GATO! (It has begun)

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I think the easiest model kit to convert is the Bronco Type-23, yeah ... the GATO is a toughie! However, you're doing great on this assembly. Don't forget to overcoat all your filler with thin formula CA -- this will wick down into the porous material and adhere it to itself and to the polystyrene substrate. A very important step.

Got your cylinder in good shape. I'm working to convert a recent gas-type GATO SD to SAS for you. Will be done with it soon and off to you using the same packaging you provided with the returned unit.

Go with any flood-drain template you like -- don't get anal on me now!

Your next kit should be that new 1/72 Type-9 Revell of Germany just came out with. I'm finishing up the fittings kit for that now and will generate a WIP on how to convert that kit to r/c soon. The smaller Type-7 is also a nice little kit which has a fittings kit out there.

Just finish this GATO first! Good work so far. Keep at it, Tiger.

M

[matthewnimmo]

Another question, what type of flood templates should i use? I see 3 types and I think I've identified the set that was used within the video; but what is the difference between the 3 types?

http://www.sub-driver.com/models/submarine-models/the-american-gato-submarine.html

Thanks again,

[matthewnimmo]

Last night, i finished the tabbing on the upper and lower parts of the hull. Pic of the lower hull is below. The fit is nice and tight; but there are some tabs on the upper hull that I need to sand down just a touch so that they fit better. Once I finish that task i think i'm ready for sanding down the model as described in the DVD set (Very thankful for the DVD set ... a lot of things about building these types of models are described within the set that i can and hope to apply to other builds after this one). Are there any other build/kits that have this type of DVD kit? Also, did i start off with a harder model lol (so far i've been enjoying) for my first build? What is considered to be the easiest kit to build?

Pic

[matthewnimmo]

So, i went through the filler part of the sub build. I used Rage for my filler of choice that i actually had purchased 2 years back. I naturally followed the directions as listed on the can, but realized that it was a mistake ... for a small go of the filler on the sub i wasted 90% of my first batch ... then i realized how dense i was being (this is for a model and nothing larger) so i drastically reduced the amount of material and hardner that i needed with each application.

So instead of just hitting spots that i thought needed to be filled i went ahead and applied some filler across the sub (for the most part there were area's that i thought needed it). Then i did the same for the bottom as well. In the end i was very pleased at it seemed to have produced a nice thin gab between the two sections (granted there are still some parts of the hull around that line that i see areas to fill (but i think that's further on the building process when i start applying any last minute smaller fills).

pics and more pics

[matthewnimmo]

David:

i saw that it was delivered let me know if anything was broke as it was insured. They assured me everything would be fine though

@everyone - ill be posting up my latest picks hopefully tonight

[matthewnimmo]

Also, my shipping info should be on the packing slip; but ill include it here anyhow

matthew nimmo
2373 Roland Dr.
arnold, MO 63010

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I'll get started on your unit then.

M

[matthewnimmo]

@David:

wtc has been shipped! Here is the tracking number 1zw299e60284562955

it should arrive on friday and it is fully insured. So if something doesnt look right when you receive it let me know

thanks again! I truly appreciate this

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

No! I'm an idiot for producing those SD's as kits in the first place.

M

[matthewnimmo]

David, you are amazing! Thank you so much ill box it up tonight!

wow!

[trout]

Holy sub-driver Batman! What great service that is!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Those SD 'kits' were the worst marketing move Mike and I ever made. That's why we stopped doing that and now (with the exception of the 1.25" and 3.5" SD 'kit') only offer them as assembled and tested units.

Tell you what: box up your GATO SD kit, send it to me, and I'll return the current version, all built up, tested, and ready to receive your devices, battery and other goodies.

David D Merriman lll
835 Holly Hedge Ave.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452

David

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Those SD 'kits' were the worst marketing move Mike and I ever made. That's why we stopped doing that and now (with the exception of the 1.25" and 3.5" SD 'kit') only offer them as assembled and tested units.

Tell you what: box up your GATO SD kit, send it to me, and I'll return the current version, all built up, tested, and ready to receive your devices, battery and other goodies.

David D Merriman lll
835 Holly Hedge Ave.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452

David

[trout]

Very cool! Exciting to see another Gato being built and you ran the running her better than I did!
Keep up the good work sir!

[matthewnimmo]

Btw, here are the latest shots of my sub. I have added the running gear (had to make a trip to the hobby store yesterday as i realized that the kit doesn't come with dumas couplers). Also, got the craddel in place for the WTC. Lastly, I got the upper half of the sub fitted to secure down to the rest of the sub. Only one issue that i'm having and that's the screw matching up to the backhalf ... i thought i had that pretty close to perfect, but I'll have to adjust that some.