Trumpeter

1/144 USS Gato with Nautilus Models Conversion for USS Thresher SS-200

Kit Number: 5905

Reviewed by  Dave Morrissette, IPMS# 33653

MSRP: $42.95 Conversion Set:    Nautilus Models (nautilusmodels.com),USS Thresher SS-200, Fall 1943, $45.00 When Trumpeter released their first version of the 1/144 USS Gato (and more are announced), I was itching to get this kit and did. When Nautilus Models announced some conversion sets, I knew it was time to build. You can see my specific reviews of the Nautilus sets as they were reviewed on our IPMS web site. I really think the proof is in the building though, and when the USS Thresher came out, I knew it was the one I wanted to build. Since the primary conversion will involve the conning tower, I was free to start the build with the Trumpeter kit first. Let's look at the kit itself. Trumpeter picked a nice scale for this kit, as it is over two feet long. The kit has some small accuracy errors but not enough to bother me. Construction starts with an interior pressure hull that also has the bulkheads. (Perhaps a full interior version with clear sides is coming?) I built this and installed it in the hull for stability if no other reason. The hulls fit were joined and the rudder and dive planes added. The forward dive planes lack the retraction arm so I installed them in the stowed position. I also added the propeller shafts and supports but left off the screws for later. I also stopped short of adding the davits and other topside detail since I wanted the modified CT on first to minimize breakage. The Nautilus parts are supplied in resin with a wood deck. My first job was to trim the parts from the pour sprues and start assembly. The kit includes all the parts for as new conning tower, new main and secondary guns plus the open periscope shears more common on US fleet subs in WWII. A little filling was required at the base and deck levels but the fit was good. Note that Trumpeter kit parts C3 are used in this part of the construction. Once the basic shape was complete (by adding the wood deck, front gun platform and the bottom and top halves), I used some filler to smooth the parts and then installed the mostly built conning tower onto the deck. The remainder of the part were added from the kit parts and resin set. The main and secondary guns were added later. I also fabricated some railings for the fore and aft parts of the tower (check the Nautilus web site for more information) Time for paint; the Nautilus instructions contain excellent info on the paint scheme. Since this was an early sub, it was painted in MS9, overall black. I based the model in Testors flat black and then highlighted panels for a worked look. I also used a different black for the wood deck, as it is clearly different in pictures. I highlighted the prop shafts and props in Alclad steel. Props at this time were zinc coated, not bright brass per the instructions. I then flat coated the boat and weathered further to replicate sea water stains with Mig weathering pigments "dust"). Last was to install the guns and reflat coat the model. The kit and conversion are great and my recommendation is simple - build one - it was a blast. I am hoping for a late war sub now to do the gray over dark scheme. My thanks to Nautilus Models for the opportunity to review and build the set.

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