The Ship Model Forum

I am starting my next project. Using the 1944 Gato Trumpy kit I'm going to build a 1959 version of SS-199. Tautog has a great history starting with being credited with shooting down the first Japanese plane during the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war Tautog was stationed in Milwaukee as a training vessel and in 1959 it was sold for scrap, towed to Manistee Michigan, and broke up at Bultema Docks. I toured the ship in 1959 with my Dad when it was on public display, although I don't remember it, as I was only one year old. And a final picture, from our local newspaper.
(These poor quality photos are from xerox copies)
The Tautog was a Tambor class submarine, predecessor to the Gato class. It was very similar to the Gato, with the main exterior difference overall length, with Tambor class being approx. 3 feet shorter overall. The other challenge for me will be limber holes.

I will be building two of these kits. One for myself and the other will be displayed at the Manistee County Historical Museum in the maritime section. The pressure is on!

Timm

Besides the Trumpeter kits I chose the White Ensigns Models photo-etch, WEM 1/144 Gato Class Submarine Ref: PE 14401. I've used alot of GMM PE and some Tom's and L'Arsenal, and while the WEM brass is .004" it sure seems delicate compared to other stuff.
I got started on the sail, I had followed the WEM directions and cut down the verticle height before I realized that Tautog ended up with the intermediate sail, so I had to put it back together. There are more details to add yet, but this is how it looks right now.
Timm

Great work (as usual), Timm

The exterior differences of fleet submarines basically means that no two submarines looked exactly the same. The limber holes themselves can identify the ship. I made changes to the Trumpy model kit after studying the pictures I have.
The anchor well on the port side was eliminated on the Tautog and plated over. I filled the well with putty and then used lead foil (thanks to my dentist, Dr. Paine) to simulate the plate in a more correct location. On the starboard side, I moved the well to the more correct position using putty and Dremel.

Timm

The main deck received the same treatment.

Timm

Looking good Timm!...your off to a great start!

Dave

Finished the drain holes in the bottom. This pattern is early Electric Boat which includes Tambor class. The bow is to the left.
Timm

Work continues with fitting out Tautog. First to layout the propeller guards. The WEM PE pieces did not have the right shape. I used pictures of the actual ship and fabricated guards. I used .060" copper wire, flattened on a mini anvil to produce flat stock. It really came out quite uniform, as the wire flattened to a certain extent with uniform hammer blows.
Timm

I wanted to add some detail with the deck hatch covers. Most pictures of subs at dock show the hatches open, probably for ventilation. My model portrays the sub in it's final days, with hatches open for public tours. The Trumpy model shows hatch covers closed. I showed them open so added some details to the undersides, with bits and pieces of brass. Tautog photos shows a grab rail along side the rear most hatch.

I'm not sure about the shape of the aft torpedo loading hatch. Most subs have a raised 'hump' at the deck level. My photos show a very slightly domed cover, so the shape is purely a guess.

The next item that I wanted to be present on my Tautog was the pressure hatch and tube just behind the sail. I'm guessing it is a ammo shell pass for the 4" 50 deck gun located just aft. Bits of polystyrene, brass and copper replicated this.
NOW I see that my scale is off... I will have to re-work this part.

Timm

I myself am planning on a WWII scene of the Finback and George H W Bush, so this might help...

Capt652 wrote:I'm not sure about the shape of the aft torpedo loading hatch.
Most subs have a raised 'hump' at the deck level. My photos show a very slightly domed cover, so the shape is purely a guess.

Torpedo hatch aft deck searched - not much I could find, but I do have a set of blueprints of the sistership, SS-198...

Here's an image of what I've scanned and uploaded - included some aft deck shot of other EB-boats:


Upload (22.75 MB) can be found here: http://www.mediafire.com/file/wjnzdyzfd ... rClass.zip

If there's anything else from the prints you may want/need, please let me know!
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Some nice clear image of EB-tubes... but you probably knew these?
Grunion - http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08216.htm

Bonefish - http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08223.htm
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Thanks for inspiration! and feel free to delete post if it's considered spamming/hi-jacking!

Hey Jan, what's the source of those plans?

I.E. do you have copyright permission to post them, or should we yank them before we get a takedown notice?

Crap! My first post here and I'm already in trouble! It usually takes some 8-10 post...


First, it was indeed very sloppy - and I must say, most unusual of me! - not to give the proper source!


I'm not entirely sure of the source for the three photos of the aft deck, but I guess they are from NavSource... otherwise they are picked up somewhere on the net...
Please let me know if you want me to remove them!

The blueprints are from Duane D. Borchers fantastic "Tambor class - A Study in Blueprints"!
Here's a link to his great collection: http://www.marylandsilver.com/books4.htm

And btw. I'm proud to say, that I do have Duanes personal permission to show excerpts from his books!
Quote: "I am honored if my book is of help to your friend and yourself. The drawings in the book are the definitive truth as to the workings of the submarine."...

Again, sorry for the missing source! And double-sorry for now really ruining this thread!

No, that does not ruin the thread; we just have to be careful that we do not allow people to post copywritten materials here without the proper permission. Since Duane is essentially re-printing drawings from NARA I'm not as concerned with that, but I would advocate people buy his stuff as he's a good resource to support and have around! I've got his flush deck APD book....

Tracy White wrote:...I would advocate people buy his stuff as he's a good resource to support and have around!

Spot on! My reason too for "quoting" from his books! Besides trying to offer some assistance as well, of course.

Oh! And just to make it absolutely clear, I have both bought and payed for his books!


But I fail to understand why we couldn't have cleared this out by PM?

Because then we would have less of a chance of others learning from this!

There is a LOT of misunderstanding with regards to copyright and I try and advocate and teach the current "proper" use (I don't agree with some of the laws) when I can to keep people safe.

I have had some progress with the periscope shears. Antennas and other structures finish this part.


Basic paint is complete.


Timm

This is my first attempt with weathering. I used David Griffith's advice from his book Ship Models From Kits. I used artists oil paints and artists turpentine, white, black, brunt umber, and aquamarine. I applied the washes after a coat of future floor polish. I think it looks better in real life than what my camera shows.
Here is the look I'm going for,

http://www.submarinesailor.com/Boats/Re ... utog01.jpg



Timm