A very interesting thread. I'm quite hooked on the idea of doing Polythemus in 1/96 treating it essentially as a submarine. Indeed, the ship could be regarded as the first nuclear submarine, virtually submerged and capable of high speed and long(ish) range. Although never repeated, she had a long service life and must have been relatively successful. Murder to sail in I'd imagine, especially in the Med.
I wonder if anyone knows the following: Was she always grey? She's said to have been the the first grey ship, but did she sail in white in the Med? And how do you pronounce 'Polythemus'? Is it "Poly-themus", or "Poliffimus" as Charles Lawton pronounces it in that sea-chase film?
Please keep us posted on this project.
. As you say, the photos are generally the same ones reproduced over and over again.