phillip1 Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 Fellow modelers, Below are photos of my Revell 1/72 scale Gato Class U.S.S. Cobia (SS-245) WWII U.S. Navy Submarine. Cobia was laid down and built by Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT. She was launched on November 28, 1943 and commissioned on March 29, 1944. During WWII Cobia conducted six war patrols. Four were considered “successful” and earned battle stars. She is credited with sinking a total of 16,835 tons of shipping. During the war only one Cobia crew member was killed due to enemy action. Cobia was placed in reserve in May 1946, but recommissioned in July 1951 as a training vessel. She was placed in reserve again in March 1954. In December 1962, she was redesignated an Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-245), and served as a training platform. In July 1970, Cobia was struck from the Naval Register and towed to Manitowoc, Wisconsin to serve as an international memorial to submariners. In 1986, she was declared a National Historic Landmark. Cobia is permanently docked at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. I built this model in 2008. Listed below are the modifications/additions that were made: >An Eduard photo-etched detail set was used- >Fishing line was used for the rigging details- >Small insulated wiring was used as piping connections on the tower assembly- Revell based their kit on the real Cobia, now on permanent display. I built it as the Cobia to avoid the major modifications that might be required to accurately portray another boat. The model was finished in Camouflage Measure 32/9SS, issued for submarines by the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships in June 1944. It called for everything below the waterline to be flat black. Above the waterline an extensive blending and counter shading of various flat grays on the vertical surfaces was used, with flat black on all of the horizontal surfaces and the aft end of the boat. This camouflage was very effective for surface operations, at night and on overcast days. I took care to make sure the demarcation line between each color was feathered and had an irregular pattern. After the painting was complete, random rust stains were applied with pastel dust. This included the top of the hull, except the middle section where teak wood was located. Paint brushes and Q-tips were used to create different kinds of rust streak and stain patterns. Interestingly, Revell included a broom as part of the antenna section. Brooms were sometimes mounted on top of the periscope tower by submarines returning from a patrol that was considered a successful “sweep”. This was great kit to build and is still one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy the photos. Phillip1 36 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 That must be very impressive in the flesh ay 1/72 scale. How long is it? It looks gorgeous and makes a change from u-boats too! 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur_Dent Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 Amazing build, you've done a fantastic job with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip1 Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 Arthur_Dent/Bertie Psmith-Thanks for the compliments. Bertie Psmith-The overall length is a wopping 52"! It is the largest ship model I have in my collection. The large size made construction and painting a challenge at times. Phillip1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Gidday Phillip, it's certainly a detailed model, very well done. Regards, Jeff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip1 Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 ArnoldAmbrose-Thanks very much for the compliment. Phillip1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Wilkins Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 (edited) Awesome build! Great detail and I love the weathering effects that you added. I live 30 mins from the museum where the USS Cobia is displayed (in Manitowoc Wisconsin USA) and I have seen her at the dock. The museum runs a program where you can actually stay onboard overnight. Well done, sir. Edited May 21, 2022 by Brian Wilkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Wilkins Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 (edited) 22 hours ago, europapete said: . . Edited May 15, 2022 by Brian Wilkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip1 Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 Brian Wilkins-Thanks very much for the compliment. Phillip1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve27752 Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 A great build, the Gato/Balao class are my favourite WWII boats, there were so many variations within the class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip1 Posted May 18, 2022 Author Share Posted May 18, 2022 Steve27752-The late war Gato/Balao boats (with the fairwater cut down and deck guns added) are my favorites too. Thanks for the compliment. Phillip1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncarina Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) Exceptional build of this great subject! I’ve also always liked the look of the late war Gato boats and you’ve certainly done the Cobia justice. Cheers, Tom Edited May 19, 2022 by uncarina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 Dang, that's a stunning build and finish. Bravo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip1 Posted May 20, 2022 Author Share Posted May 20, 2022 dnl42-Thanks very much. Phillip1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Aris Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 that is very very nice indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip1 Posted May 22, 2022 Author Share Posted May 22, 2022 uncarina/Kevin Aris-Thanks very much for the compliments. They are appreciated. Phillip1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winded Penguin Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 The more I return to look at the close-up photos, the more little details I see. Very compelling, lovely looking model 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip1 Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 Winded Penguin-Thanks for the kind words. The Revell kit is a great submarine model! Phillip1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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