Wanted - Detailed Fleetboat Deck Drawings

[JWLaRue]

Folks,

I have been searching, quite unsuccessfully, for quite some time now for a detailed drawing of the as-built deck for Gato-class fleetboats. While I have photos of some museum boats, photos of WW2 boats, and the Floating Drydock book of plans.....I have yet to locate anything with good detail.

The reason for this request is that I am working with a few folks on producing the definitive R/C fleetboat kit. And she'll need a really good deck to go with it. I've volunteered to create the CAD drawing for the deck. All I need is good information!

If anyone can help, directly or indirectly, it will be greatly appreciated!

-tnx,
Jeff

[paul von braun]

Jeff, you have helped me

Jeff, you have helped me out on so many occaisions that I had to post this]http://www.fineartmodels.com/images/uploads/fs_684_s-gato_19.jpg[/img]

Gato Deck









Link to the site]Fine Art Models[/url]

Im not trying to make this an advert for them, but I couldnt help but be impressed with their quality of workmanship (when I saw them at Alexandra Palace), but at the price they ask it should be expected.

Perhaps they might be able to give you a hand.

Paul.

[boss subfixer]

Paul,
That is a very nice

Paul,
That is a very nice model indeed but if you look very closely you will notice they modeled the later used steel deck. I believe Jeff is looking for the wood styled layout. Still it might be worth contacting them, you never know where you'll find what your looking for. I found the fleetboat plan book from the floating drydock in England just by asking about something else.

[dietzer]

Jeff,

Are you looking for only

Jeff,

Are you looking for only Gato-class deck details, or are you also looking for Balao-class deck details?

Carl

[JWLaRue]

Paul,

I'm a bit familiar with

Paul,

I'm a bit familiar with the Fine Arts model....its quite nice! But I'm actually looking for more/better detail. I like the suggestion of contacting them to see if they'll share some of their information sources. Great idea!

Carl,

My primary need is Gato decks, and hopefully the Wahoo in particular. Depending on how much difference I really find between boats, I'd like to make it possible to 'customize' the deck by swapping out pieces so as to correctly represent as many specific boats as possible.

....and if we're really lucky, it might be possible to swap enough parts to choose between Gato and Balao decks......

I'll know better as I gain more detailed information.

-Jeff

[gerwalk]

Obviously you have already checked

Obviously you have already checked Nautilus Models' wooden decks for Revell's Lionfish. They have the Gato and other fleet boats]http://nautilusmodels.com/lionfish/decks.htm}[/url]

Steelnavy review]http://steelnavy.com/NMLionfishDecks.htm[/url]

I wonder where they obtained the info and if they are accurate...

[JWLaRue]

Yea....I'd really like to get

Yea....I'd really like to get copies of the yard drawings.....

I'm thinking that there would be some sort of overall drawing that references a series of detail parts/components drawings. An example of a detail drawing might be what the salvage air fittings looked like.

-Jeff

[tmsmalley]

Jeff -
I just happened

Jeff -
I just happened to think - I got a set of external plans from the USS Cobia Museum in Wisconsin. They had the all shipyard plans in the archives. I'll pull them out tonight and see how much detail they have. If I remember correctly, they are pretty sketchy as to fine detail, number of holes and locations, etc. However, if they are of any use I 'd be happy to loan them to you.

I also have a CD with several hundred photos I took of the exterior of the Cobia and USS Cod - many of them the decks. I'll send you that too if you wish.

Tim

[JWLaRue]

Tim,

I'll be most appreciative of

Tim,

I'll be most appreciative of any material that you might be able to provide.

It sounds like contacting the museum folks at the USS Cobia might bear some fruit too. Before I start 'cold calling', does anyone have any contacts?

-tnx,

Jeff

[boss subfixer]

Jeff,
The young lady I dealt

Jeff,
The young lady I dealt with when I ordered the drydocking print for the Cobia is Cristin Waterbury (this number will get you the office, 1-866-724-2356 then ask for Cristen). She was very pleasant to deal with, and my print was at my door in a week. I have the complete plan listing for the Cobia but I didn't see anything that stuck out as to what your looking for. Maybe someone can make some title suggestions. If Cristen comes up a bust then try Bill Thiesen at 920-684-0218. According to their website he has something to do with Restoration/Preservation. By the way the drydocking plan has no view from topside.
Hope this helps.
Don



Edited By Boss subfixer on 1140572611

[PaulC]

Jeff,

If I'm not mistaken, the

Jeff,

If I'm not mistaken, the Silversides people sell a copy of her yard plans in some form. Of course, she was a sister of Wahoo so the plans should be virtually identical. I seem to recall seeing an ad for this a while ago. They may have purchasing info on their site.

[JWLaRue]

Don & Paul,

Many thanks for

Don & Paul,

Many thanks for the pointers! I will definitely follow up on them and see where it might lead. When I find something out, I'll report back here so that folks will know too.

-tnx,

Jeff

[jaschwink]

Jeff,

I have a copy of

Jeff,

I have a copy of Silversides original plans, and they are rough at best. I also have taken several hundred photos of Silversides, which I would be glad to share. Silversides (SS236) was a close sister to Wahoo (SS239). Both boats were on the ways at Mare Island at the same time.

I had read that early Gato's generally had wood decks, but these were given partial steel decks later in the war. Not so with Silversides. The steel decking starts just aft of the rear placement for the deck gun, and was there during the first war patrol. It's as the boat appears today in Muskegon.

Unfortunately, it seems that while each boat had generally the same components, they varied considerably, especially after refits. I'll be glad to share what I have.

Jim Schwinkendorf
jaschwink@aol.com

[JWLaRue]

Jim,

....e-mail being sent!

-tnx,

Jeff

Jim,

....e-mail being sent!

-tnx,

Jeff