found PT Model Boat help

[mikeo]

Cleaning out a room for a Lady today and she gave me this model boat, I can't be sure if it was a Kit or just something someone made? Was it a Kit, and from what year.? it has a lever on/off switch and green and red light bulbs, also should I put batteries in it to see if it works? The motor spins good.



thanks for any help

Mike in Arkansas

[Goodwood]

Definitely more of a "folk art" piece than a reproduction of any working or fighting boat, but still looks like it'd make for an interesting restoration project if you're into that kind of thing. If you see any corroded bits on the battery holders, though, it might be a good idea to replace them before you try to spin up the motors with fresh ones. Good to check wiring as well.

Just my two kopecks.

[mikeo]

Thank You, do you know if the colors of the hull have a meaning ? I did a little cleaning and plan to make a stand for it. The wood and paint look really old and I think it's floating days are over.

[Goodwood]

From the photos it still looks reasonably watertight. Can't rightly tell what kind of wood it was made from, if you want to get it back into good condition then I would unscrew whatever parts are removable, then strip each one with some good paint stripper safe for wood that won't tear it up. Give the wooden parts a good sanding, reseal them, then paint it up like a small inter-coastal patrol boat, maybe adding fins to the "torpedoes" or else chucking them (along with the "main guns" and two of the four "secondary turrets" as well).

It's really up to you what you want to do with it, these are just my own suggestions from glancing at a few photographs.

[mikeo]

I have decided to keep this one in tact and make one out of cedar and enter it in the Ark State Fair, I won first place with a Monster Truck last year, and also a Butterfly House I won first place.

Did I see a thread to post (in progress builds) ? Thanks so much for your help Goodwood.

[Tracy White]

Thank You, do you know if the colors of the hull have a meaning ?

The gray looks similar to the prewar "#5 Standard Navy Gray" that all Navy Ships, including PTs were painted in before the war.

[mikeo]

Thanks, can you look at the picture and tell what scale it is ?

mike

[mikeo]

The over all length is 1 foot and 6 inches.

[Timmy C]

If we assume it's based off an Elco 80' PT Boat, then that makes it 1/53 scale.

[mikeo]

This is what I came up with for my PT state fair entry, 80 feet converts to 1 / 1.5 = 20.997 inches. I wanted to make it bigger than one foot and six inches, So I came up with 20.997 inches. if I am wrong please correct me, and comments are all way welcome.

Mike in Arkansas

[Timmy C]

1 / 1.5 = 20.997 inches.

I don't know what that is - what's the 1/1.5 in reference to?

[mikeo]

I'm looking to build from 20 to 22 inches long, The Elco PT was 80 feet.

[Timmy C]

Ah, well then:

80*12 = 960

960/20 = 1/48 scale



Since there's already a kit of a PT Boat in 1/48 scale, I'd suggest you go that route. The kit is by Merit and is going to be released soon in North America: http://www.freetimehobbies.com/1-48-mer ... late-type/ (Actual pre-order link here)
If you can't wait, you can get it from Japan.

[Tracy White]

There's also going to be an earlier release after the "late type" is out.

[mikeo]

Ah, well then:

80*12 = 960

960/20 = 1/48 scale

Thanks so much for your help, I plan to build from scratch, (no kit). No nails. and No glue. This is how I build. I will post pictures soon in the (Online Scratchbuild Projects) ? correct ?

Mike

[mikeo]

I would like to add a remote motor, And I will need a shaft and prop. I will need to be finished before Oct first 2014.

[Timmy C]

Yep, that's the right section - good luck!

[mikeo]

Quote from John: (DO NOT try and refinish or repaint the boat)

I got your E-mail John, Thanks, I have not and will not try to re-paint or repair anything on the boat, I also think that if I repair the boat it would ruin the value.

=================
In other news, Real life work has slowed me down on my Scratch-build PT-Boat. but it is coming along slow but sure.

mike

[Mario]

Your boat is an ITO, They were made in post war Japan. Resources in Japan were scarce at the time and wood was used by this toy company and very early electric motor. Do not repaint or change the motor or it will depreciate its value as an antique. It looks to be in good shape for this toy boat. Also if you place it in water, you will risk expanding the wood and cracking the paint. This company also made two large submarines, an I /400 and an I2. They are made of the same material and motors as this boat of yours. They generally run on auctions between $600 to $1000 depending on condition and bidders.

[Mario]

Here is some more information on youtube, some fellow restores them. This should be very helpful to you. His is the smaller version next to yours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=944cscu ... vzoT_qPOdA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuLsZ49 ... A&index=21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3EEbsD ... A&index=22