PT 658 Higgins 78' PT Boat

[proflooney]

I finished downloading 643 odd images of PT Boat Microfilm and started working on the hull.

I will model it after PT 658 a late war Higgins 78' design because it was cool and loaded to the gills with cannons, rocket launchers, depth charges and the works.

it took 3 nights to download each drawing as it had to be done one at a time. if interested you can find the drawings here http://cdm16313.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ ... ate/ad/asc

[proflooney]

some screenshots

[DrPR]

Joe,

That University of New Orleans Higgins Industries collection is a great resource. Hundreds of blueprints! Most of what you need for a detailed model of the PT boat should be there, and already scanned for you!

It may look like most of the drawings really aren't important, but you might be surprised. You may find a hull opening in a photo and wonder what it is, only to discover that it is shown in detail in the galley sink drawing.

Phil

[proflooney]

yea i been sorting through them there are abt 4 different vessels in that collection

[proflooney]

The Boat I am Modelling http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/new_page_9.htm

[DrPR]

One of these days when I am in Portland I want to visit the boat.

Phil

[proflooney]

right now I am just trying to figure out the transom set up. I re lofted the hull as i was doing it backwards was why i had several different short lofts. then once i get the transom finished I need to see if I can find how the keel and frames were built

[proflooney]

Ok got the transom set and the top deck so now I have a completed shell for all my stations. need to try and find info on how the keel was fabricated and that the station bulkheads looked like. I am guessing Higgins kept most of his boats very similar for cost control and efficiency. if that was the case it would be lamination of oak and mahogany for the bulkhead stations.

[proflooney]

Ok guys I dont get what this drawing is or what it means. it is on the same sheet as the layouts and the offsets. can someone fill me in?

[proflooney]

well some frames. they arent correct I just whipped them up for some visual

[proflooney]

Ok have the stringer sheet need to try and figure out what everything means next

[proflooney]

Ok a Closeup of the table box saying what they are. i still dont understand what they talking about but did the Bottom Wing First and it looks like the Bottom part of the drawing

[proflooney]

here is the table info

[proflooney]

and here is the lines the table made. it says bottom wing but i dont have a clue what a wing is on a ship and dont see a top wing listed.

Easier to read Stringer sheets http://www.proflooney.net/stringers.rar

[proflooney]

drew bottom edge of main stringer (above keel) used bottom of keel now rereading it it should be top of keel however I still dont know how tall the keel should be

[proflooney]

Drew Top edge of main stringer (above Base)

still not sure what for but will get them drawn first then sort through the other drawings see if they show something

[proflooney]

ok looked keel says 5 1/2 x 11 1/2 LL. YP.

so I an reading 5 1/2" wide 11 1/2" Tall Yellow Pine not sure what the LL is though

[DrPR]

Joe,

"LL" means long length. Longer than stock lengths.

"Bottom Plating" is that part of the shell plating that is below the water line. The immersed plating from bilge to bilge. "Bilge" is the rounded portion of a vessel's shell which connects the bottom with side.

I would guess the "bottom curve" is the curvature of the hull bottom plating from keel to knuckle, from frames 1 to 7. Aft of that the buttock lines set the curvature.

A "stringer" is a fore and aft girder running along the side of the ship. It makes up the framing of the ship along with the vertical frames. Hull plating is attached to this framing.

The "bottom stringer" rests on the top of the keel. The top of it is straight and probably supported the lowest deck.

A "wing" is the outboard part of a ship. Looks like the "wing stringer" was at the knuckle between the bottom and sides of the boat.

****

I came across an invaluable little book years ago at a used book store - "Ship Structure and Blueprint Reading" by H. L. Heed, printed by the Cornell Maritime Press, New York 1942, 258 pages.

The inner dust cover says "This book is written for the sole purpose of teaching the men who are building the ships to read the prints."

It has chapters describing the parts of ships and how they are drawn in blueprints, a list of abbreviations, and a glossary. It looks like it was the draftsman's bible for ship building in the 1940s. It is small enough (5 1/4" x 7 1/2") to be carried in a large coat pocket.

On many occasions it has helped me to decipher the hieroglyphics embedded in ships blueprints. I keep it on my work desk.

No, I won't consider selling it!

Phil

[proflooney]

ok off tomorrow so going to work more. tonight I drew the Bottom edge of Inter Stringer

looking at the sheets in more detail at work today I have somewhat of an idea where they all go

[proflooney]

The stringers are for the bottom of the hull