It's About Liberty: A Conservative Forum

Topics => Hobbies & Crafts => Topic started by: OldSailor on October 03, 2013, 06:40:54 PM

Title: Ships and boats (of course)
Post by: OldSailor on October 03, 2013, 06:40:54 PM

I build and run radio control model ships and boats.  Some are kits, some not so much.  My latest is the PT-73, but not the one you might remember from "McHale's Navy."

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/robert132/Boats/73109STBD_zps2cd52ee2.jpg) (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/robert132/media/Boats/73109STBD_zps2cd52ee2.jpg.html)

The nearer boat is a Higgins 78 foot PT 71 class boat, the real 73 probably appeared very similar to this in its original factory fitting. The other boat is an ELCO 80 foot PT, PT 109 in the same scale as my 73, built and owned by a buddy of mine.  Both are just under 3 feet long and run like scalded cats.

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/robert132/Boats/PT73ATSPEED_zps69dd7a3f.jpg) (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/robert132/media/Boats/PT73ATSPEED_zps69dd7a3f.jpg.html)

The "PT 73" used in the series McHale's Navy started life as a Brit Vosper torpedo boat. The special effects guys did an okay job with her but she looked nothing like either a Higgins or ELCO built boat.

The real world PT 73 served (I think) in Panama and the Aleutians, ending up in the South Pacific.  I believe she was wrecked by grounding and then burned to keep her out of Japanese hands sometime in 1943.

Some of my others include WWII heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis, sunk right at the end of WWII and 2 Fletcher class tincans (destroyers to you land lubbers.)

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/robert132/Boats/Indianapolisptbow.jpg) (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/robert132/media/Boats/Indianapolisptbow.jpg.html)

USS Indianapolis as she appeared just before her sinking.

Title: Re: Ships and boats (of course)
Post by: LadyVirginia on October 03, 2013, 06:52:48 PM

Nice.

How do you store them?

Title: Re: Ships and boats (of course)
Post by: IronDioPriest on October 03, 2013, 07:32:18 PM

That looks like a fun hobby. Are the motors gas? Battery? Glow fuel?

I've often thought about model remote control airplanes. When it comes down to it, I just have always had other priorities *ahem* fishing *ahem*

Title: Re: Ships and boats (of course)
Post by: OldSailor on October 04, 2013, 05:45:58 AM

The cruiser and PT boat are on display on shelves in my living room.  The rest are upstairs in my work room being repaired or modified as I make time.

Mine are all battery powered though the group I run with has a couple of steam powered boats (good runners too) and a number of sail boats.  The lake we run in doesn't allow gas powered boats though some of the electric racers hit speeds of 40 to 50 mph.

I prefer scale models, primarily military though I have an old wooden cabin cruiser that I'm trying to refurbish and a large ocean tug that I use for rescue work when other boats break down in the middle of the lake.