Calling all Gato-class (SS-212) fans

[jemi]

hi, i'm starting to build USS GATO 1/72 REVELL, anyone knows the best colour for her? what is the same colour for 'Light Ghost Grey' in Tamiya? please info

[Capt652]

Looking for some help...

What kind of navigation lights were used on the Gato boats. I am specifically wondering about the port and starboard sides of the fairwater. The Tautog had this on the sides. Was it a light?

ss199con4.jpg (6.46 KiB) Viewed 3310 times

Thanks

Timm

[TCinLA]

This past weekend I received a review kit of the new 1943 Gato class submarine by AFV Club. I had been looking forward to this, since this is the "classic" World War II fleet boat, and AFV Club had established with their 1941 and 1942 Gatos that these are the best kits of the US fleet boat.

So imagine my surprise when I opened the box and the upper half of the hull is the Guppy IA version!! I contacted the distributor (HLJ) and they checked their supply of the kit, and ALL of the kits have this problem. In other words, you cannot get there from here with this kit if your goal is a late-war Gato.

Those with basic modeling skills can fix the kit - I have scratchbuilt a "northern sail" to do USS Blackfin (SS-322), but if you want a late-war Gato you can only buy this kit and the 1941 or 1942 kits, and substitute the conning towers.

Big "oops!" for sure.

TC

[Timmy C]

That's really unfortunate! Is there any way that HLJ can contact AFV to send you the right hull? I took a look at the parts and scans on Hobby Search and the problem is in their shipment as well, it seems. Obviously this was an accident, since the instructions clearly show the different hulls for the two kits.

[cjewison]

Hi everyone. New to this forum, I am a member of other forums, but as I am a Ship/Sub fan. I thought it was about time
I joind here.

I am currently building my Second Gato (USS JACK).
My first try, which can be seen here http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.o ... 21265.html

This time I am using some extras with the kit and adding some of my own custom build options.
I am current working on adding my own wooden deck but I am not 100% sure on the colour.
I know that they are teak, but they all seem to be painted black or a very very dark brown.
Does any one have any close up shots of the deck (In colour) please
Here is the link to the current build and my progress on creating my decking.
http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.o ... 3565-0.php

Thanks in advance
Colin

[Capt652]

Hi Colin, and welcome!

I can't speak for Jack, but I can advise on what I have seen. SS-199 Tautog, a Tambor class had it's deck gloss black. That was in 1960 after serving as a stationary training ship in Milwaukee WI. I live near, and have visited SS Silversides, a gato class museum boat, and it too has gloss black decking. In one of the submarine books that I have shows SS Pampanito SS 383, a Balao class with it's decks gloss black (color photos). It is on display in San Fransisco. Hope this helps.

There are many places to see camo schemes on the internet. This site is from one of the helpful contributors on this forum, Tracy White. Check out his entire site.

http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/ ... 2Rev1.html

By the way, I've just finished my Tautog, I'll have pictures tomorrow to send to the gallery.

Happy modeling, and make sure you share your progress photos.

Timm

[cjewison]

Thanks Timm

well here is the final result for the Decking. I have had three attempts at this to get it right. so time to move on with other areas of this model.

[Capt652]

Looking for some help...

What kind of navigation lights were used on the Gato boats. I am specifically wondering about the port and starboard sides of the fairwater. The Tautog had this on the sides. Was it a light?

ss199con4.jpg

Thanks

Timm

I have an answer! From a member of the crew of SS Tautog, serving on board for the last four patrols, it is a navigation light. Top portion red or green depending whether port or starboard, and bottom opening empty.

Thank you Torpedo-man 1st Class Doyle Huff.

[rtheriaque]

I'm finishing up a 3D model of the Mark 51 Mod 0 rocket launcher. The two sources I have (the two-view drawing and the picture) aren't enough for complete accuracy, but based on the pictures nobody can prove me wrong.

A couple things...

If anybody has any more reference material, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I don't know if I should just save the file in the popular scales for folks to use with something like http://www.shapeways.com or give it (yes, give it) to one of the big submarine outfits (like Nautilus) for production. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance. Here's a sneak peak of my initial work... It's about 25% done.

[carr]

..

[rtheriaque]

Appreciated, Bob. I'm developing a love/hate relationship with that drawing. It's helped me get the basic dimensions right, but why oh why do they show the back end instead of the pointy end?!?

[carr]

..

[rtheriaque]

Bob,

I'm looking for detail on the front and sides of the rack. I have the line drawing and a picture of two sailors loading a series of 5 launchers on an LSM(R)- that's it. Anything at all beyond that would be an amazing help, as several pictures in tandem can often help reveal the detail I'm looking for. My direct email is rtheriaque at gmail.

Looking at the launcher and its construction, there's no way they broke this thing down. I don't see why salt water would hurt any of it any more than anything else they left on deck over the time period they used it.

My information on its use doesn't go much further than Thunder Below. I do know they had plans to outfit several boats to follow Fluckey's trailblazing, but the war ended before they followed through.

Barb had a photographer on board for her last patrol under Fluckey- I'd do some awful things to get my hands on that footage- so many questions could be answered...

Thanks,
Rob

[carr]

..

[rtheriaque]

Nope. That's going to be a huge help. Anything like that will be!

[carr]

..

[rtheriaque]

Done and done. Hurry up and wait!

[rtheriaque]

A little more progress while I wait for the book. I'm probably shooting myself in the foot by working on this before it arrives as I'll end up doing significant rework, but you know how it is once you get started on something!

[rtheriaque]

Got the book. I'm giddy with excitement. We'll have an accurate Mark 51 for our subs soon!

[john53]

I have Revell 1/180 Lionfish. There is a resin upgrade for it, says
Gato parts from Nautilus Models reviewed at Steel Navy. Is it possible to build a USS Wahoo out
of the Revell Lionfish, Balao class kit? Any external differences? Thanks---John