Vertical surfaces were painted gray, which blended in with the sea horizon. The top of the planes is painted black, like all horizontal surfaces on a fleet boat.

The bow section assembled, with the bow planes installed. With the bow planes lowered you can see into the interior. The box was nearly three feet long as it was.īlacking out the interior of the bow section. I suppose making a two- piece hull wasn’t considered practical. The fit was good, but adding the c- clamps and binding insured there’d be as little seam filling and sanding as possible. I think it took two or three weeks to build. This was a big model, slightly over four feet long when completed. The other special order was Revell’s new 1:72 scale model of a Gato class fleet submarine. There was a fashion for “visible” models at the time, so besides the engine, I also built a Visible P- 51 Mustang, a Visible Man, a Visible Woman, and a Visible Head. I think I might have been in my early teens back then. One was a visible V8, a version of one I’d built back when they first came out. Honestly, he devoted more shelf space to HO scale buildings than to models. In the plastic model category he stocked mostly cars and planes, and a few of the more popular small scale ship models. They specialized in model trains, but the owner was naturally happy to order just about any model you might want, if he didn’t have it on the shelf. There will be a Phase Five and six………How on earth do I get it to my local Club meet or show and finally where on earth am I going to keep it!ĭon’t, if you can, let any of this put you off as I have to say this is and continues to be a wonderful build and most enjoyable.Back in 2006, when I was still living in an apartment in Riverdale, Georgia, I’d pass a little hobby shop every time I walked down to the market. Phase Four: Final finishing including rigging and fine details Phase Three: Join completed Hull and conning tower Phase Two: Construction, painting, decaling and weathering of the conning tower and armaments. Phase One: Construction, painting, decaling and weathering of the hull. I decided to split the project into four distinct phases: My plan was simple but has proven to be effective.

Planning will be key in everything in this build. So before you go out and buy one of these beauties make sure you have the space and prepare to buy your partner something very nice and probably very expensive to make up for the disruption!! I am fortunate in having a large purpose built ‘den’ for my modelling but as you can see it takes up all the available space on my build table. The kit isn’t difficult but will need very careful planning. You can see it against a regular pot of Revell and Tamiya Paint and my latest 1:72nd scale Holland Class Sub. OK so rambling over, the first thing to note is how big this monster is. Get this awesome etch package here at: Our thanks to White Ensign Models for supplying the etched sample: Introductionīefore reading this I strongly advise that you take a look at my ‘ Here Now’ look at the Revel GATO as I think it sets the scene for the build. Our thanks to Hannants for supplying the Eduard BIG Ed etched set. Colour, Rowney Oils, Tamiya thinners, Rowney low odour turpentine Halfords Grey Primer, Tamiya, Revell, Alclad, Mr. Injection Plastic, Etched Brass, Wire, Lenses (Little Cars), Brass wire, 3mm, Steel tube, brass sheet, monofilament fishing line (2lbs), Cyano Glue, Accelerator, Extra Thin Cement, Revell Contacta, Microsoft Decal Softener, MDC Sanding Sponges, Wet n Dry, Clean rags, 3inch soft artists paint brush Review by Les Venus View Gallery and pdf…

1 72 gato submarine