Hello Mr. Martin,
I am a retired Marine Engineer from the U.S. Army; known as a dual status technician.
I am not much of a scratch built modeler, although I have fiddled around in this area. I once built a model tug for my nephew out of chunks of wood, glued and stacked upon themselves. I used old hardware to make the wheel, railings, masts, and radio gear. And of course painted in the windows and so fourth. I have a scratch built unfinished fishing boat, like the ones that work around the Island that I live on. The others are plastic kits painted with a proper paint scheme which I will attempt to upload.
I was attracted to this site by your Army tugboats, which I spent a career serving on the same designs built again in the 1950's for the Army. If I find time, I might be able to dig up the old NEWS article posted on the shipyard who received this post war contract. To the best of my ability; it appears as if the hull designs on the 100' & 65' TUGS are the same as when produced in WWII. The only difference that I can see, is that the grading on the back was done in wood during WWII; but then made out of steel in the 1950's.
The engineering (Maine propulsion) engines were Fairbanks, for the 100's I worked on; and the Atlas Imperial Engine, on the 65' Tugs. I personally enjoyed these old boats the most in my career I must admit. I will be posting some newer Army watercraft photos, if the administrators feel that's appropriate a little later..?
My first my plastic model using a pre-1995 Army paint scheme (military sea lift command). The Army then reverted back to the "Grey paint scheme" like in WWII.The reason for this I was told by my old Skipper, is that their was some confusion during the Granada invasion in identifying friend from foe; confusing the then only Navy paint scheme (grey) with the Army's black and white.