Are there any new plastic kits of PT boats ( Elco or HIggins ) available ? Or are we still stuck with the old Revell kit. Is the old Lindberg kit still availabe ? I remember that it was pretty basic, but it seems that it’s size would make it ripe for aftermarket goodies.
Jim [:o)]
I saw one of the large Lindberg PT- 109s at a collector shop here in town. I don’t recall the price, but my guess is about 90 bucks U.S…
I have scavanged and cast tons of parts off the Tamiya PT-72? Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force PT Boat (I grabbed it for like $30), and a friend just picked up and is working on the German Revell Schnell boat. I still once in a while see the British MTB in this store or another.
Other than that I think it’s all Revell Pt 109
Umi:
Thank you for the info. It really suprises me that no one has done a new U.S. Higgins or Elco PT Boat. I can’t recall the scale of the LIndberg kit, but I thought it was just the right size for a PT Boat kit. I am a 99.99% WW2 aircraft modeler, but have always been fascinated by the PT. If someone were to bring out a new PT kit in a large scale, I would get one for sure.
Jim [:o)]
Funny, same here. Probably because PT’s were small and fast like aircraft. Kind of like a sea-going fighter plane.
By the way, is the Lindberg kit the one that was motorized?
I don’t recall if it was motorized, or “could” be motorized.
It is not listed in his online catalog, but you could e-mail him and see if it is still in the store, and what is included in the kit.
The Lindberg kit was motorized and could be built for R/C.
dans:
Now that you mention it, I think that has a lot to do with why I like the PT boat as well. Another factor is seeing the movie “THey Were Expendable” so many times on TV when I was a kid. Still one of my favorite movies, and I have it on video. [:)]
Jim
“PT-109” was a good movie also.
I think it was Revell that made a 72nd Higgins years ago…it was PT 212 if I recall. Been looking for one of those for years to go with my 109. Found a built one on Ebay, but where is the fun in that other than trying to put it back together after it is mailed to you.
I remember that Higgins boat - it was Revell. I built a couple of them, thirty years or so ago. (Haven’t seen them since anywhere since then and my own are landfill by now).
I think a 1/48th Higgins and/or Elco PT would be a natural for Accurate Miniatures !
Jim
Re: PT Boats …
I’ll second that vote for Accurate Miniatures to do up a new tool for a PT boat. Either one of them would be ok with me. [^] They would do a great job … I am sure I could provide a good home for two or three of 'em. [}:)]
I thought I would post these here.
Robert Vorhees’ large model Pt Boat.
Large Pt Boat out of the water.
Where do you park a large PT boat model?
Next to the Larger PT boat Model of course.
See more of Robert Vorhees’ Pt Boats here
http://www.rktman.com/rlh/gallery/robert/robert.html [:D]
[edit]
Oh, and it seems that Lindberg had two different scale PT-109 models. I think the 1/32 came with motors, and a larger scale one that you could buy after market motors for. Or was it a smaller scale that didn’t come with motors[?]
Those are beautiful ! 8’ & 15’ long ??? OMG ! [:D]
Jim
While scanning thru the latest issue of FSM what do I run across but Bluejacket’s ad for their 1/48th Elco 80’ PT Boat ! My heart skipped a beat ! Then it almost stopped when I saw the price - $249. I am sure it is a beautiful kit, but it’s just a “wee bit” out of my price range ! Oh well… [:D]
Jim
There is a nice 1/20th scratch built at:
http://www.pt-boat.com/
The builder is John Drain and this boat is sweet. Excellent drawings of weapons too. Check it out.
Well for the price of a few thin sheets of plywood and balsa you could build your own from scratch with the plans from the website “Claymore68” just posted. You could probably have the hull done in a weekend.[:D]
Umi:
I am strictly an out-of-the-box plastic modeler. Maybe you could build a wooden hull over a weekend, but I don’t think I could. [:D]
I have the scars from many hobby knife and razor blade wounds to remind me of my ineptness at building wooden models. I will stick with plastic, thank you ! [:o)]
Jim
I used to only build kits but once I started scratch building the possibilities were endless. I definiteIy have the scars to showing my learing curve. And I still do stupid things during construction. But never around power tools.[;)]
I could probably get the framing up in a weekend but it takes a good week to finish a hull. And we are talking about a model hull. That guy on the web site built a miniature.
Everything, including his framing looks like it would if they built it up full size.[8D]
Don’t count yourself out of scratch building. It’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it. (just don’t ask me to build no “saucer” section.)[:D]
Jim,
Try ebay under “Toys and Hobbies” and then select models. Do a search for an item. I have seen the Lindbergh model quite a few times. And for all your classic model hunters you can find quite a few in here, but cost can get steep.
LT