrete Tugboat that I started back in January 2023. As shown the day cabin details with the dinghy look reasonable.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 71 Views · 8 Likes
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After the challenge of working on the Bofors gun, I decided to back off a bit and work on some deck features. Unfortunately my ambition got the best of me and I took a crack at the radar mast. This was drawn in detail with AutoCAD using the drawing shown as a scale reference.
The drawing shows the three masts used on the Elco boats, the one on the right being the subject for my build. I found a few challenges making this part, but my second attempt was successful. I used a micro gear drive, I think made by Robbe or Graupner inside the mast box. A heat shrink linkage joins the brass radar dish with the motor. It rotates at about 30 rpm on a 3 volt power supply. Staggered holes for vertical mast pivots were drilled into the day cabin and the mounts were also staggered on the mast post so it folds down diagonally on the day cabin (when the boat is in port). Like the Bofors, the mast is assembled in numerous pieces so that it can be disassembled for painting.
A radar mast support, shown in the last photo above was also built to support the mast when folded down.
The drawing shows the three masts used on the Elco boats, the one on the right being the subject for my build. I found a few challenges making this part, but my second attempt was successful. I used a micro gear drive, I think made by Robbe or Graupner inside the mast box. A heat shrink linkage joins the brass radar dish with the motor. It rotates at about 30 rpm on a 3 volt power supply. Staggered holes for vertical mast pivots were drilled into the day cabin and the mounts were also staggered on the mast post so it folds down diagonally on the day cabin (when the boat is in port). Like the Bofors, the mast is assembled in numerous pieces so that it can be disassembled for painting.
A radar mast support, shown in the last photo above was also built to support the mast when folded down.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 71 Views · 8 Likes
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The first gun built was the single 40mm Bofors Cannon which mounts on the rear deck access. This was a real beast to do but while researching I found John Drain’s site PT Boats.com and used his original build as a guide to model mine after. I also had elevation and top views of this gun from reference sources that aided in creating this weapon. Using my reference sources I drew the gun full sized and scaled it down to 1/24 to create parts for the model. Some detail I know was neglected. I have tried to minimize weight where possible, so metal parts used by John Drain on his gun were minimized and the gun was built mainly from styrene and brass tube. I used methylene chloride (toxic stuff!) to quickly solvent weld most of the styrene parts together.
This gun took a long time to build. It’s not perfect and it has a lot of individual parts. It can be taken apart so that every subassembly can be primed and painted before final assembly. Again many parts on this gun were made and re-made numerous times. The barrel has a sprung recoil mechanism and a small laser LED fits in the barrel housing really nice and projects through the brass tube in case I wanted to use that as a working feature to harass ducks. CAD really paid off in helping to draw and fabricate this gun. Lots of 3D printed Bofors replicas are available, but my build predates this technology and is unique compared to the readily available 3D prints.
A servo will be mounted below deck to rotate the gun. I have not determined how to convert this to an elevating gun barrel yet. It does look pretty good on the rear platform in it’s stow position.
This gun took a long time to build. It’s not perfect and it has a lot of individual parts. It can be taken apart so that every subassembly can be primed and painted before final assembly. Again many parts on this gun were made and re-made numerous times. The barrel has a sprung recoil mechanism and a small laser LED fits in the barrel housing really nice and projects through the brass tube in case I wanted to use that as a working feature to harass ducks. CAD really paid off in helping to draw and fabricate this gun. Lots of 3D printed Bofors replicas are available, but my build predates this technology and is unique compared to the readily available 3D prints.
A servo will be mounted below deck to rotate the gun. I have not determined how to convert this to an elevating gun barrel yet. It does look pretty good on the rear platform in it’s stow position.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 72 Views · 6 Likes
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The rear accessories platform was built next based on a flat pattern drawn from Al Ross’s drawing details. I made a small error in locating the engine room vent, but epoxy and micro balloons were a good fix for this error. The original plan was to open up the deck below this opening and add a CPU muffin fan for air flow. The removeable deck and cabin details fit really nice.
Now I will start to build some deck armament to try something just a little different. I believe one of the last weapons I built on this model were the roll-off torpedoes and racks because I was hoping to create operational torpedoes. That issue is yet to be resolved.
Now I will start to build some deck armament to try something just a little different. I believe one of the last weapons I built on this model were the roll-off torpedoes and racks because I was hoping to create operational torpedoes. That issue is yet to be resolved.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 72 Views · 7 Likes
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The day cabin was made in a similar way to the chart house. Mounts for the radar mast were added after the radar mast (that was a challenging part to build) was fabricated.
Again printed CAD patterns were like gold in making the parts for the day cabin. The 3/16” strip frame around the bottom was fabricated around the raised deck coaming before the cabin side sheets were added. A flag locker that mounts the between the two cabins was salvaged from a Tamiya Military Miniatures pack I found years ago at a yard sale with the thickness trimmed back about 1/16”.
Some small details need to be added after this cabin is primed and painted.
Again printed CAD patterns were like gold in making the parts for the day cabin. The 3/16” strip frame around the bottom was fabricated around the raised deck coaming before the cabin side sheets were added. A flag locker that mounts the between the two cabins was salvaged from a Tamiya Military Miniatures pack I found years ago at a yard sale with the thickness trimmed back about 1/16”.
Some small details need to be added after this cabin is primed and painted.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 72 Views · 9 Likes
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I built the front (chart house) and middle (day cabin) cabins next, based on my CAD drawings which I used as cutting templates for all parts. I overlooked a major feature on the day (middle) cabin, I did not arc the roof as per the Elco drawings. I regret not doing this but I will justify this decision based on the fact that this PT will only be “semi scale” when it’s done due to the geometry of the Dynamic hull.
Over the years I am sure I have made every part on this model at least twice except for the cabins. My build standards I guess have changed since the day cabin parts were fabricated.
The nice thing about accurate drawings is that individual parts can be printed as templates to accurately cut out on plastic, balsa or plywood sheet. The turret openings were based on a 2” diameter PVC pipe to get the required forward lean on the 50 cal turrets. All cabins were made of 1/16” ply. The chart house was carefully planned so I would have no problems fabricating window frames and possibly the forward window louvers later. The helm components went through numerous builds and rebuilds to get the appropriate detail for the model. Instrumentation was built from styrene sheet, although I’ve always wanted to try photo etching this detail. I modified the steering wheel that came with the Dynamic fittings kit to match an Elco wheel.
When detailing the chart house, out of haste, I ended up not making the louvres on the forward chart house window so they would open.
Over the years I am sure I have made every part on this model at least twice except for the cabins. My build standards I guess have changed since the day cabin parts were fabricated.
The nice thing about accurate drawings is that individual parts can be printed as templates to accurately cut out on plastic, balsa or plywood sheet. The turret openings were based on a 2” diameter PVC pipe to get the required forward lean on the 50 cal turrets. All cabins were made of 1/16” ply. The chart house was carefully planned so I would have no problems fabricating window frames and possibly the forward window louvers later. The helm components went through numerous builds and rebuilds to get the appropriate detail for the model. Instrumentation was built from styrene sheet, although I’ve always wanted to try photo etching this detail. I modified the steering wheel that came with the Dynamic fittings kit to match an Elco wheel.
When detailing the chart house, out of haste, I ended up not making the louvres on the forward chart house window so they would open.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 72 Views · 8 Likes
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Unlike Art Bauer’s build guide which used 1/8” ply for everything the deck was covered with 1/16” thick ply in multiple sections. The original curved foredeck ahead of the cabin plate was made to be removable so that additional hardware for rotating guns could easily be added later. That never happened on the final build, and this deck was later glued and the screw holes filled.
The centre cabins deck is removable in one section for easy access to two Graupner Speed 600 BB SP motors, the battery compartment and the control features. The removable rear deck for the 40mm Bofors cannon gives good access to the rudder linkage assembly and steering servo.
The middle (day) cabin deck of the main removable deck opening has a 1/8 x 3/16” raised coaming to allow the cabin to be removed for quick motor inspection and maintenance checks. Photos above show the removable decks before the opening for centre day (middle) cabin was cut away for the cabin’s coaming strips.
The centre cabins deck is removable in one section for easy access to two Graupner Speed 600 BB SP motors, the battery compartment and the control features. The removable rear deck for the 40mm Bofors cannon gives good access to the rudder linkage assembly and steering servo.
The middle (day) cabin deck of the main removable deck opening has a 1/8 x 3/16” raised coaming to allow the cabin to be removed for quick motor inspection and maintenance checks. Photos above show the removable decks before the opening for centre day (middle) cabin was cut away for the cabin’s coaming strips.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 72 Views · 10 Likes
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The rudders were made of from 1/32” thick brass sheet based on the original Elco drawings, They were oversized by about 40% to increase the steering control area. Three rudder posts and a post support were made and located to align with the two stuffing boxes with a third rudder on the hull’s keel line.
The two outside rudder were installed perpendicular to the slope on the hull bottom as per Al Ross’s published drawings of the PT 596. I am not sure of the effects this rudder orientation will have on the model, but I will see when I get it in the water.
The two outside rudder were installed perpendicular to the slope on the hull bottom as per Al Ross’s published drawings of the PT 596. I am not sure of the effects this rudder orientation will have on the model, but I will see when I get it in the water.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 68 Views · 10 Likes
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The next thing I did was to use Art Bauer’s guide from the Dynamic catalogue to create the deck support frame . I wanted to make the model so that the deck was arced from side to side and also arced downward in the bow section just like the original Elco boats. At a scale of ½” = 1’the lack of deck curve would be noticeable. Before making the cross frames I ran ¼” square strips around the top of the inside edge of the hull to reinforce the fiberglass structure.
I cut arched wood templates at each cross location based on my hull drawing and clamped ¼” square strips across the top of each. I slit the bottom of each strip and soaked them in water and ammonia for a day before clamping them to the templates. The cut slits on the underside of each cross member were later filled with a mixture of epoxy resin and micro-balloons after the deck frame work was complete. The cross frames were reinforced with corner gussets along the hull edge.
The deck frame has two removable access sections that were made following Dynamic’s guidelines. One to completely remove the three cabin sections, a second above the rudder where the 40mm bofors cannon will be located.
After the deck frame was complete spray rails were added to the hull’s outside at the waterline as well as rub rails along the top edge of the deck.
Two 3/16” drivelines were ordered from Dumas in Tucson AZ, along with the brass prop struts that suit the 1 ½” props for the 33” PT 109 kit that Dumas sells. Dumas had an option in their driveline kit on this model for a plastic or brass strut depending on what you wanted to pay. I was fortunate to buy these struts before Dumas stopped making the brass ones for their 33” PT boat. I have a 1/32 scale Perkasa with a pair of brass prop struts I ordered from Mack Models, but I like the quality of the Dumas cast struts far better. I setup the boat’s driveline to run two 1½” (38mm) Dumas three bladed props controlled with three rudders. Dumas later released this strut in a cast aluminum version which I recently bought for the Sterling Chris Craft Corvette that I have recently (Nov 2023) started to restore.
I cut arched wood templates at each cross location based on my hull drawing and clamped ¼” square strips across the top of each. I slit the bottom of each strip and soaked them in water and ammonia for a day before clamping them to the templates. The cut slits on the underside of each cross member were later filled with a mixture of epoxy resin and micro-balloons after the deck frame work was complete. The cross frames were reinforced with corner gussets along the hull edge.
The deck frame has two removable access sections that were made following Dynamic’s guidelines. One to completely remove the three cabin sections, a second above the rudder where the 40mm bofors cannon will be located.
After the deck frame was complete spray rails were added to the hull’s outside at the waterline as well as rub rails along the top edge of the deck.
Two 3/16” drivelines were ordered from Dumas in Tucson AZ, along with the brass prop struts that suit the 1 ½” props for the 33” PT 109 kit that Dumas sells. Dumas had an option in their driveline kit on this model for a plastic or brass strut depending on what you wanted to pay. I was fortunate to buy these struts before Dumas stopped making the brass ones for their 33” PT boat. I have a 1/32 scale Perkasa with a pair of brass prop struts I ordered from Mack Models, but I like the quality of the Dumas cast struts far better. I setup the boat’s driveline to run two 1½” (38mm) Dumas three bladed props controlled with three rudders. Dumas later released this strut in a cast aluminum version which I recently bought for the Sterling Chris Craft Corvette that I have recently (Nov 2023) started to restore.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 66 Views · 7 Likes
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When I started to build, in order to maintain 1/24 scale for an eighty foot hull, the 38 ½” hull was too short and needed to be just under 40” long. From the hull drawing which I created using AutoCAD, I drew patterns for the hull extension and the stern plate. I cut out the rear of the hull and added an extension using 3/16” thick ply that added 1- 7/8” to the fiberglass hull and increased the stern plate angle to corresponded to Al Ross’s drawings. Cutting this hull was a tough decision to make since I thought I was about to screw up the nice fiberglass hull created by Dynamic Models that I had purchased.
The modification turned out great and after inner reinforcement with plywood, wood strips, 2 oz glass cloth and West Systems epoxy it turned out to be incredibly strong. I don’t think Art Bauer would object to what I did to the Dynamic fiberglass hull.
Sometimes when you make a change you have to go with your instincts. I did a similar hull cut-up on a tugboat a couple of years ago made by Orion Mouldings that went great as well and is another work in progress.
This PT’s hull will not be an exact scale Elco 80 footer, because the Dynamic hull has a 1/4” shallower hull rise at the stern, and a draft that is about 1/4” greater compared to a true Elco hull at this scale. The shallower hull rise should give it a really nice look on the water if I watch it’s weight. The height and angle of the new stern plate on my hull extension will also affected the placement of the stern mufflers on the back of the hull which will sit lower on the water line.
The modification turned out great and after inner reinforcement with plywood, wood strips, 2 oz glass cloth and West Systems epoxy it turned out to be incredibly strong. I don’t think Art Bauer would object to what I did to the Dynamic fiberglass hull.
Sometimes when you make a change you have to go with your instincts. I did a similar hull cut-up on a tugboat a couple of years ago made by Orion Mouldings that went great as well and is another work in progress.
This PT’s hull will not be an exact scale Elco 80 footer, because the Dynamic hull has a 1/4” shallower hull rise at the stern, and a draft that is about 1/4” greater compared to a true Elco hull at this scale. The shallower hull rise should give it a really nice look on the water if I watch it’s weight. The height and angle of the new stern plate on my hull extension will also affected the placement of the stern mufflers on the back of the hull which will sit lower on the water line.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 66 Views · 6 Likes
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AutoCAD until recently was an effective tool for doing the fabrication details for my models. For the past 20 years I have been a tech design teacher at the high school level promoting AutoCAD as a design tools to all of my students, many of whom have pursued careers in Architecture and Engineering
After dealing with students during Covid-19 I decided to retire in 2021, losing my teacher's access to Autodesks software. The subscription fees Autodesk puts on their software is pretty ridiculous, especially for a retired educator ($710.00 CDN /year). Autodesk should cut a deal for "hobbyists" like myself that have been faithful to their product for so many years. My collection of model boat drawings done in Autocad are now just drawings files that I cannot access or edit.
After dealing with students during Covid-19 I decided to retire in 2021, losing my teacher's access to Autodesks software. The subscription fees Autodesk puts on their software is pretty ridiculous, especially for a retired educator ($710.00 CDN /year). Autodesk should cut a deal for "hobbyists" like myself that have been faithful to their product for so many years. My collection of model boat drawings done in Autocad are now just drawings files that I cannot access or edit.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 66 Views · 8 Likes
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My inspiration for a late war Elco came from a photo taken from the May,1982 issue of Scale Ship Modeler, of a 1/32 scale late war Elco built by Alan D. Knox.
His detail is impressive, and predates the kit version of the PT 596 that has been released in the past 20 years by Italeri as a 1/35 scale plastic kit. I wanted a model that would reflect this level of detail also.
The hull went into a state of rest for many years. In the meantime, the May 1986 issue of Scale Ship Modeler had an article by Al Ross, "The Last of the PT Boats", that include three pages of drawings including plan views, elevations, and most major part details of the late war Elco PT 596. I am sure these published drawings by Al Ross were the ones that Italeri probably used to generate their 1/35 scale kit. As a new engineering student I really liked the weapons and details on these drawings compared to the detail on the Dynamic drawings. That’s when my build research began.
At this time I was working for a company that used AutoCAD as their primary design tool, so I decided to draw the model I wanted to build using this software. After many hours (thousands probably…this drawing has become absolutely huge over the years. I drew the assembly and details drawings in 1/24 (1/2” = 1’) scale for an 80’ late ware Elco, PT boat model with all parts and assembly details (many separate drawing sheets) based on Al Ross’s published drawings.
The goal was to scratch-build almost everything on this model. Every part on this boat is a mini-model in itself. I acquired many research books including U.S Small Combatants by Norman Freidman, Allied Coastal Forces by John Lambert and Al Ross and America PT Boats in World War II by Victor Chun are among the resource library I have acquired to create accurate orthographic (multiview) AutoCAD drawings to build this model.
His detail is impressive, and predates the kit version of the PT 596 that has been released in the past 20 years by Italeri as a 1/35 scale plastic kit. I wanted a model that would reflect this level of detail also.
The hull went into a state of rest for many years. In the meantime, the May 1986 issue of Scale Ship Modeler had an article by Al Ross, "The Last of the PT Boats", that include three pages of drawings including plan views, elevations, and most major part details of the late war Elco PT 596. I am sure these published drawings by Al Ross were the ones that Italeri probably used to generate their 1/35 scale kit. As a new engineering student I really liked the weapons and details on these drawings compared to the detail on the Dynamic drawings. That’s when my build research began.
At this time I was working for a company that used AutoCAD as their primary design tool, so I decided to draw the model I wanted to build using this software. After many hours (thousands probably…this drawing has become absolutely huge over the years. I drew the assembly and details drawings in 1/24 (1/2” = 1’) scale for an 80’ late ware Elco, PT boat model with all parts and assembly details (many separate drawing sheets) based on Al Ross’s published drawings.
The goal was to scratch-build almost everything on this model. Every part on this boat is a mini-model in itself. I acquired many research books including U.S Small Combatants by Norman Freidman, Allied Coastal Forces by John Lambert and Al Ross and America PT Boats in World War II by Victor Chun are among the resource library I have acquired to create accurate orthographic (multiview) AutoCAD drawings to build this model.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 66 Views · 7 Likes
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I ordered the 38 1/2” hull, fittings set and a full size plan from Dynamic for what now seems like a minuscule $130.40 US. At that time I was an unemployed and my parents thought this was an outrageous amount of money. I fondly remember the Canada Customs guy at the London Airport when I picked it up questioning me like I was taking delivery on a load of illegal cannabis from the US.
The hull also came with a catalogue that included several build articles by Art Bauer, one of which was to create this model from their hull. It also has a nice write-up to build the E. Phylis II from their 48” tug hull. I reference this article for a tug I have been building from an Orion hull I started a few years prior to the Covid 19 lock downs.
Their drawing was a good starting reference, even though it depicted features of an 80’ Elco on a 1/2” = 1’ scaled hull of a 77’ boat.
The hull also came with a catalogue that included several build articles by Art Bauer, one of which was to create this model from their hull. It also has a nice write-up to build the E. Phylis II from their 48” tug hull. I reference this article for a tug I have been building from an Orion hull I started a few years prior to the Covid 19 lock downs.
Their drawing was a good starting reference, even though it depicted features of an 80’ Elco on a 1/2” = 1’ scaled hull of a 77’ boat.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 65 Views · 7 Likes
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Years ago I lived in Vancouver (God’s Country!) B.C. for about ten months when I was in college doing a co-op term. I bought a Dumas American Enterprise to keep me busy while I lived in western Canada. On completion of this model I wanted to do something completely different that was less of a kit and closer to a scratch-build. It should be noted that I have built numerous scale boat models over the years. I always use these other models to divert and refocus, whenever I had issues with the PT boat model or any other build project.
My American Enterprise build got me hooked on model boat magazines. The magazine of choice for me was that classic American publication, Scale Ship Modeler and Scale Model Warship. I still have a shelf with these magazines, long out of publication but they are still awesome to glance through and re-read. When I got the January 1982 issue of Scale Ship from my news stand, I found a written article with plans to build a Higgins PT boat as well as an advertising write-up in their “Crows Nest” section about the “Big New PT Boat hull by Dynamic Models”. The PT boat appealed to me but I was never a fan of the Higgins, and wanted to do something closer to an Elco. This ad and that article hooked me on trying a military model, not knowing that this would turn into a major long-term build.
My American Enterprise build got me hooked on model boat magazines. The magazine of choice for me was that classic American publication, Scale Ship Modeler and Scale Model Warship. I still have a shelf with these magazines, long out of publication but they are still awesome to glance through and re-read. When I got the January 1982 issue of Scale Ship from my news stand, I found a written article with plans to build a Higgins PT boat as well as an advertising write-up in their “Crows Nest” section about the “Big New PT Boat hull by Dynamic Models”. The PT boat appealed to me but I was never a fan of the Higgins, and wanted to do something closer to an Elco. This ad and that article hooked me on trying a military model, not knowing that this would turn into a major long-term build.
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📝 Late War Elco 80' PT Boat Model
10 months ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 65 Views · 10 Likes · 4 Comments
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This is a model I started many years ago back in the 80’s when disco was dying and I was a young engineering student still in college. I hope to get this model painted after too many years of sitting idle while I ponder and make some progress on other model builds.
I thought a build journal is a good idea, while I am forced to wait 15 months (Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s pathetic healthcare system) for cataract surgery (unless I pay big bucks to have it done in a private clinic), since I cannot do fine scale work effectively. A good political dig always cheers me up.
This will be a tough reflection to write about something that was started in the 1980’s. I wish I had kept better build documentation back then, but as soon as I am able, this model after 40 years (can't believe I was that young when this build started) is finally going to be painted so I can reflect on this build and continue to progress on a few others models (Perkasa, Mr Darby, Egrete, Type XXIII U-Boat...) I have been working building since then.
I thought a build journal is a good idea, while I am forced to wait 15 months (Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s pathetic healthcare system) for cataract surgery (unless I pay big bucks to have it done in a private clinic), since I cannot do fine scale work effectively. A good political dig always cheers me up.
This will be a tough reflection to write about something that was started in the 1980’s. I wish I had kept better build documentation back then, but as soon as I am able, this model after 40 years (can't believe I was that young when this build started) is finally going to be painted so I can reflect on this build and continue to progress on a few others models (Perkasa, Mr Darby, Egrete, Type XXIII U-Boat...) I have been working building since then.
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📝 Aerokits pt boat bulkhead plans wanted
1 year ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 37 Views · 2 Likes
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I did CAD drawings for an 1/24 Elco 80' hull many years ago using the line drawings provided by John Lambert and Al Ross from their book Allied Coastal Forces of World War II (awesome source for building MTB's) as a reference.
John Drain's site at pt-boat.com is also is a great reference, and he might be able to provide you with a PDF of the hull section lines I got from Allied Coastal Forces, so you can project the bulkheads and the transom for the Aerokits Plan and Elevation drawings.
John Drain's site at pt-boat.com is also is a great reference, and he might be able to provide you with a PDF of the hull section lines I got from Allied Coastal Forces, so you can project the bulkheads and the transom for the Aerokits Plan and Elevation drawings.
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📝 Update on my Sterling Corvette
1 year ago by 🇨🇦 gcladd ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 40 Views · 1 Like
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These original drawings are awesome. There should be enough information here to get the information that I need to continue with the Sterling build I have. I used to teach tech design in a high school, so old school dividers and calipers are nothing new. Thank you for your help.
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