A PT Boat from AirDave?

[Zathros]

My personal 2 cents worth is if you can avoid splitting the hull, that is the way to go. I think that is what really kills ship models, splitting the hull. Of course, if you are going to putty sand and paint, it doesn't matter. I have a wide format printer but how many people have that. (quite a few on this forum it seems!). Maybe having a couple of sizes would do the trick, though that is a pain in the butt.

Tim Conway, one of the most underrated and funniest guys ever!

[airdave]

Originally Posted by Papercaptain

Hello, Dave!

May I suggest to do it in 1/100 first, so it can easily be converted to other scales without much ado. If doing it in 1/100, please think of arranging the parts into a frame fitting for letter and DIN A4 format likewise. I'm looking forward to your progress.

Kind regards,
Papercaptain

You sure you don't have that thinking in reverse?

Scaling down is far simpler than scaling up (when you are printing)
For example, scaling down is as simple as printing mulitple pages on one sheet.
However scale up would require rearrangment and cutting of parts to fit on more pages.
(It gets more difficult to deal with as the scale is reduced)

I would also be forced to design with less detail if starting at 1/100
and the scaled up version would be lacking visual quality.

In fact, after some thought, I would only consider producing a kit at 1/100
if that was the general concensus based on the models overall size.
(Since display space is quite often a predominant concern)

To be honest, I am now leaning toward the 1/64 idea which could be scaled up to 1/48 a lot easier and
produce a much better finished product than trying to upscale a smaller size.
Its either that or 1/48.
But at 1/64 I can use less pages and make fewer part separations.

Please...more opinion is still welcome.

[Tom Lapinski]

Go with the 1/64. I would love an Elco PT boat which I think were made in my hometown of Bayonne, NJ.

[Vermin_King]

1/64.
If you want to make it bigger and have the wide format printer, it is no problem.
If you want to make it bigger and don't, it will be time to use your GIMP-foo skills, but doable.
Scaling down is a piece of cake.

1/64 would allow for some detail that smaller scales would not allow, but still keep page count manageable

[wag]

I would like to see 1/48 scale, but I would buy one in 1/64 or 1/100 if necessary. Personally I would like to see one of the later style Elco boats with the Mk13 torpedoes and the radar fitted to the mast.
By the way, are you aware of this site?
PT Boat World - History and Modeling
Wayne

[ghshinn]

I agree with you, Dave. At 1:64 you can go either way rather easily. I'd probably scale down a bit to 1:60. Which ever way you go, however, I'll get one.

Garland

[Maltedfalcon]

Brilliant! Looks really good,
I agree with Zathros, whatever size keep the hull (lenthwise) one piece.
hull seams are ugly on smaller models

[airdave]

Well guys, I have done a little more measuring.

I agree it would be nice to keep the Hull seamless
(apart from the necessary seams front to rear)
but the absolute biggest size I can get on to a Letter size page
is an 11.4" deck...which is roughly 1/84 scale.

Obviously the majority (including me) are leaning towards a little bigger,
at least 1/64 scale to give me a chance to put some detail into things
and to allow some of us to actually build those little deck guns and small parts!

So thats your choice:
1/100- 1/84 scale with less detail and simpler structures
(one piece Hull basically)
or
1/64 with my attempt at more detail and more complicated structures.
(sectioned Hull)

This is a wood hull boat, but the boards are sealed so well with paint it almost
looks like a smooth steel hull (imo), so its not gonna matter where I put the seams!
If I go with the sectioned Hull, I would like some suggestions on how to section it.
I can put up a diagram and those that are interested could indicate their
preference for where to put seams and joints?

But first, maybe I should do a poll to choose the scale?
I guess I can't add a Poll now, can I?
I don't really want to start another thread.
...maybe I'll just count up the votes here....

[airdave]

lol, so far:

2 votes for "somewhere between 1/72 and 1/32! lol (so, 1/64 works?)
1 vote for 1/64 to 1/48 (and again, 1/64 fits)
1 vote for 1/48
4 votes for 1/64 (woohoo!)
1 vote for 1/84 (actually the vote was "must fit on page")
1 vote for 1/87
and 1 vote for 1/100

Does everyone see where this is going?

[wag]

If I change my vote to 1/64 will you get started now?
Wayne