Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[Andy203]

I'm new to this forum and to building model boats. Have dabbled in model making in my earlier years with various Airfix models of all types.
Now taken on the the challenge of building Dumas Higgins PT 212 boat. Have read on various sites about various paint options, Acrylic/ Enamel and car paint, still trying to work out the best way to go.
That said, I'm looking for suggestions for which brand of gray and red to use for the hull and deck. Have put on a gray primer at this time.

[Martin (Admin)]

Greetings Andy, Welcome to the Mayhem!

'Acrylic/ Enamel and car paint' ... Car paint is probably easiest way to go, if there is a car spares shop near you.
 Whatever you chose, try to stick to same type of paint throughout, even same brand to minimise interaction.

[Andy203]

Many thanks Martin,

[Andy203]

With thanks to Martin and Stan I now have now know which way to go on the painting front of this build.
While awaiting paints to arrive, I'm now thinking about what size battery pack to use. I have a Mtroniks M600 brushed motor, with Viper ESC, I will be going down the NiMh route for the power supply, just looking for advice as to size. I believe that the bigger the battery i.e 9.6v will last longer than say a 7.2v, so my question is how much longer will the bigger battery last, is it worth the extra cost.
Any guidance would be appreciated.

[dougal99]

Voltage gives you power, so more volts more speed. Amps give you duration so you probably need around 3000mah battery for a decent sailing session. You need to check what voltage your motor is rated for, too many volts could damage it.
HTH

[Andy203]

Thanks for that, approx what sort of running ti e would I get with a 3000mah. I've been advised that the motor should take 9.6v, but will double check.

[dougal99]

How long is a piece of string? You will use your battery capacity faster the faster you run your boat. Also the drive set up will affect your consumption. Again the motor spec should tell you what current it draws. However, you should get at least 30-40 mins on 3000mah battery if you don't run flat out all the time. For a good afternoon session I recommend having 2 batteries.

[Andy203]

Thanks for that.    [size=78%]Use to have 3 sets when I was into Buggie's[/size]

How long is a piece of string? You will use your battery capacity faster the faster you run your boat. Also the drive set up will affect your consumption. Again the motor spec should tell you what current it draws. However, you should get at least 30-40 mins on 3000mah battery if you don't run flat out all the time. For a good afternoon session I recommend having 2 batteries.

[Martin (Admin)]

 
.... remember, scale speed for a PT boat is not  'Warp factor 7 Mr Sulu!'   

[coch y bonddu]

Agreed Martin BUT it is also andy to have that reserve power to get out of the way of others if they are on a collision course ...just remember one thing you dont buy a ferrari and drive it flat out all the time...ok i do lol,not that i got  ferrari 


Dave who's Motto is NO motor is to big for me

[Andy203]

👍🤔😂

.... remember, scale speed for a PT boat is not  'Warp factor 7 Mr Sulu!'   

[Andy203]

Agreed Martin BUT it is also andy to have that reserve power to get out of the way of others if they are on a collision course ...just remember one thing you dont buy a ferrari and drive it flat out all the time...ok i do lol,not that i got  ferrari 

Dave who's Motto is NO motor is to big for me

Thanks, dont think getting out the way at this time is a problem, think I might be alone anyway!😀

[Michael metcalf]

Hi Andy
I myself have been looking at doing one of these too, regards to the paint for the red Halfords do a red oxide primer which does look quite effective, when it comes to the gray you could consider Tamiya TS sprays (I use them on my warships) as for the motor I’ve already got an MFA 540 motor to use with a viper marine 15 and 3200 8.4v nimh battery, my only criticism with the mtroniks motors is the initial start up draw power is very high 20amps I believe with the m600.

[Andy203]

Thanks Michael for this info. I have sorted the red and grey paint, will be also giving finished paint a coat of varnish. Ref the battery will be looking at 8.4V just a matter of the extra weight 7oz compared to a 7.2 6 cell. Using a M600 motor with Viper marine 25.

Hi Andy
I myself have been looking at doing one of these too, regards to the paint for the red Halfords do a red oxide primer which does look quite effective, when it comes to the gray you could consider Tamiya TS sprays (I use them on my warships) as for the motor I’ve already got an MFA 540 motor to use with a viper marine 15 and 3200 8.4v nimh battery, my only criticism with the mtroniks motors is the initial start up draw power is very high 20amps I believe with the m600.

[John W E]

hi ya there welcome to the world of model boat madness if you are interested in the PT boats - try and beg, steal or borrow a book called ALLIED torpedo boats by the late John Lambert and Les Brown the ISBN number is 978-1-84832-060-4   -  this book will give you an insight into these boats and also the colour schemes.   Here is a snippet of one of the plates from the book for an Higgins colour scheme.


John

[Andy203]

John thanks, this is my first boat build, done very little model paint spray painting before, this one is going to be Grey and red below waterline.

[/size]

hi ya there welcome to the world of model boat madness if you are interested in the PT boats - try and beg, steal or borrow a book called ALLIED torpedo boats by the late John Lambert and Les Brown the ISBN number is 978-1-84832-060-4   -  this book will give you an insight into these boats and also the colour schemes.   Here is a snippet of one of the plates from the book for an Higgins colour scheme.


John

[tr7v8]

USN PT boats were a dark green according to what I've read. Certainly in the various films they are single colour not camo.
Just ordered the book from Amazon. S/H copy was £12.95 + P & P. Normally do Kindle but hardcopy seems a good idea whilst in lockdown.

[Stan]

HI tr7v8 check the link to my Elco conversation to r/c. The model is PT 596 late war version and you will see it carries a disruptive pattern. The idea of this was to break up the outline of the ship. Most U S navy vessels had some form of pattern applied during WW2 early p/t boats may have had a single colour applied when leaving the yard. But at some stage  a pattern would have been designed for them  Good luck with your build the colours on my boat are


Green 2 green 3  Dull black US Norfolk anti fouling red us 14 and deck green 20 g  Stan


https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,51992.msg572071.html#msg572071

[tr7v8]

The one I am building for the second time is the Lindberg PT109 1/32nd kit.  This is obviously a very early boat. And I researched it for a while the last time, including watching the film on DVD. I even found a US site where guys who served on them posted. That is where confirmation that they were dark green came from. Frequently multi shaded as they were repaired in the field.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrol_torpedo_boat_PT-109This is also a great sitehttp://www.ptboatworld.com/
 

[Steve40]

PT-212 served in the Mediterranean and would have had a variety of colour schemes. Many of the PTs arrived in the Med in a spectacular Zebra stripe scheme then were painted into either plain grays or light blue, some later had darker blue patches added to the hull. Greens were generally only used on Pacific based boats.  Any mid to light gray would work well enough if you are not too bothered about exact shades and want to use an aerosol can - Tamiya fine grey primer for example, sprays beautifully and looks nice.
 
I’ve attached a photo of an Elco PT boat showing the light blue scheme used by some boats. Many also sported Yellow recognition paint on the deck at the bow, and red at the stern, so you can brighten the gray scheme up if you so wish.


Are you wedded to using the Mtroniks M600 in your drive train? Its very heavy (270 grams) and as already mentioned very ampy given the size of the boat and the need to fit a decent sized Nimh battery (I’m assuming you are not interested at this point in brushless motors and lipo batteries). Maybe something like a JPerkins 480 with a good prop on 7.2 volts would help keep the weight down and provide planing performance.


 Whatever you do, weigh everything you plan to put in the boat and try and keep the all up weight to or below the manufacturers recommendation. Its a trade off - big heavy motor equals less weight available for battery, and more weight that needs to be pushed through the water means it’s harder to get boat up on the plane.


Cheers


Steve

[Stan]

Steve pm sent.


Stan.