Hello
Martin,
Here is some more info for you !
Both are scratch built the PBR stands for Patrol Boat River the actual
craft is based on a family motor cruiser, with a fibreglass hull, the guy
who made the family cruisers went in for a government contract to build
coastal patrol craft but when he got to the meeting he found that the
contract had already been awarded to someone else.
He however bid for a smaller river patrol boat the Admiral in charge asked
him to submit plans, the builder Willis Slaine told the Admiral he had not
got time for plans if the Navy came to his boatyard the following Friday
they could " Ride on the damn thing".
The Navy did and were completely astounded the craft beat all the Navy
requirements, and a legend was born. Sadly Willis Slaine died of a heart
attack the next week.
The craft were propelled by Jacuzzi water jets were highly manoeuvrable
and very fast they had twin 50 calibre machine guns up front and a 50
calibre on the stern and a 40 mm grenade launcher a amidships and a 30
calibre machine gun. They were fibreglass construction with ceramic armour
over the con area and engine spaces and guns platforms.
The model is 1/16 scale and is a home made fibreglass Hull and plasticard
cabin and deck, the cabin is fully detailed and all the instruments
illuminate at night time, the model is propelled with a water jet system
with a 750bb turbo motor and 14.4 volts, only the rear 4" are in the water
at full speed.
The crew are 120mm super scale Verlinden resin figures, and are superbly
detailed, painted in US marine green and weathered with shading and red
Vietnam mud.
The model took 2 yrs to build and is very popular when exhibited.
The Hovercraft is a 1/16 scale model of a US Army Bell SK5 7255 Model
assault craft Hovercraft.
This was built to accompany the PBR as this too was used in Vietnam. The
model is built from balsa ply and Plasticard and is propelled by a 600
series motor driving a 7x4 prop through a conventional prop tube the lift
fan is also a 600 series motor with the same fan for lift, both motors are
individually controlled with two speed controllers and the model has a jet
turbine engine start sound fitted, working running and nav lights, and the
cabin is fully detailed with an M16 and grenades fitted to the rear cabin
wall, the craft has two 50 Calibre machine guns fitted above the cabin, a
40 mm grenade launcher fitted to the left bow area and twin 30 cal machine
guns amidships.
I have at present a 1/16 PCF( coastal patrol boat) on the building blocks
again same era as the other two from Vietnam.
Hope the info is of use cheers.
Chris Behan. |