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| SS-336 USS Capitaine http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=97790 |
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Hello again all  Been off the board for awhile, but I am busy with another project. I am converting Revell's 1/72 scale Gato Class sub to a Balao Class circa 1963. While not technically a scratchbuild, there is quite a bit of that involved. Ok to post here, or somewhere else? Your thoughts.........Thanks, Bill W. 
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| Author: | Dave Wooley [ Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Bill it will be a treat and a pleasure to see your new build on this board. go for it. Dave Wooley 
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| Author: | Cliffy B [ Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Awesome man! Cant wait to see you tackle a sub. Will she be full hull? |
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Cliffy B wrote: Awesome man! Cant wait to see you tackle a sub. Will she be full hull? Waterline! |
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| Author: | johnny canuck [ Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
I look forward to watching. |
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| Author: | roy allen [ Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Bills back The amount of work needed to convert will be interesting to follow Roy |
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| Author: | 109 [ Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Go ahead! 
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| Author: | JIM BAUMANN [ Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Bill Wrote.... Waterline! That the way ahead!!! looking forward to see what you will do! JIM B
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| Author: | Richard J OMalley [ Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Bill Lets see it .
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Sun Feb 26, 2012 8:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Ok, Well here goes. As I said, while technically not a true scratchbuild, there are some areas that will be. Not much, but enough to make things interesting. I usually don't do kits, haven't for a long time.So this is a sort of break from true scratchbuilding. This will be a kit conversion. The Gato Class boats and Balao Class boats are very similar. In fact, the hull is about the same. The main differences are in the sail / conning tower arrangements. Other differences are structual and mechanical, and a few changes in the deck arrangement, but for modeling purposes these have no real bearing in the outward appearance of the boat. Lets do a little history first... The USS Capitaine was built by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. and was laid down Dec. 2, 1943, launched Oct. 1, 1944, commisioned Jan 26, 1945. She was laid up Feb. 10, 1950 in the Pac. Reserve Fleet at Mare Island. Re-entererd sevice Feb. 23, 1957. She was then reclassified "Auxilary Reaseach Submarine AGSS-336"on July 1, 1960. Served with the US Navy until March 1966 at which time she was transferred to Italy and renamed "Alfredo Cappallini S-507". Sold to Italy and struck from US Naval registry Dec. 5, 1977. The model will be in the 1963 timeframe and is being built for a staff member at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Ill. His name is Grant Haring and was in charge of the exhibit for the CVE-60 / DE-133 project I recently completed.He had the Gato Revell kit and I offered to convert and build it to the USS Capitaine, which he served on during the 1960's. He and his family were very gracious to me in my trip to Chicago, so I figured one good turn deserves another. I was not planning on doing a build up of this, so I am pretty far along now. Being a plastic kit, I figured it would not go on this forum. But considering the replies, I'll try to illustrate what I am doing to date.Here's a listing of the modifications and changes to the Revell Gato kit: 1. Cut hull to waterline configuration. 2. Cover perforated decking with wood decking as per photos. 3. Delete all guns and railings. 4.Add cover plates where 5" guns were originally mounted. 6.Add engine exhaust ports, port and stb. side. 7. Replace Gato Class sail / conning tower with short Balao Class arrangement. 8. Add marker bouy stowage on stb. side aft, remove same from portside aft as molded on Revell kit. 9. Relocate fwd. accomodation ladder and marker bouy location. 10. Add a few scratchbuilt items to new sail / conning tower arrangement to match SS-336 as close as possible. 11. Add shutter doors to aft torpedo tubes in closed position. Thats about it for the changes and modifications.Lets move on to photos...... Attachment:
File comment: Here's the Capitaine off Mare Island in Dec. 1945. Note the two 5" guns, and the AA guns on the sail. At this time she also has a third mast aft on the sail. Railings are also visible. 0833611.jpg [ 173.56 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Here she is again, about 1949. Note all guns and railings removed, and no third mast. 0833602.jpg [ 149.39 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Another view, this time in the 1960's timeframe I am after. Note the ship number is removed from the bow, and the ones on the sail are now shaded with an "E" added. 0833607.jpg [ 40.71 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Good view of the sail / conning tower arrangement, 1963. R1-01779-0014.jpg [ 58.01 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: In order to make this waterline, the first order of the conversion was to cut the hull at the waterline after assembly. I left the decks and side plates off at this point. Shown here is the lower half, cut in three pieces. SS-336 025.jpg [ 118.12 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Here's a closer look. The plastic here is real thick, almost 1/8". As cutting, the plastic melts due to the heat generated by the cutter. Slow going here. I used a variable speed Dremel and a reinforced cut-off wheel for the job. SS-336 023.jpg [ 116.7 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: After cutting the hull, I then took the kit decks and taped paper over the top of them. Then using the side of a pencil, I got the lines for the edges of the new wood deck which would follow the kits molded perforated decks. I then transferred the paper patterns to posterboard and cut them out, making the appropriate changes in locations of deck items, using photos as a guide. This is the fwd. deck section. SS-336 026.jpg [ 139.24 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Heres the center section. The patterns were transferred to .020 scribed styrene, and then cut out. This center section is wood on the Gato class, also. Note the cutout for the kit conning tower/ sail assy. This area will be removed from the kit deck to facilitate the installation of the new conning tower / sail assy. SS-336 027.jpg [ 135.62 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Here's the aft section. SS-336 028.jpg [ 143.94 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: The new wood deck added forward. I have changed the location here of the accomodation ladder and the fwd. marker bouy well lid. On the Revell kit they are reversed. Note the resin sonar dome, from IBS. SS-336 005.jpg [ 125.27 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Here's the aft section. I have added the aft marker bouy well here. Note how it protrudes out from the hull. The one on the Revell kit is on the port side and not near as pronounced. I sanded that one off. This was made from a shaped balsa block then wrapped with .010 styrene sheet. A tricky little part. SS-336 006.jpg [ 101.43 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: For some reason, Revell did not represent the exhaust ports for the engines. There are two on either side of the boat. I drilled these out straight first, then angled the drill aft to make the hole somewhat elliptical. Styrene tube was then added, cut at an angle, and inserted in the tube. SS-336 008.jpg [ 88.42 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: One of the round bolted plates covering the 5" deck gun locations. One fwd and one aft. Made from .030 styrene sheet and hexagon tube. SS-336 009.jpg [ 102.66 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Aft. torpedo tube shutters added here, resin from IBS. In their closed position. SS-336 007.jpg [ 99.67 KiB | Viewed 6349 times ] Thats it for this post. More to come....Stay tuned! I continue on. |
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| Author: | Richard J OMalley [ Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Bill Interesting .  How large will the base be ? Rough water or calm ?
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Richard J OMalley wrote: Bill Interesting . How large will the base be ? Rough water or calm ? Hello Richard, The base will be about 60" x 18" approx. Moderate seas.............Pacific Ocean... |
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| Author: | GTDEATH13 [ Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Mr Waldorf you are making it look so easy. I was thinking of waterlining my gato but did not dare to do it... Will be watching closely...
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Hello again Continuing on with the conversion, the next step is to add the new sail / conning tower arrangement. I got the Balao Class arrangement from IBS, Iron Bottom Sound, run by Mario Grima. Many thanks to him for info. on subs. I am a bit vauge on submarines, this is my first sub project, so forgive me if I stumble along. Lets take a look......Attachment:
File comment: Here's the new sail / conning tower arrangement from IBS. It is 3 main pieces and cast in resin. The lower part or main body, the "chariot" upper section and the periscope masts. The lower part is solid resin. Parts required truing up and removing flash, etc. Very nice castings. I have added some Revell parts from the Gato kit. White parts are styrene added by me to match SS-336. Coaming aroung the chariot looking structure is telephone wire. Lots of parts in the Gato kit are interchangable to the Balao Class of boats. SS-336 010.jpg [ 100.1 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Below are some more views of the new arrangement. Attachment: SS-336 013.jpg [ 103.5 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 019.jpg [ 83.91 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 020.jpg [ 90.41 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 022.jpg [ 86.43 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Some more fine tuning to do on the resin parts, then I will be ready for primer and final paintwork. Here are some overall views of the boat as of now.... Attachment: SS-336 001.jpg [ 133.45 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 002.jpg [ 121.93 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 017.jpg [ 98.92 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 018.jpg [ 100.22 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 015.jpg [ 87.36 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 016.jpg [ 101.54 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 003.jpg [ 70.93 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] Attachment: SS-336 004.jpg [ 83.88 KiB | Viewed 6239 times ] All in all, a fairly simple conversion. On to primer next.....Stay tuned....more to come.....I continue on..........
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| Author: | JIM BAUMANN [ Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
that is fair racing along!!!!!! JIM B
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Tue Feb 28, 2012 7:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
JIM BAUMANN wrote: that is fair racing along!!!!!! JIM B Thanks Jim.....Its coming along. Water will be tricky!! |
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| Author: | Richard J OMalley [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:22 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Bill She looks great .Nice of you to do that for him !
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| Author: | Dave Wooley [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Hi Bill Transforming one boat into another and skillfully done . Dave Wooley
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Dave Wooley wrote: Hi Bill Transforming one boat into another and skillfully done . Dave Wooley Thanks, Dave. Hopefully the seascape will look good ,too. In any event, I will give it my best shot. More photos coming soon......stay tuned...........
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| Author: | Bill Waldorf [ Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SS-336 USS Capitaine |
Hello again all Continuing on with the SS-336 build, I have now primed the boat for final paintwork and made a few additions. Lets take a look...........Attachment:
File comment: Here I have added a couple of "bumpers" behind the forward dive planes. These were to keep the planes from banging against the hull. Parts from IBS in resin. SS-336 Project part 2 005.jpg [ 102.79 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Another view from portside. SS-336 Project part 2 012.jpg [ 82.52 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment:
File comment: A couple more additions to the conning tower. I have added a whip antenna and the UHF cylinder between the periscopes. SS-336 Project part 2 011.jpg [ 75.16 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment:
File comment: Another view here. SS-336 Project part 2 018.jpg [ 68.94 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Heres some overall views of the boat..... Attachment: SS-336 Project part 2 002.jpg [ 96.81 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment: SS-336 Project part 2 003.jpg [ 105.35 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment: SS-336 Project part 2 008.jpg [ 88.95 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment: SS-336 Project part 2 009.jpg [ 91.75 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment: SS-336 Project part 2 013.jpg [ 85.16 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] Attachment: SS-336 Project part 2 007.jpg [ 91.98 KiB | Viewed 6110 times ] With the conversion now completed, I'll move on the final paintwork using Testor's and Tamiya paints, acrylic and enamels. Stay Tuned............More to come.........I continue on
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