Flankerman Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Having built the USS Grayback and Halibut - with their surface-launched cruise missiles, I thought I'd have a go at their predecessors - USS Cusk with a Loon (V1) and USS Tunny with a Regulus I. Both are based on Gato hulls - so I dug out my AFV Club Gato kits and started on Tunny..... The conversion is all a bit empirical - I don't have any drawings - so I'm doing it by eye from photos and making it up as I go along. I used the AFV Club 1943 Gato for the hull - and made a deck extension (to fit the hangar) from plastic card.....cutting out the existing deck to fit it... The sail is taken from another AFV Club kit - this time the 'USN Guppy 1B Clas Sub' - with its distinctive 'stepped' sail. I cast around for a something to make the cylindrical hangar - and after a fruitless serach found the answer staring me in the face! The bulb end of a pipette was perfect for the job - I'll have to use two of them to get the open end door...... but I have plenty. The plastic card deck is scored to match the existing deck - the sail and hangar are just tacked in place for the photo. I need to add the side walls to the deck extension - but it's looking do-able. Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve27752 Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 The Gato is my favorite WW11 sub. How long is the AFV hull? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin1980 Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Ingenious! Cant wait to see how the hangar turns out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 The Gato is my favorite WW11 sub. How long is the AFV hull? 271mm - exactly correct as the real thing is 95m long, so 95/350 = 271mm AFV Club do 5 different Gato's - 1941, 1942 & 1943 styles, plus a GUPPY 1b and a GUPPY II Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 More work on Tunny..... botching as we go..... Vertical sides of deck extension made from thin blue plastic card, held in place, marked up, limber holes drilled. Starboards side showing middle section.... Port side completed........ I'm quite pleased with it so far...... Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 That's very good, considering it's by sight rather than measurements. You guys make this scratchbuilding look so easy! Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) When I put my cylindrical hangar onto the deck, I realised that it is actually recessed into the deck - so I've had to cut out a hole in my plastic card deck....... ,,, which looks OK when the hangar is test-fitted..... Ken Edited February 8, 2014 by Flankerman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Fascinating Build! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 The model is now painted.......(Halfords rattle cans - shush!!) ...... pennant numbers are from spare decals box...Scratch-building the Regulus I missile and launch rail (which is very speculative!)...Launch rail fitted - and missile temporarily in place....Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Great work! Would there have been some sort of blast deflector as part of the launcher? Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 It doesn't look like it Martin - I guess the crew just moved forward and shut their eyes....... http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/USS_Tunny_%28SSG-282%29_Regulus_launching_sequence_c1956.jpg Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Fair enough, I stand corrected. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin1980 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Awesome work. The improvised hangar certainly looks the part. Regards J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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