Scale: 1/72

Recommended for:
Revell 1/72 scale  US Navy Gato-Class Submarine  (# 05047)
Revell 1/72 scale  US Navy Gato-Class Submarine  (# 85-0384)
The Scale Shipyard 1/72 scale USS Hardhead SS-365 (Balao class)
 
This model fairwater is intended to help convert your 1/72 scale Gato class submarine model into one of 122 World War Two-era Balao class submarines, successor to the Gato class.  The Balao class had a differently shaped fairwater (sail/conning tower) than the earlier Gato class although the hull was nearly identical externally.  This model has features specific to USSBalao SS-285 as it appeared during 1945.  It can be adapted to other boats of the class with similar features.

This model was designed based on US Navy drawings.  The Balao fairwater is not the same size and shape of a Gato fairwater, it is much shorter at the aft end.  Some adjustment of your plastic Revell Gato kit's deck part will be necessary for best fit including scribing deck planking aft of the fairwater.
 
This model includes a set of hatches and ready service ammunition locker doors.
 
Although details varied widely between boats, the persicope shears and radar mast configuration depicted by this model is known to have been fit to the following Balao class boats:
SS-285 Balao
SS-286 Billfish
SS-287 Bowfin
SS-288 Cabrilla
SS-291 Crevalle
SS-297 Ling
SS-308 Apogon
SS-311 Archerfish
SS-319 Becuna
SS-321 Besugo
SS-383 Pampanito
SS-384 Parche
SS-402 Sea Fox
SS-404 Spikefish
SS-409 Piper
SS-413 Spot
SS-415 Stickleback
SS-426 Tusk

© Model Monkey LLC.  This 3D-printed item may not be copied or recast.