by Brian Zulauf |
1/72 PT boat 41 (Revell / Airfix)
PT boat 41 was one of six PT boats that served in MTBRON 3 in the Philippines from September 1941 to mid April 15th 1942. The squadron was commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley. Bukeley and PT 41 is most noted for the evacuation of General MacArthur from Corregidor on March 11th 1942.
This model depicts PT 41 as she might have looked just after evacuating the General from Corregidor. Using the hull of the Revell PT 109 kit as a starting point the hull had to be cut down and the bow section scratch built to match a 77 elco PT boat. The rudders were replaced the hull was decked with sheet plastic the chart house and trunk were scratch built along with all four torpedo tubes. Using White Ensign parts the 50 cal machine guns were replaced and brass toe rails were placed on the bow of the boat. The use of parts from both the Revell and Airfix kits make up the majority of this model. Along with scratch built deck detail.
With only the Lieutenants description the the Pts in his squadron and
why they were being transported to the Philippines the model was painted
a medium dark flat green and weathered to fit the five month span that
the PT boat served in combat. Pt boat 41 was the last of the six PT boast
of this squadron.