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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: PT 305 Artwork . . .
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After seeing the posts regarding the PT 305 boat, I decided to post the artwork I created for the 305 Restoration project. Hopefully I have not posted them before, if so, I apologize putting anyone through the agony of seeing them over and over, again and again

. However, on the 305 management, I will remain â€œMUMâ€ on the subject and the organization.

The project actually started back in 2011 when one of our most senior forum member, Bob Wade (may he rest in peace), contacted me about creating a large 4-foot by 6-foot display poster to be displayed at the entrance to the Restoration Pavilion. This was a visitor reference of the boat. This was needed since the tour showed the visitors the boat from a distance and a poster would show them exactly what it would look like when restored. I was happy to help out, and luckily I had been playing around with creating Isometric illustrations of the various Higginsâ€™ type boats for a while, and spefically with the completions of artwork for PT 658. So after a couple hundred hours of PT 305 researching, plotting, erasing, drawing, and digitally tracing, I finished the first version of Higgins PT 305 (see the first three photo below.) A large display poster was mounted near the entrance, and around 4,000 smaller 12â€ x 18â€ poster were printed and handed out to those whom donated.

After the first initial drawing were made, illustrating the the early configuration nown to be at the time. We continued to revise and update the drawings as the restoration progressed and configurations were being developed and agreed upon. So after all the years, specially the last two years 2017-2019, the updated artwork was completed. After hundreds of emails, photos, and some phone calls between Bob and myself, the drawing now represented the 305 in it final version, paint style to armament - - and a couple hundred additional hours.

[blue]As a side note: Bob Wade was one of the original members of the restoration team and volunteered all of his time, hundreds of hours, during the long years of the restoration. When the boat was finished and in itâ€™s boat house, he continued to volunteer and later became an employee. With a little more time and with studying the books he became Coast Guard qualified as a boat captain, and was appropriately assigned as Skipper of the restored PT 305. He dearly loved the boat and was ecstatic with wind blowing his mustache and recent beard growth against his face and his hair flowing about as he speed PT 305 along in Lake Pontchartrain. It was his dream and sadly too short lived, I miss his many, many, emails, and occasional phone calls. Rest in Peace, Captain Robert Wade of restored PT 305![/blue]

Please note: The artwork was not created in any 3D modeling or CAD programs, the images were all drawn by had and traced into Adobe Illustrator.

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 11, 2022 - 12:59pm
Total Posts: 1489 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Dick I remembered when you did this and I thought it was wonderful then and now. Your work is second to none, and your right Bob was a great guy with so much love for this project. He put his heart and soul into it, and I would suggest that knowing she is on the side line makes him very unhappy

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 11, 2022 - 1:23pm
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Again, thank you very much Dick. [:-cheers-:]

However, on the 305 management, I will remain â€œMUMâ€ on the subject and the organization. Well, Mama always said Management is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. So if you don't have anything nice to say about them, say nuthin' at all. But I ain't my Mama, and I don't like their decision at all.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Apr 14, 2022 - 12:39pm
Total Posts: 2203 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Thanks for sharing this again. I sent a message to my contact at Italeri to hopefully prod them along with this project. This seems like such a natural fit for them. If I had any idea on how to get in touch with FORE Models I would try them too. Hopefully someday we'll see a good Higgins kit.

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Apr 22, 2022 - 5:38am
Total Posts: 1680 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

I've been contacted by a new member-to-be, he is working on the re-restoration of PT 305. I believe it is for static display, I'm sure he will inform us when his membership is complete.

Stay tuned for details!

Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Feb 1, 2024 - 2:51pm
Total Posts: 1489 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm