Narrow seas, archipelagos, and coastal operations - Page 4

**wireandpaper** · #31 11-23-2019, 04:12 AM

Dear All;
I found solid information for the postwar Vosper Air Sea Rescue 68's, some other information about a "western approaches" Vosper 73' and no information about a Vosper 30 m. So I scale this as it was a 73' although I took a lot of licenses. I included my monochromatic first attempt, slightly larger, at about 77' and the rescue Scott-Pain fast boat for comparison, and an unmarked escapee from France.

ps: If you have any solid info on the Vosper 73' rescue launch please let me know.

**wireandpaper** · #32 11-23-2019, 01:12 PM

Found it. It was in front of my nose, in RAF High Speed Launches:
RAF Boats

**wireandpaper** · #33 11-25-2019, 05:34 PM

Once I had the Schnellboot by Wilhelmshavener, I tried to back date it with the open torpedo tubes. I think it is ok. The only problem is the oversized bridge which I did not attempted to reduce.

**wireandpaper** · #34 11-29-2019, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynemac

"Fast Fighting Boats 1870-1945" by Harald Fock, Naval Institute Press, 1978 has info and drawings on the Italian boats, MAS and VAS, pre-war and WW2. The coverage of Japanese boats is a bit skimpy, limited to a dozen or so side views; no overheads or cross-sections. There is significant text on both nations' boats.

Wayne

Dear Wayne, I got a used book from Amazon for a very reasonable price. It is worth to get it if you are interested in these little craft. It has a lot of new information for me, and many potential prospective designs that may deserve a few "what-ifs."

I wish I had this book a few years ago.

**waynemac** · #35 12-03-2019, 06:18 PM

I got my copy more than 10 years ago, I think from Ebay.

**wireandpaper** · #36 12-08-2019, 02:21 AM

Thank you Wayne:

Some time ago after I did a few torpedo and gunboats I try to do from scratch an Elco 80'. At that time I had limited info but I had the experience of my previous boats and I approached if it was pl...ic. the boat is painted, not printed.
Today I have a lot more info and examples.

**Don Boose** · #37 12-08-2019, 07:41 AM

Nice little flotilla of coastal warships.

Incidentally, the earliest usage I can find of the term "Mosquito Fleet" to describe a force of small naval combatants is 1823, when Commodore David Porter of the U.S. Navy took command of the anti-piracy West India Squadron of small warships and craft based at Key West, Florida, including the armed barge Mosquito. Porter's command was known colloquially as the "Mosquito Fleet."
https://www.history.navy.mil/content...squito-ii.html
https://www.history.navy.mil/content...fs/g/gnat.html
Pauline's Pirates & Privateers: History: The Mosquito Fleet

The term may also have been applied to the New Orleans Squadron during the War of 1812, but I haven't been able to find a citation.

Don

**wireandpaper** · #38 12-12-2019, 01:49 AM

My first glance at the PTs was from the TV, just to learn much later that that boat PT-73 was not an Elco but a Vosper! Little by little I have been getting better references, either consulting from a library or by tips from fellow papermodelers and Amazon. Recently I got the Polish Extra Model's PT-171 which is a simple one pager in 1/100.

**wireandpaper** · #39 12-12-2019, 02:08 AM

The simple model in 1/100 was ideal to be reduced 25% to 1/400. I had to omit or simplify a few details but included some wire and paper for the armament and rail-guards. The first pictures show the model "emerging" from the reduction.

Building the Elco 80' is like building a Me-109 there is a lot of potential for recolors.

I know that there is at least a version for the PT-10 to 19 series, and a few versions of the Elco 80' by AirDave.

I see a need for ELCO 77' and a Higgins 78'. Anyone?

**wireandpaper** · #40 12-21-2019, 02:13 AM

Dear All:

Please find attached my interpretation of the Elco 77' Gunboat conversion in 1/200. She has two 40mm Bofors without the torpedo tubes and added 50 cal machine guns, the ultimate barge busting machine.

At least there were three converted boats: PT 59 (skipped at one time by no other than JFK) to PT 61. Hopefully soon, I will post the 1/400 that I built.

Very important, before you glue the twin 50 Cal station cylinders, dry fit them to the cabin/deckhouse. These are very sensitive to the thickness of your paper. I hope you like it.

ps: Soon to come the original torpedo boat version of the Elco 77'