by Mario Grima
1/72 USS Lizardfish SS-373 (Revell)
Historically the Uss Lizardfish was a Balao class Submarine built at the Manitowoc SB co, shipyard in 1944 and saw action in the Pacific till WWIIs end.. My Model's depiction is the lizardfish wearing her electric boat step sail in fleet snorkel configuration. The lizardfish retained its rear 5" 25 Cal deck gun even in fleet snorkel mode. The Lizardfish eventually was sold to Italy on 9 January 1960 and renamed Evangelista Torricella . There the sub had a few more years service and retained the deck gun until it was decommissioned 1976, Broken up in 1978. More Manitowoc/EB boats also carried the deck gun during and after the fleet snorkel transition. Originally I was going to do the EB gunslinger Kraken, but wanted the use the rear Prop guards since they are a nice focal point . Lizardfish appears to have retained the guards till the end.
The model, this model was built in three weeks. The 1/72 Torsk took much longer and required more work to convert to the Tench class. For this model I used Eduards rivet PE for the side structure, it quickened the process were I didn't have too spend time riveting. Also the Revell body required less modification then the Torsk since it has the Manitowoc/EB holes. I would love to see Eduards do the PM versions of these panels, fully riveted. The major areas to do on the Revell kit was to eradicate the anchor well and to re-sculpture the early torpedo doors to the late doors. There were few other minor detail changes and additions that were pre-formed about the boat. The Sail and Deckgun are Iron bottom Sound EB FS Gunslinger kit. Sail Decals by http://www.jbot.ca/, and Colth Flag by http://modelflags.com/
