Revell 1/72 Gato Class Submarine "USS Growler"

[Shawn Ramsey]

Michael

Obviously painting it with a brush was much easier than all the holes your drilling into this blog.

Shawn

[Michael Power]

Your right Shawn, painting the Type VII was easier.

Here are those holes finally finished. Several more broken .5mm drills later. I'm happy with the overall result, although some way through it I was regretting starting it. Not much to look at for you blokes, but will give the completed Gato a better overall look and it was a lot cheaper than aftermarket PE. I also added in the exhaust outlets and flood holes on the sides and the very end of the stern. I must add, that these were taken from reference shots of the USS Cobia. The flood holes and conning towers were subject to change throughout the war for Fleet subs. As hard as I have looked there are no close up pics of the USS Growler that I have found and unfortunately she is on an endless patrol.
So here is the result, hope you like it.

Bow and Stern flood holes

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Stern flood holes

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Flood holes and exhaust outlet

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Second exhaust outlet - 2 each side

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Bow and stern

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Bow and stern close up

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That's it for now. Conning tower painting and some hull detailing work now.

Michael

[Philipp Gross]

That's both insane and awesome

As I've said before, all the effort will pay off handsomely in the end

Philipp

[Adam Durrant]

The effort has definitely paid off, the overall effect, even before paint, is very convincing

[Michael Power]

Philipp and Adam thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you like it.

Only a few more holes to be drilled into the conning tower and I will never attempt anything like that again. Once is definitely enough.

[Vincent Power]

Absolutely fantastic! I should add that you are completely mad for doing this but as we are related and your insanity might reflect badly on me I won't say anything about that.

Vincent

[Michael Power]

Absolutely fantastic! I should add that you are completely mad for doing this but as we are related and your insanity might reflect badly on me I won't say anything about that.

Vincent

Are we related? I just thought you were some bloke with the same surname.

Michael

[Justin Wooding]

Hi Michael,

The decks look amazing with all those holes drilled! You should be proud of all that hard work

Something that will make you laugh though. I was browsing the photos and admiring the work you had done, when Mavis walks past.

What's that she asks.

I explain to her what it is and what you have done.

She looks closer, and i am thinking this is good, she is interested in what you have done.

Then, the very first thing she asks is.....

What happened here?


Seriously, i couldn't believe it. The first thing she focuses on is two holes. I didn't even notice that myself. Gah, out of all those holes she picks out the only two.......

I aint showing here any of my models and i promise i will never let her enter a comp as a judge

[Michael Power]

That's ok Woody, that's not a mistake, that's battle damage. It's my take on being hit by a single round from an aircraft. Looks real does it not?
I think it got hit more than once if you really look. At least you know now, I can't photoshop my pics.

Michael

[Adam Durrant]

This is the disadvantage of this not being a tank. With a tank it could be covered with a bit of mud, or stowage or a tarp....