Ed Sexton of Revell sent me the parts for the new 1:72 PT-109 kit, and these are my impressions of it. A disclaimer, these are just my impressions of it, take them in the spirit in which they’re offered. This isn’t your father’s or your grandfather’s PT-109 from the 1960s. This is an all new tooled kit. The hull now comes in three pieces, the two sides of the hull and the bottom of the hull, rather than the one-piece hull from the original 1960s-vintage kit. The deck does not have the rather over-done engraved planking which the original kit featured. In fact, the new deck piece is totally smooth. A bit too smooth if one were to ask me. Unlike the original kit, this incarnation does not have the cockpit/charthouse/forward turret section already molded on the deck. I have seen comments on the Internet that the shape of the hull of the model depicted on Revell of Germany’s website looks wrong and looks like the hull which is associated with the old Lindberg PT-109 kit. As soon as the hull halves were removed from the bag, one of the halves was placed on to the side of the hull of my built-up model of PT-174, built by the late Alex Johnson. It was an exact match! Alex always said that the shape of the hull of the old Revell PT-109 kit was accurate, he used that kit to my PT-174. So, modelers should not have an issue with the shape of the hull of the re-tooled kit.
That is because this section of the kit has been reimagined and redone. This time, Revell includes an option for two interiors, one in the charthouse, and the other in the Dayroom cabin, aft of the cockpit. It has been stated on the Internet that the interiors seen in photos on Revell of Germany’s website appear to be chunky/clunky and out of scale. From what I have seen on the sprues of the kit, both interiors are not out of scale, although, I will admit that the charthouse interior does look a bit chunky and clunky, and lacking some detail. But, I am sure that, any modeler worth his salt could enhance that area. The interior of the Dayroom cabin looks to be well-done. And, additionally, on some of the bulkheads, modelers will notice framing which has been engraved on those pieces. I think it is well done.
Regarding the new kit’s torpedo tubes; I do like the new torpedo tubes and their separate bracing and training gear. Although it does appear to be a little simplistic. The webbing on the back-end of the tubes is a nice addition but does appear to be a “bit” thick. The twin .50s are better than the ones from 1960s kit - but still are a little bland in detail. The 20mm Oerlikon gun is a lot better than the one from the 1960s kit. Two Type C, 300-pound depth charges with their corresponding roll-off racks are included as well. We do know that the 109 was fitted with two depth charges, located on each side of her foredeck, near the charthouse. However, Kennedy had a minor collision with an American Destroyer as the 109 was attempting to retrieve a pump for another PT. One depth charge was knocked through the deck and landed on a crewman’s bunk, it is unclear if that depth charge and its rack was replaced at the time of the 109’s loss.
The Carley Float/life raft is marginally better than the one from the 1960s kit and lacks detail. I feel the webbing/floor is too thick. Revell is including the needed parts for the 109’s 37mm M3 anti-tank field piece which Kennedy had mounted on some 4X8s and lashed down on the foredeck, if modelers wish to depict the 109 on the day of her loss. A nice touch.
I like how they now have included the canvas “dodger” for the aft turret. I also the new turret ring mountings. They are way better than the originals. And, I liked how a clear plastic windshield is provided although, once reaching the war zone - they were replaced with armor plates. The mufflers are molded separately this time around, and they look a lot better than the originals, but the corresponding linkages appear to be a bit clunky and simplistic.
Yes Dave, I too had seen it but thought it was a “wishful” representation. Good to know they made a “new parts added” kit with some needed “fixes”. You can see the box art here:
I have several un-built kits of the old PT-109 varieties with some AM pieces like brass .50cals and 20mm as well as the White Ensign 37mm and an old Tamiya 37mm gun. As a kid I built one and made the day room interior out of cardboard and left the roof un-glued. I guess I could have waited … 55 years… LOL.
You got me to look on ebay & it is there, but what I found was $51 & from Germany with free shipping. It does look good & I will probably build one. I always liked them. I was in Evansville Ind. during WW2 & saw the plant where they built them . It was on the Ohio river.
I am busy finishing my CSS Alabama & starting my Imai/ Monogram USS United States. They did not include the rear deck on the kit & I am scratch building it. I am looking forward for an easier ship to build & Imai./ Monogram are the best in that respect. Even the Monogram kit is great.
Livit, Dale came to see me yesterday & brought his beautiful Constitution for me to see. It did look great. I liked the wood deck too.
Gene, If you build the new PT-109 and decide to paint it “ Green”, please let me know what green you choose. I love your painting.
There’s Deck Green (20-G), Navy Green (5-NG), Ocean Green (5-OG) and MTB green 5G, Haze green 7G, and even a 1A green. No doubt early boats used whatever paint was available. I had heard of Lt. Bulkeley’s Philippine Squadron using Grey, Green and Black and mixed with gas to stretch it and slopped it on the boats for a bit of Camo. Don’t quote me on MTB Squadron 3 painting method as I can not recall the source at the moment.
With Revell doing something “new” ship related and with their own molds, maybe it’ll be a good year. (I wrote them about re-releasing the Alabama and Kearsarge.)
Tim, Tracy White and I, among others, had the color question a couple of years ago when I started my Merit 1/48 MTB Early. The consensus is that the 109 was most likely Tropical Green. Here’s a link to my WIP:
Sorry, but all the pictures are gone due to the PhotoBucket debacle.
Anyway, the Elco’s being used in the Solomon campaign were mainly Tropical Green, which is a Bluish Green that Colourcoats makes US29. It is the color I plan on using on my build if any one cares. The MTB Green is the base color for the camouflage schemes on later boats in the South Pacific.
Here’s a link to th H&B Hobbies site that sells ColourCoats paints here in the US.
Hopefully this helps a bit. I checked out the evilBay site for the model and I think I am going to have to get one. I really liked the bridge. They added all the framing that I had to scratchbuild on my 1/48 model.
Steve,
Those broken picture links plague all the forums. Apparently I saved a few pictures that might be of your build. My files indicate it was a Merit 1/48 scale but I did not list a Modeler. One of the Pictures shows the Model with a couple of lateen yards in the bottom of the photo. I guess a Xebec or Felucca kit was also being built.
If the Pics I saved are yours did that Merit kit come in Green and you painted it Grey or do I have it backward? I remember the pictures I saved made me realize Revell left off some detail on the Torpedo tubes. Which is why I saved them. Sounds like with the “…new torpedo tubes and their separate bracing and training gear”, the new kit is going to be decent.
Good Link for Tropical Green paint. Thanks. I only recently started (again) with this hobby and I’m still building up my supplies. I doubt I will indulge in the new Revell kit. My stash is so big that if I buy any more models I’m going to need to install “sister joist” in the upstairs bedroom to literally support my hobby.
Yes, those sound like my pictures from the WIP. The spars you notice in the foreground are from the Revell Nina I did. I have a habit of working on numerous models at the same time so that if I run into a snag on one, I can mess about with another till I figure out a solution.
The Merit kit is really a beautifully molded model. I really like the size too; not too big but not too small, 1/48 in my opinion is a Goldilocks scale. Anyway, the kit is molded in a light Gray and after I finished the main parts of the deck and housings, I painted it Black.
My plan is to mottled with White on the hull and upper works. Then go over it with the ColourCoats Tropical Green and modulate the color further. Finally I’ll seal it with a flat clear and then weather with artist oils. I’m using the sealer so that I can use Artist oils, otherwise it would make one heck of a mess.
I usually use acrylics and then oils but I have gotten lazy in my old age when it comes to mixing colors. ColourCoats is an enamel paint but the research that as done is awesome, so I tend to use them now for WW2 subjects, especially naval subjects.
Anyway, I know exactly what you mean about stash size… my mother in law refers to my stash as the Hobby Shop now…
Thanks for posting the spruce shots! It looks like a really nice model. It is interesting that Revell has the stern hull section separate. Another thing that struck me is the detais inside the day cabin, etc…
I’m definitely going to pick one up to go with my 1/72 S boat. I guess I’ll “have” to pick up the 1/72 Vosper also…
