Revell USN GATO Class Submarine

Part 1 – Hull and initial brass work

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The first thing was to fix the hull together which comprises 6 parts. Two bow parts, two stern and two large centre sections. I used cyano to provide fixing at key points then flooded the seams with Mek liquid cement. Once dry I used the same principle to fix the bow and stern to the centre section …………. Then you have a complete hull and OMG the realisation hits how big this thing is! Once this is done its time to fix the deck .to the hull…………..or is it?

If you decide to use the Eduard Big Ed set, then the option for the deck plate using the set is to cut out the plastic hull and put in cross beams paint them and then glue on the brass deck plates. This will be a major piece of work and very authentic but even in brass 1:72nd scale holes in the brass deck are very small and it’s impossible to see anything beneath so it begs the question why oh why would I do all that work………So I didn’t! Sorry Eduard!

One thing you should do with the Eduard set though is study it…..I was a tad gash and missed the need to fit out the bow ballast tanks with some lovely brass detail that would have really enhanced the model……..you’ve been warned.

Read on…