by Bob Cicconi
1/35 PT-596 Elco 80' (Italeri)
This is the Italeri 1/35 PT-596 that I just finished for Garth Connelly. It was built straight out of the box with the exception of Archer transfers for the numbers and flag, and Aber photoetch for the .50cal ammo belts on the machine guns. I used WEM Colourcoats according to the late war scheme of Green #2 for the base color, Green # 3 and black for the camouflage, and Deck Green for the deck. Anti-Fouling red was used for the under-hull. Testors non-buffing brass metalizer was used on the props, non-buffing Gunmetal as a base for the . 50cal, 20mm, and 37mm guns, with buffing Gunmetal sprayed over that. I used Alclad Burnt Metal for the torpedo bodies, and their Steel for the prop shafts, rudders, and anchor. Although the overall fit was good, the kit required a great deal of filling, sanding, and corrections to fix the numerous sinkmarks, injection marks, and offset moldings of most of the parts included in the kit. It's a very impressive model when completed, though, and worth the effort.
