The Ship Model Forum

by **dhenning** » Fri Jan 23, 2026 8:26 pm

This is from one of the best PT boat sites out there. Fantastic drawings with dimensions for most every component.

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

by **PMD724** » Fri Jan 23, 2026 7:01 am

I'm doing my own scale. I just need the original dimensions.

by **FFG-7** » Thu Jan 22, 2026 5:18 pm

what scale are you doing the 109 in?

by **PMD724** » Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:11 am

Seen that online and still can't read it. Got anything better?

by **FFG-7** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:30 am

have a look at these.

by **PMD724** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:15 am

Looking for some dimensions for PT boats. Particularly for PT09. I made a wood model of the USS Laffey DD724 a while back and now wanting to do the PT109. I found the basics, Length is 80ft. Depth is 8ft 9in. I see the beam is 20Ft 8in.What is the stern width and depth. And could use the height of bridge structure and any other dimensions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

by **Chris@Sea n' Sky** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 8:44 pm

My mistake. No 20mm cannons are in Le Clair.

by **Tracy White** » Mon Jul 15, 2024 7:52 pm

Those are M45 Quadmount .50 calibers - the Thunderbolt had a different layout.

That said, the M45 was part of the M16 halftrack, which could make any rush hour commute more fun.

by **Chris@Sea n' Sky** » Mon Jul 15, 2024 9:31 am

: LeClair Thunderbolt 1

Le Clair, Iowa has 2 thunderbolt mounts overlooking the mighty Mississippi, unless the American Pickers have cabbaged on to them!

by **BB62vet** » Fri May 12, 2023 7:57 am

NavyShooter wrote:I'd like one of those Thunderbolt systems in 1:1 scale...LOL

Sorry, but your Sea Daddy Trudeau won't allow that!

You'll have to settle for a scaled down resin version if you can find the drawings!

Hank

by **NavyShooter** » Thu May 11, 2023 9:59 am

I'd like one of those Thunderbolt systems in 1:1 scale...LOL

by **DD555-DD473** » Wed May 10, 2023 12:05 pm

davidwaples wrote:Revell Germany released their latest 1/72 Elco PT Boat kit. The boat depicted is pretty obscure. This model depicts Elco's test of their Thunderbolt gun system on PT-160 at their facility in Bayonne, New Jersey. If you're not familiar with the Thunderbolt gun system, it is a turret of sorts that supported four .20mm Oerlikon cannons, and on this test bed included an additional two .50 cal machine guns. The gunner managed to squeeze in between all of this weaponry to operate the guns. After tests were done with the prototype on PT-160, the Thunderbolt gun system was changed to only include the four .20mm Oerlikon cannons. The prototype 160 boat had the test Thunderbolt gun system removed after the test and before she was actually deployed to theatre. So with eyes wide open realize that this is a one off test bed subject and not something that was ever deployed. We did very politely reach out to Revell Germany after seeing their initial CAD drawings, but they did not respond to the information we provided. But if this one off test boat is something you've wanted to build, this is your kit.

After seeing images of the Thunderbolt system, I wanted to scratch built one in 1/24th scale, but I never got around to doing it. This kit could be a what if build with a bunch of late war armament added to it with a fictitious numbered Pt that didn't see combat.

by **DD555-DD473** » Wed May 10, 2023 11:49 am

Bob Cicconi wrote:Nice job! That's a lot of work, huh? I did one for Garth Connelly, but out of the box.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f79/b ... CF1112.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f79/b ... CF1111.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f79/b ... CF1110.jpg

An all around Great Build! This must be the 1/35th scale Italerie kit. I have one NIB, one of these days, I'll have to build it. Thanks for sharing and your photos are active since 2017. Most old images no longer work.

by **davidwaples** » Mon Aug 22, 2022 1:16 pm

Revell Germany released their latest 1/72 Elco PT Boat kit. The boat depicted is pretty obscure. This model depicts Elco's test of their Thunderbolt gun system on PT-160 at their facility in Bayonne, New Jersey. If you're not familiar with the Thunderbolt gun system, it is a turret of sorts that supported four .20mm Oerlikon cannons, and on this test bed included an additional two .50 cal machine guns. The gunner managed to squeeze in between all of this weaponry to operate the guns. After tests were done with the prototype on PT-160, the Thunderbolt gun system was changed to only include the four .20mm Oerlikon cannons. The prototype 160 boat had the test Thunderbolt gun system removed after the test and before she was actually deployed to theatre. So with eyes wide open realize that this is a one off test bed subject and not something that was ever deployed. We did very politely reach out to Revell Germany after seeing their initial CAD drawings, but they did not respond to the information we provided. But if this one off test boat is something you've wanted to build, this is your kit.

by **drasticplastic** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 6:12 pm

Again, thanks!

by **alross2** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 1:08 pm

Wood; 3.5" brass screws. The drawing is a microfilm blowback, so it's very hard to read.

by **drasticplastic** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 8:41 am

Great shot of that forward mount. Is the circular base wood, or steel (the large circular base, not the base of the gun mount)? And how is it attached to the deck...I don't see any bolts, rivets, etc.

by **alross2** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 10:18 pm

Yes to all. However, the MK14 mount did have removeable upside-down J handles (like on the .50s) that would allow high angle fire if necessary.

by **drasticplastic** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 5:54 pm

It would appear that the forward gun with shorter mount wouldn't have much elevation (at least not as much as the aft gun). Was it used mostly for "barge-busting", or other surface targets? Is that the reason for it's not having a sight? Not that it matters on a model!

by **alross2** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 10:46 am

The Tropical Green scheme was in effect prior to 372's completion, so it's likely that she left ELCO in Tropical Green, which is just a bit lighter than Navy Green (5NG). I don't have any photos of her, but suspect that she subsequently carried 31/5P and perhaps (later) 31/20L.

If you're going to put a 20mm forward, keep in mind they had a different mount. The tall mount with the shoulder rests is a MK10. The short mount is the MK14, and that is what they mounted forward.

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