The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi

ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

ť Topic: What pars are you looking for to customize your models?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3646

This is really directed to the model builders in our group. I had the pleasure of meeting with a couple of guys from a new company called Click2Detail.com. They are offering CAD services as well as 3D printing to the modeling community. If you go to youtube and search their company you can find some good reviews on what they do. I've started some conversations with them on a few ideas. I think we're all pretty amazed at what Pat is doing with the 77' Elco.

I'm wondering what parts you guys might be interested in seeing for PT Boat models and in what scales? What you can imagine can now be produced for affordable prices... at least more affordable prices. I saw one project where a guy had himself scanned and reproduced for an RC ship model in large scale. Really amazing how good the quality was.

So I'm just curious... what would you like to see for your models?

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Aug 31, 2014 - 6:09pm
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Well Dave I would start off with me in 1/35 scale for the What If Reunion PT Base and why stop there, lets do another me in 1/16 for the PT 623. Then I would like to have as many of the board members as I can all done in 1/35 scale attending the Reunion as well. As for the kits or parts, the list would be endless so I'm going to stay with the first idea. I can hear the comments now. [:-whoo-:]

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Aug 31, 2014 - 9:22pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Hi Roy,
Can you remind me again what your "What if reunion PT Base" means?
Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Aug 31, 2014 - 9:49pm
Total Posts: 1486 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Hello,
Some nice accurate roll off racks, torps, and an early 37mm cannon would be nice. A 40mm shell storage cabinet would also help.

Best Regards,
Stu.

Posted By: Stuart Hurley | Posted on: Aug 31, 2014 - 11:00pm
Total Posts: 255 | Joined: Mar 19, 2013 - 3:32am

Hello,
Some nice accurate roll off racks, torps, and an early 37mm cannon would be nice. A 40mm shell storage cabinet would also help.

Best Regards,
Stu.

Probably the least expensive way to do that is find a PT-596 kit that somebody is willing to let go of. I just saw one in our area for $80 which would be a lot cheaper than trying to do CAD drawings and 3D print them. Same for the roll off torpedoes. The Italeri update set has excellent torpedoes which would also be less expensive than 3D printing.

That said there is no 37mm Oldsmobile cannon with the P-39 style magazine out there which was more prolific than the magazine style in the PT-596 kit. There are enough photos and drawings that would make this a possibility complete with individual rounds. And the 20mm turret mounts are also a good 3D print possibility.

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 1, 2014 - 5:40am
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Dave,
Yes, I am watching out for a 596 kit, because I am lazy.
The racks are a bit of a headache. I would rather not have to scratch build them unless I really have to.

Best Regards,
Stu.

Posted By: Stuart Hurley | Posted on: Sep 1, 2014 - 6:10am
Total Posts: 255 | Joined: Mar 19, 2013 - 3:32am

Hi,
Good idea, thanks. I have sent them an email. We'll see what comes back.

Best Regards,
Stu.

Posted By: Stuart Hurley | Posted on: Sep 1, 2014 - 8:02am
Total Posts: 255 | Joined: Mar 19, 2013 - 3:32am

Hi Jerry,
The "What If Reunion" is a 12 foot diorama of a fictitious end of war PT Base that was built to hold a reunion of boats and crews that made some sort of historical note and managed to survived the war. The name "What If" implies just that. What if the 10# was never sunk and docks along side the 157. What if the 41 survived the war and is tied alongside the 373 and so on. It gives me the liberty of designing a base, not after a real one that at any specific moment in time could change from day to day, and inviting the boats that sailed off in history and seeing how they might look "If" they made it to the end. The name came from a suggestion from Wayne Traxel in a previous post where I asked for suggestions on which boats should attend. So far, the 157 has arrived and the 191 will be here this week. The 10# is due next with the 373, 490 and of course the 623 following behind. I wonder if the 10# will have a 20mm in the forward turret or a 40mm on the stern. "What If". Some of the boats attending will be detailed interpretations based on how they evolved duing the war like the 191 and others will be an accurate representation like the 157 & 490.

Should Italeria release a 77 footer, then I will need to enlarge the facility another 8 feet and if there is a Higgins form Italeria, She will of course be the 658.

I have also tried to highjack that awesome Higgins boat Bob built for Frankie but she has not arrived yet. Maybe Bob forgot to install a GPS on-board or she is held up due to weather.

My first plan was to do the Elco facility in Bayonne but after scaling up the aerial photos, I would have needed to go through the wall into the living room and I didn't think was going to work.

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Sep 1, 2014 - 10:06am
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

In answer to the "what do you want" modeling question, I'd like to see the following pieces in accurate, 3D, 1/72 scale for the Revell 103-class PT:

Depth charges and cradles

Reinforced ("star-patterned") torpedo tube loading doors

Blackpowder charge chambers and handles (or)

Complete (open-mouthed) torpedo tubes with correct reinforced loading doors and blackpowder chambers

Mark VIII torpedos (or just the warheads to go in the tubes)

Charthouse running lights and air vents

Twin-.50 mounts, and maybe the .50's themselves, with the cylindrical flash suppressor muzzles

The SCR-517A "beehive" radar hood and mounting legs

Odds and ends pieces, like the air vent inside the starboard cockpit splash shield, thinner (more to scale) aft splash shields etc.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Sep 1, 2014 - 12:36pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Try going direct to Italeri. Even though the boat is OOP, I contacted them with a list of PT 596 parts that I needed for my PT 156 conversion. They quoted a very reasonable price for the parts. It took a while, but all the parts I ordered eventually arrived. Bravo Zulu Italeri!

SteveS156

Hi, Steve
I took your advice and I contacted Italeri. They have sent me a PDF of the 596 instruction sheet so I can pick all the parts I need for my 195 project!

Great service Italeri.
Thanks.

Best Regards,
Stu.

Posted By: Stuart Hurley | Posted on: Sep 4, 2014 - 2:02am
Total Posts: 255 | Joined: Mar 19, 2013 - 3:32am

Bravo Zulu Italeri!

SteveS156

Posted By: SteveS156 | Posted on: Sep 4, 2014 - 7:47am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ahoy there me hearties!

I'm baaaack!

If the cost and/or effort wasn't too much, I think many would like to see crewmen for these boats. A set of crew in combat poses and another set in relaxed poses would appeal to many modellers. I like figures on my models as it #1 brings the model to life and #2 it gives scale to a model. It's amazing when I stick a figure near a model for people to see and they then say, "Wow I never realized it was that small" or "I never realized it was that big".

As bad as the ancient 1/32 scale Lindberg kit was at least it came with some ahem, figures.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a fast boat for we want to get out of harm's way too."

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder2 | Posted on: Sep 8, 2014 - 1:10pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

What I'd like to see is lightweight, 1/72 PT parts, both fittings, and larger components like the pilot house. Right now I'm near to building a 1/72 Elco 80' from the Revell kit and a 1/72 77' on a Coastal Forces hull. I plan to make both of these R/C. At that scale it's almost like building a tiny aircraft; every gram matters.

That said, 1/72 and 1/35 PT parts in general would appeal to me greatly especially if they're strong and lightweight.

Posted By: zeusbheld | Posted on: Sep 17, 2014 - 8:31am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I see a lot of modelers would like figures for assorted scales. I thought you guys would be interested in the current cost of one 1/35th scale 3D printed figure, about $11 at Shapeway. Here's the test dummy I used, price is straight Shapeway cost with no markup: [url]http://www.shapeways.com/model/2665115/figure-1-35th-002-scaled.html?li=aeTabs[/url]. The figure only passes min thickness tests with the best plastic, Frosted Ultra Detail, probably because of the pinkies. The figure would probably need the high quality for facial details anyways. Cost is dependant on volume so some money could be saved by hollowing, maybe down to $6 or so. That's still a lot of money to crew a boat.

One day modelers will be able to go online and select figures, dress, exact pose, scale, and order.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 17, 2014 - 12:27pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

How do you think a 1/72 figure would turn out?

It's a lot of money to crew a boat, but there's a certain type of modeler that spends half a year researching, half a mint tricking their model out with aftermarket details, and half a year building/correcting their model, ending up spending about $200 to build a $20 kit. I have to confess I'd spend $11 on a 1/72 crewman if the figure was just right,

Are 3d printed parts lighter than styrene?

My current plans for a 1/72 R/C fleet mean weight's an issue.

3d printing is a mind blowing technology that will only get better and better; I'd say "well then, print me a cheeseburger" but there are people out there already developing that sort of thing...

Posted By: zeusbheld | Posted on: Sep 20, 2014 - 4:13pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

It would be nice to see some PT sailors in different scales. Freetime Hobbies has a set of three well detailed 1/72 USN sailors but they don't look like what you might want for RC use. Printing them would be terribly expensive but you might check Shapeways to see what they have or can do for you. I don't think the weight difference would be that critical in 1/72 scale.

I'm just excited to see Italeri come out with a set of PT Pacific sailors.

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 20, 2014 - 8:00pm
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Dave, just curious has Italeri come out with a release date for those Pacific figures to date.

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Sep 20, 2014 - 11:20pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

They're finishing up production now. No details to share yet.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 21, 2014 - 8:35am
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Dave,

Speaking of Italeri, any inkling of their considering a 1/35th PT 45-68 77' Elco kit...maybe with extra parts for a PT 59/60/61 gunboat?

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Sep 22, 2014 - 10:48am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

I suggested a 77' Elco to them and Dick sent them all his materials. It really comes down to whether or not their marketing department thinks it is a good idea. All I can suggest is to write their marketing department and tell them that you're interested and which boat you would like to see.

I was surprised that they decided to cancel the X-Craft project. Not sure what caused that. I'm assuming they were having production problems with it or just decided it wasn't worthy. But there was a lot of interest in that project.

I think the 77' boats would do well.

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 22, 2014 - 8:56pm
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Sorry Zeus, I've been afk for a few days. I'm not sure how well fine parts like fingers would print, and there's no guarantee at Shapeways if it doesn't pass their tests. I figure at 1/72 scale, a scale 1 1/4" is minimum to pass. I don't know about the weight of the various plastics either, the only part I've handled was a test section of the throttle push rod cover. It was in the high detail plastic and felt very light though I think Pat mentioned that this material was brittle. Not good for R/C eh...

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 25, 2014 - 9:07am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Dave;
Here is my suggestion for Italeri, make an all inclusive 1/35th scale 77' ELCO model. with both early and late series cabins included in the kit, this way it will appeal to fans of the early series and the late series, this will also bring in Royal Navy ELCO second series MTB's, As a matter of fact, make the forward cabin 4-6 main parts, this way ALL 70' and 77' cabins could be made, depending on what particular boat is chosen by the modeler. Also inside the hull can be thinned out 7 scale feet forward of the transom, to allow the modeler to shorten the hull to 70'. weapons set can be standard, with both 18 and 21 inch torpedo tubes included.Dewandre/w plexiglass bubbles and Colt mounts included. for those wanting to make PTC's, use your scratch build modeling skills.
follow on conversion kits, can be:

Royal Navy MTB/MGB set, with twin Vickers .50.'s and trunk cabin turret, RN tubes, shielded 20mm, depth charges, RN Carly floats, 2- single .50's and 2 Lewis .303 cal on tripod mounts, extra ready service lockers,

USN 77' ELCO Late Pacific set, with SO-A radar and mast, 2 40mm/w extra ammo clips, 4 ready storage lockers 2 life rafts, 16, single.50 Brownings, (enough to make PT 59, 60 or 61), single and dual pintle mounts with ammo boxes for these, some loose ammo boxes, roll off torpedo racks, two MK XIII torpedoes 4 depth charges with racks.

And then there is the issue of crew figures, well 1 RN Med based crew set(this can also be used on Italeri Vosper), The USN Pacific they are developing and the one already out should be enough for the Gunboat crew size, so they really don't need any more. if the modeler needs more, buy two sets, or............ use your scratch build modeling skills.
Well that's about it.......Did you get all of that Santa? I mean Italeri?
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 25, 2014 - 1:42pm
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted, go to the Italeri web site and send them the suggestion. Direct it to the marketing department as they call the shots. The guys I'm working with don't unfortunately. The good news is that Dick sent them everything on these boats. Like you I hope they do one.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 25, 2014 - 8:05pm
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Dave;
I just sent it, we shall see what comes of it.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 26, 2014 - 10:34am
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Well, while we wait for Santa, I've started offering a few items at Shapeways, such as the Mk17 mounts and guns in 1:24 and 1:20, as posted at:

[url]http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2211235&page=3#post29539646[/url]

[image]https://images4.sw-cdn.net/model/picture/625x465_2704730_6777645_1411770108.jpg[/image]

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Sep 26, 2014 - 6:11pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Patrick,
I was looking at the cowl vents you made for the 103 class PT. Have you thought about dialing these down to 1/35 scale for the Italeri kit? One thing I noticed was that the Elco boats had wing nut locks at the base as well as at the cowl.

There are probably better pictures showing the cowl vent base but here's what I have to share..
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 27, 2014 - 6:57am
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Probably best to do something like that with photoetch... I could barely make the torpedo tube door toggle bolts in 1:24 with 3DP...

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Sep 27, 2014 - 8:15am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I thought I saw something on some forum about printing 3d parts for RC aircraft on a foam, with the finished material ending up something like Depron. Can't find the link though and I tend to obsessively bookmark that sort of thing.

If something like that could be done for the cabins on an Elco 77 footer I'd be interested in giving it a try. Most likely, though, this was something speculative, and I'll end up vacuforming mine, or just making it out of balsa.

Jeff D,
As far as figures go the CMK crew for 1/72 US Gato subs look promising. I'll know in a couple of weeks how well they'll work as I bought a Gato on eBay, and these figures were one of the extras.

Posted By: zeusbheld | Posted on: Oct 5, 2014 - 4:37am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered