USCG Pequot (WARC-58) by captainbob - FINISHED - 1:96

[captainbob]

Ken, thanks for the camouflage color information.  The Pequot was a Coast Guard boat that worked up and down the east coast of the US in the ports and bays. I don't think it was ever camouflaged.  The black and white pictures show it always had a dark hull and a white deckhouse.   

 

Bob

[Jack12477]

Bob, according to my friends at our local USCG station, today's color scheme is black hull with white cabin for "working" boats, e.g. tugs, buoy tenders, ice breakers,  etc and white hull with white cabin for Search & Rescue (SAR) and Law Enforcement boat. The Polar Ice Breakers are a red hull.

[captainbob]

Thanks Jack.  That clarifies things.

 

Bob

[jbelwood]

Darn Bob, how did I miss this thread over the past few months. The Pequot sure is a substantial looking work boat. Would

love to see something like this in kit form. Judging from your past builds this will surely be a museum piece. I'll be visiting the

shipyard often to watch her come together.  

 

John

[Jack12477]

Bob, in addition to the color scheme, all USCG boats 65 feet or longer are called Cutters and given a name as well as a hull number. Boats less than 65 feet in length are just given a hull number and the first two digits of the number give you the hull length, e.g. 44nnn is a 44 ft, 36nnn is a 36 ft, etc. Starting in WW II all Coast Guard cutters were designed with the letter W followed by a alphanumeric scheme to distinguish them from US Navy vessels. This applies to both black hull and white hull boats. Some of the newer special purpose boats have orange hulls but these are generally less than 30 ft boats, example, the Rigid Hull Inflatables used for harbor security and similar functions.

 

Hope this helps

[captainbob]

Thanks, Jack.  I guess the Pequot at 166 feet hadn't gotten around to adding the 'W' to it's number as of May 1944.  Or maybe the 'W' was a book keeping thing and not necessarily shown on the boat.

 

Bob

 

 

[Jack12477]

Bob, here's the link to the Coast Guard Historian's web page where I found the information. And here's a link to a PDF file listing all the hull numbers including your boat. Their site says the W designation started in 1942, but not sure how long it took to implement fleet wide. Nice photo of her in 1944.

[Canute]

Back then, those change orders took longer to implement, since all the paperwork and new paints usually moved via surface mail. And then the bases may not have had the correct materials handy to implement the changes. On top of that, the vessel may only get worked on at scheduled intervals. I've read research on the ship's colors during WW II and these changes weren't done very quickly.

 

And having worked for my Uncle Sam more recently, we experienced similar delays with equipment and paint changes. It took four years to get the Viet Nam era paint scheme used on tactical fighters to what some folks called a European scheme. It got rid of the pale gray bellies and wrapped the green and sand colors over the bottoms of our jets.

 

Don't forget, all this stuff is done by the lowest bidder.

[captainbob]

Ah research.  We do research before we start building and then do more research as we build.  That’s when we discover things that make us change part of our build that we have already done.  Hopefully we don’t have to start over.  In this case all I have to do is remove the aluminum tape with the rivets.  It turns out the rivets used on the Pequot, except for the rivets in the stem post, are flat head rivets and smooth on the outside.  Also in post #99 you can see a plate added to the hull.  It turns out the hull was enlarged in that area on both sides.  I was not able to find a reason.  Anyway now I have to add a box to both sides of the hull all because of research.   On the other hand, if we did not do the research our models would not be correct.

 

Other than that I put together the basics of the cabins and placed them in position.

 

Bob

 

 

 

[Jim Lad]

"if we did not do the research our models would not be correct."

 

An excellent sentiment, Bob!  By the way, the model's coming along really well.

 

John

[steamschooner]

Bob, Been there done that ! I stopped work on a model and stripped it back to the main deck . Some research showed up that had showed me how some things where wrong.

Your build is looking good!

[popeye the sailor]

totally agree Bob.......you've made some super progress.  how far do the plate{s} jut out?

[Omega1234]

Ah research. We do research before we start building and then do more research as we build. That’s when we discover things that make us change part of our build that we have already done. Hopefully we don’t have to start over. In this case all I have to do is remove the aluminum tape with the rivets. It turns out the rivets used on the Pequot, except for the rivets in the stem post, are flat head rivets and smooth on the outside. Also in post #99 you can see a plate added to the hull. It turns out the hull was enlarged in that area on both sides. I was not able to find a reason. Anyway now I have to add a box to both sides of the hull all because of research. On the other hand, if we did not do the research our models would not be correct.

 

Other than that I put together the basics of the cabins and placed them in position.

 

Bob

 

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IMG_1487.JPG

Hi Bob

 

Notwithstanding some minor redo's, as you've mentioned, I have to say that the mock up of the superstructure gives a real sense of the beauty and charm of the design. I can see why you were attracted to building her.

 

She's gonna look great.

 

All the best

 

Patrick

Edited February 7, 2016 by Omega1234

[wyz]

Interesting choice Bob, and a build I will surely follow.  My guess is you went to the eye doctor to get the A-OK before deciding on the scale.  There is no way I could work on a 1:200 scale model.  Just thinking about the Pequot's size has me squinting. LOL

 

edit: I went further in the log and saw you changed to  1:96 scale.  Good choice, and your eyes will thank you!

 

Tom

Edited February 7, 2016 by wyzwyk

[captainbob]

John, thanks for the encouraging words.

 

Steamschooner, that’s what makes this hobby both fun and interesting.

 

Popeye, I don’t know.  Here’s another view.  From the size of the men on deck It could be 18 – 24”.  But then do the rub rails and bulwarks move out to match that distance?  It’s hard to tell.

 

 

Yes Patrick, I just hope the model is as good looking as the pictures.

 

Tom, I agree.  I’d be squinting too.  As it is she measures about 20” long, a good size for me.

 

OK.  More research.  Why do they have to alter boats?  I forgot the boat I am building is the boat pictured in the first entry of this thread.  That was before the hull was modified.  I’m sure glad I didn’t already make that change.  But I still think it was an interesting modification and wonder why.

 

Bob

[Mirabell61]

good work Bob,

 

nice progress on this beautiful "scratch build" steamship....

 

Nils

[mtaylor]

Bob,

Are there any drawings showing the interior at this area?   I'm wondering if they needed some extra space for the cabling they were laying.  That is a strange looking box though and there appears to be some sort of piping/grating over the top, like a hopper.

[captainbob]

Thanks, Nils, I'm having fun with it.

 

Sorry Mark, The only drawings are of the original build before it was converted to a cable laying boat.

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

the bulwark looks removable in that area as well..........and the single davit.   makes you wonder where the other one is located........perhaps they raise a sort of scaffolding or platform along the side.

[popeye the sailor]

I believe this might shed some light.

 

 

I think that's the outcropping from the deck.   I also found a couple sites......I wonder if you have them bookmarked.

 

http://freeshipplans.com/free-model-ship-plans/passenger-ship-plans/uscg-pequot-general-samuel-mills-plans/

 

 

http://indicatorloops.com/usn_pequot_plans.htm

 

this particular one has quite a bit of info.  there is also a timeline in regards to her looks at different times.  I hope this helps.

[captainbob]

This is the website that tells it all.  It was put up by chipaz in phoenix.  His father served on the Pequot and I'm sending him pictures as I build.   

 

http://indicatorloops.com/usn_pequot_plans.htm

 

There are complete plans for the Samuel Mills which was turned over to the Coast Guard and converted into the Pequot. 

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

that's the second link I listed......I think the rigging plans for the booms are cool.

[BenF89]

 

 

Why do they have to alter boats?  I forgot the boat I am building is the boat pictured in the first entry of this thread.  That was before the hull was modified.  I’m sure glad I didn’t already make that change.  But I still think it was an interesting modification and wonder why.

 

Bob

 

The sarcastic answer is that they alter boats to keep the Naval Architects busy trying to catch up. Actually a prominent issue with fishing boats:

 

Fishing boat operator: "Hey, Naval Architect, I just added 3 Long Tons of gear to the top of the mast. But I'm still good to load up all the fish I want, right?"

 

Naval Architect: "What?! Why would you do that? That raises your center of gravity 3 inches, and you barely passed your intact stability requirements before. Ok, let me do another week's worth of troubleshooting to develop a new loading plan...."

 

Fishing boat operator: "But we need to leave tomorrow!"

 

This isn't a specific example, but it's not too much of an exaggeration either...

 

P.S. - the boat is looking great!

[captainbob]

Popeye, The three booms with all the rigging would be quite a challenge but when she was converted to the Pequot they only left one.  Oh well, Maybe the Gen. Samuel Mills will get built someday. 

 

Good story Ben.  I guess the better question, for me, is why do I keep being distracted with the modifications that were not on the model I am building?  I have to keep in mind, I am building the version that is pictured in the overhead shot at the start.

 

Bob

[captainbob]

Not much since last time but here's some new pics.

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

[michael mott]

She is looking quite sharp Bob

 

Michael

[Jim Lad]

Looking good, Bob!

 

John

[Omega1234]

Hi Bob

 

Lovely work on the superstructure, especially the wheelhouse.

 

Nice!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[Mirabell61]

good progress Bob,

 

superstructure and wheelhouse looks great...

 

Nils

[captainbob]

^{Michael, John, Patrick and Nils,  Thanks for all the encouragement.} 

 

^Bob