by Mario Grima
1/72 USS Torsk SS-423, Gun Slinger Conversion 1954 (Revell/IBS Conversion)
This subject was built from converting the big Revell Gato to the Tench class fleet snorkel USS Torsk circa 1954 "Gun Slinger". The Torsk carried one of it's two 5" WWII guns into the mid 50's . During this period she still retained her WWII body appearance, rivets and limber holes., but was updated with the new PM snorkel step sail. The chin sonar (note-omitted on this model) was added in the late 50's or early 60's. General formula (and I hate using that word general on US submarines) is if your going to do a gun version, then do not use a chin sonar since the magazine space were later turned into the sonar equipment rooms on most boats. There were more PM boats then just the Torsk that carried their deck guns into the cold war era, Even a few EB sails. To do this conversion, I drilled out the side PM holes and lower vent holes, Also as I did on the Trumpy version, I flared in the rear deck structure very slightly. In order to do the Torsk, Pampanito, and a few others even in their WWII version, this task needs to be done. The flaring begins at about 1/4" at the end of sail or conning tower and then it will continue causing the rear of the deck structure to be slightly thinner. In order to do the Tench bow conversion I followed Michael Keating's excellent Tench lower bow change design. The Torpedo door shutters are the kits but I changed them around and reworked them for the latter production /Tench doors. The Ballast slit line under the bow planes were reworked . A very prominent feature was also added, the recessed triangular crimp behind the forward planes, and the Bow plane bound bumpers. For the sail and the deck gun, IBS 1/72 scale Fleet snorkel sets (Torsk) and the new IBS 5"/25 cal 1/72 Deck gun. I changed the position angle of the forward marker buoy plate plate for the version I wanted. The Torsk deck sat elevated above the frame and ran from the bow to the stern, I replaced the kit deck with my own version. US cloth Flag is from Modelflags.com and the excellent US submarine decals are from http://www.jbot.ca/ I wanted to make the boat look close to the way she appeared before losing the deck gun in 1954. Special thanks to the USS Torsk vets
