by Michael Maynard
1/88 USAF 94’ Air/Sea Rescue Boat (Lindberg)
The Prototype
Released by the Lindberg Line in 1955, the model depicts an experimental 94’ Air/Sea Rescue boat. The prototype boat was the result of a study by the Air Force for the ideal sea rescue craft with the following attributes: fast, long legged, high endurance, with good living conditions for the crew. In addition it had to be well armed, poses state of the art communications/electronics, and equipped with an up to date dispensary for injured air crewmen. Unfortunately the Air Force high command had little experience with naval architecture and was more focused on aircraft procurement. Even though the USAAF had a fleet of sea rescue craft in WWII, the new USAF wasn’t sure about its “navy” or how it would fit in the Atomic age Air force. Helicopters, though new, were a proven rescue platform, replacing the PBY Catalina as a fast response to a downed flyer. Still air/sea rescue boats had proponents at HQ, and new boats were needed both stateside and overseas. The 94’ boat was ambitious craft, but the folks at the top had the following criteria for this boat: equipment must be off the shelf USAF items. The three 1500hp Merlin engines were designed for aircraft but found new life on these boats. The guns were to be standard issue 50cal, similar to those found in Saber jets. The electronics were state of the art aircraft stock, but not water proofed for the maritime environment. The US Navy drew up the specs and two boats were built by the Detroit Basin Company. One boat was stationed at Langley AFB in 1953 for evaluation and testing, a second was reportedly on the west coast. I spoke to a former airman that was attached to the 16th Rescue Boat Flight at Langley AFB and he related that the boat didn’t live up to expectations and suffered a number of mechanical failures. He wasn’t sure what became of the boat, but no more craft were constructed.
The Model
I really enjoy models of small craft, from PT Boats to shore based motor lifeboats. I built a model of this type in 1958 and I couldn’t figure out why this “PT Boat” didn’t have any torpedo tubes (I was 7 years old). I couldn’t get the four hull pieces to line up as per the instructions. It looked awful. Still it was a fun build, even though it was, in reality, a glue bomb. I purchased my current example from Ebay five years ago; it was the original 1955 kit, right down to the electric motor. I opened the box, looked at the parts and pretty much threw out everything, retaining the hull, deck, and superstructure. I used brass tubing to make the gun tubes, brass rod for the mast, stanchions, whip antennas, awning frame, A frame (rescue sling) on the stern. I added photo etch (radar, deck gratings, steps). I scratch built most of the deck fittings and ammo boxes, added a winch davit for the small boat, life raft, deck scuttles, etc. The kits armament were incorrect, the 94’ was armed with quad fifties (liberated from a half track kit, pretty close in size). I painted the boat with Tamiya paint and used decals from the spare decal box. The model isn’t perfect(the hull’s square light ports are not accurate) I based it on what info I could locate and the former airman’s recollections. Since Lindberg re issued it, a lot of new info has turned up on the internet. Still, I enjoyed the build as much as I did all those years ago. And I know what happened to the torpedo tubes.
