Mk 31 torpedo director.

With the publication on the PT boat forum of a set of detailed,multiple view photograps I was able to create a miniature Mk 31 torpedo director. Thanks to Jeff Davidson for posting these most useful references.
Challenged by forum members and inspired by Juergen Eichardt (see his Fletcher class build in 1/50 scale http://www.ship-model-today.de/fotoreport.htm ) I decided to build the director mainly in brass,with only a couple of smaller details in polystyrene.

Some of the components,turned and milled from brass rod.

Finished raw assembly,still on a temporary base.

Primed with Tamiya fine primer.

A ruler added for scale.

Chart House interior detail the beginning.

Overall view of chart house interior.

Chart table edging angle added,tommy gun installed,PPI pads installed.

Tommy gun close up.

And bracket (workable) still missig mounting screws.

Progress on the boat 24.09.2017

Deck finished, gunwhale guard added,toe rails added,torpedo tube deck pads added,coamings and front turret installed,chart house test fitted.

Toe rail I

Toe rail II

Coaming to deck bracket

Torpedo loading cradle pads, drip plate, mushroom vent.

Aft gun deck pad and bofors gun base.

Mushroom vent.

Maxson  mount 10" spacer ring,as installed on the M16MGMC.

Radar Dome

Aluminium support post and base ring.

Weight saving foam core

All set for pouring the dome

Pour...

and cure @45PSI

Cured

Roughly formed

Cutting out the closing tabs on the base ring

Milling the closing tabs

Milling the cutouts in the support post.

Making 6 retaining screws

All the parts required for one clasp

Clasps and final detailing added,primed.....the clasps are oversized,will substitute them with smaller ones later on..

Unofficial ammo stowage-forward passageway.

 M45 reload,60 37mm AP shells, extra ammunition for the stbd twin.50

View from above

In place.seen from the hatchway

Oil can and some 105 rd ammo boxes.

Deck portion finally fitted.

Test fitting the forward turret

Turret test fitted,turret height yet to be adjusted.

Fit is good and the turret is vertical,having to follow the deck curve/slope and mantain proper alignment would have been a nightmare!

The boat is quite a tight fit inside a Smart fortwo.

Drilling turret and gun platform bases.

Drilling aft turret base with the boat level

Same with forward turret.

Cutting out the foredeck gun platform base; deck level fore to aft,boat level athwartships.

Finished....