Armament
The GATO has a main deck gun as well as a 40mm Bofors on the rear Conning Tower and a 50cal on the for deck of the coning tower. All of these are beautifully detailed in the kit and with additional Eduard Brass look superb. Just look at the new seats. I used a mix of blacks and greys to paint these and then used graphite powder to weather them down. Later I will add just small spots of rust so evident on the video. Once the sub is completed I will add the Eduard brass gun sights which will add finesse to the finished guns.
Hull Weathering – Stage 1
The first stage of the weathering on the hull was using a thin raw umber oil based wash (id used ‘acrylic’ paints so this was appropriate. Given that it’s on a matt finish the was bleeds into the paint work and leaves a dirty rust coloured water mark which I think replicates nicely what id witnessed in the references. Again ill leave you and of course our illustrious editors to decide if it works for you”!
White Ensign Models Prop Guard
OK a confessional. WEM as you know from my “Here Now” supplied three etched sets. I’ll use one here the other two are superb. One is for the conning tower internal structure and is delicate and beautifully made but as much wouldn’t be seen I decided not to use it on this occasion but have handed it to Mat to use on his. The same with the radar set which has to be seen to be believed but I found the multiple curves too much and too small for my eyes and again Mat will use them.
I did use, because I could see it, the prop guard which is an excellent scale thickness representation of the guard that’s thrown over the tail when the GATOs in dock. It’s thin and difficult (fiddly) to build but worth the effort. Painted a mix of various Hull Reds it looks great on the stern as I think you’ll agree.