U.S. Gato Class Submarine 1941, 1942, 1943 1:350

Modeling Subjects Ships
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My latest page has 14 new pieces on show including 3 submarines:

  • AFV Club’s WWII U.S. Submarine GATO Class Submarine 1941 1:350 - by “Artama”

  • AFV Club’s WWII U.S. Submarine GATO Class Submarine 1942 1:350 - by “Artama”

  • AFV Club’s WWII U.S. Submarine GATO Class Submarine 1943 1:350 - by “Artama”

Sample images:

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There are more images and more models in my latest page:

http://falconbbs.com/model98c.htm

Have fun!

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I knew about most of the Changes on the Gato class but it is eye opening to see a comparison of the variations of the fairwater over the War years.

I have not picked up any of the AFV Gato kits. It seems they are always out of stock where ever I look. Thank you for the Pictures.

My stash only consists of the old Revell 1/178 Gato and the Riich 1/200 1944 kit. I did build the old Lindberg 1/240 Gato (Looks like a Balao) but it needed a bunch of work to even look like a Sub.

Did you have to make any correction on the AFV kits? Did they come with the correct Conning tower/Fairwater for the proper year ( ie: Cigarette deck, Periscope shears, Deck details,…)?

Thanks for Creating the post and cool pictures.

Nino

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Thanks so much for you kind comments, Nino. AFV Gato kits are hard to find now - not on LuckyModel HK, Hobbyeasy HK, HobbySearch JP and HobbyLink JP. But there are a plenty on ebay if you’re willing to pay around $40 a piece, shipping included.

Apart from 1:350 Gato’s, my collection also includes 2 x 1:144 Gato from Trumpeter and a 1:72 from Revell. As for Lindberg, I have 2 x 1:72 IJN I-53 - the largest submarine model produced in plastic.

I think “Artama” the builder of these 3 subs did not make any correction to the AFV kits, they probably don’t need it.

My pleasure.

MM

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He did a nice job on all three of them.

Nino- I did the '43 version, and used some pieces from the '41, decks are different, limber holes are different, towers and fairwaters are different. I didn’t have any issues in the build, and they even come with a fret of PE.

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Why did Artama show the periscopes raised?

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Thanks so much for your kind words, goldhammer.

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I looked up the instructions of the 3 versions and saw nothing wrong with what he did. He just followed them. Why do you think the periscopes should not be raised?

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On both of mine the scopes and shears are a one piece molding, scopes down.

Basically, the only time raised if on the surface would be for maintaince, or to come into port with a broom lashed to one to signify a clean sweep.

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They would never be raised on a surfaced ship unless they were being worked on and even then one at a time. It’s not a big deal, and if you are happy with it, enough said.

But it just makes it seem like your builders are kind of robotic.

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Another time would be on patrol when surfaced to get a look from a higher vantage point than the bridge or lookout platforms, when doing and end around (to get in front of a contact) or to try and get an early look at a radar or smoke contact.