Calling all Gato-class (SS-212) fans

[Mario]

Tom, Thank for posting these links, I was not aware of this series. Reminds me of the old submarine comics of years ago only real tales. Finally, something to enjoy watching thanks, Mario

[pbudzik]

Thanks Tom,

I very much remember that show, never thought I'd see it again.

Paul

[pbudzik]

Any recommendations on the best drawings for constructing the interior details for a Revell Gato Cutaway?

Thank you,
Paul

[Tracy White]

You like easy builds, don't you?

[pbudzik]

You like easy builds, don't you?

I'm calling this sort of a feasibility study...

Paul

[Hippy Ed]

You like easy builds, don't you?

I'm calling this sort of a feasibility study...

Paul

[krgf15]

I dont know if this helps, but http://usscubera.org/images/SubPlans.pdf is the best online blueprint style interior layout I have found. I dont know how different a GUPPY II layout was from a standard WW2 fleetboat, but it cant be that far off. AsI said, hope it helps..

[pbudzik]

Thanks krgf15, I appreciate the help.

Paul

[aurora-7]

Any recommendations on the best drawings for constructing the interior details for a Revell Gato Cutaway?

Thank you,
Paul

The Submarine Force Museum in Groton Connecticut has a nice, LARGE cut-a-way model (1/6th scale) of a Gato boat.

I found this image with a quick google search to give you an idea of the detail:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27417638@N ... otostream/

[Channell]

Any recommendations on the best drawings for constructing the interior details for a Revell Gato Cutaway?

Thank you,
Paul

I've been tempted to do this for some time too! So far as I know, nobody's actually done one and put it online.

Here's some inspiration:

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/oahuphotos ... in_036.htm

It's a Balao, not a gato (it's at the USS Bowfin Museum, Pearl Harbor) but sure looks incredible!

[pbudzik]

Thanks Jason,

That is the best cutaway I've seen. A perfect example to try and duplicate.

At the moment, feasibility seems to be beached on where to hang it. The model will be somewhat wider than I originally thought. Not exactly like sawing it down the middle. If only my wife had more of an appreciation for...Well... I have plenty of time to come up with something...and the Enterprise has a long way to go.

Paul

[Tom Dougherty]

The Submarine Force Museum in Groton Connecticut has a nice, LARGE cut-a-way model (1/6th scale) of a Gato boat.

And I just took a very high resolution, detailed close up of each of the individual cut away compartments of said model. Probably 10 photos in all. I also have a very detailed drawing of a Gato cutaway (USS Flasher). I can't post them here due to the extremely limiting image size restrictions, but happy to email them out if you contact me.

[Sauerteig]

Is the 1/72 Revell Gato oop? If so, what is it going for on ebay? Thanks.

[2whl]

The Revell Gato is OOP. Occasionally they will come up on eBay. The last one I got was at a IPMS contest. I talked the guy down to $70.

[dukwhunter]

Hi Guys ,

Just recently picked up AFV Club's 1/350 GATO Class Sub 1943 and from what i've been able to find out , it

represents USS Dace SS-247 as in 1943 . What changes would need to be done to represent her at the time of the sinking

of the IJN Cruiser Maya in Oct 1944 ?

Also would the paint scheme still be flat hull black lower hull & dark gray 2 uppers or something else ?

Thanks for any help with these questions !

regards
JOEY

[Tom Dougherty]

Just recently picked up AFV Club's 1/350 GATO Class Sub 1943 and from what i've been able to find out , it
represents USS Dace SS-247 as in 1943 . What changes would need to be done to represent her at the time of the sinking
of the IJN Cruiser Maya in Oct 1944 ?

The kit represents Dace pretty much as built, with a semi-enclosed fairwater. By 1944, she had her conning tower fairwater cut down, an a 5/25 "wet" deck gun on the aft deck.
See these photos for details of the 1944 fairwater:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/0824709.jpg
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/0824710.jpg
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/0824705.jpg and
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/0824708.jpg
So, you would be looking at opening up the forward part of the fairwater, and also cutting out the sides. I think you might need to move some masts and antennas as well.

Also would the paint scheme still be flat hull black lower hull & dark gray 2 uppers or something else ?

[/quote]
It appears to be in the light gray Measure 32 in the photos. Lower hull black (not red), fairwater and sides light grey; blending into darker grey near the back of the hull turtleback. Black deck surfaces. Here's all the details: http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/ ... flage.html

[dukwhunter]

Hi Tom ,

WOW !!! Thanks for the information ! Will definitely help with this build !


best regards
JOEY

[aguerraf1347]

Greetings from Northern California!

I am a former USN submariner(TM3). I was an avid model builder as a boy ( 57 years ago), but have done nothing since. This year I made my dream come true. I replicated the submarine I served aboard as a remembrance of some of my most precious memories as a member of the armed services, bur more importantly, as a part of, "The Silent Service." I began in 2007 collecting parts to begin the assembly process. Not being very computer literate (yes, I know, I'm a dinosaur) I struggled to find people online to help me. The greatest help came from Mario Grima (ibs.eastcoastarmory.com). He was particularly excited because I was going to build a boat that had gone from the SS classification to SSK in 1953. When I reported aboard the Bashaw in 1966 (SubRon3), Point Loma, CA, she had just gone through a refit at Mare Island Naval Base (Vallejo, CA). After several modifications ( sail, bow, deck), and painting, I felt the model looked too static, so I went further and began replicating the Submarine Pier at Point Loma (in San Diego, CA). The pier is scratch-built from balsa wood and is considerably shorter than the original (at 900 feet!). I have submitted 18 jpg photos plus a history of my construction process and I look forward to seeing Tim post them when he has time. If this strikes a chord of interest in any of you, please do not hesitate to email me.

Smooth sailing,

Antonio Guerra

[krgf15]

Well.... I want a good 1/350 Gato, one that doesn't have the shape issues of the AFV kit. How do the Toms Modelworks, Pitroad and Yankee Modelworks kits stack up against each other?

[Tom Dougherty]

Well.... I want a good 1/350 Gato, one that doesn't have the shape issues of the AFV kit. How do the Toms Modelworks, Pitroad and Yankee Modelworks kits stack up against each other?

I have the YKM Gato and Balao fleet sub kits, which are quite good and the hull shapes accurate.. I also have the old YKM and Tom's ModelWorks Guppy kits. I am actually combining the YKN hull with the Tom's (superior) sails. One thing all three share is they are long OOP.