Keith Bender
1/350 USS Patoka AO-9 (Scratchbuilt)
USS Patoka AO-9 : I was asked to build this one for my brother-law's father who served aboard her from 1943-45. This model is in 1/350 and 100% scratchbuilt with the exception of chain, thread and 20mm guns which came from Tamiya. Since it is only 16" long I decided to build up the hull "bread & butter" type. I used 3/16" thick basswood and laid up twelve sheets for the proper height.
Patoka had an interesting career starting out as an oilier in 1919 and ending up in her most famous role as a sea mooring for airships. When WWll broke out she was refitted back to an oilier and the 125' tall derrick was removed. She did have a partial flightdeck at the time and that was left to be so she carried Kingfishers for awhile. By the time Mr. Ryno (clients father) joined Patoka they no longer carried the kingfishers.
I used plans provided from the Floating Drydock and National Archives. The archives had the lines drawing which are very old and difficult to read but with some time it can be done. I designed all the photoetch with the exception of the railings that are GMM. I used Fotocut for my etcher. The ships boats were made from plastic sheet and built up then I cast the patterns to make copies. The most challenging part was making the cowl vents and three different sizes. These were cast as well. The stack is turned brass along with the gun barrels. The prop is also hand made. One odd thing about the rudder post is back then they made many ships with a hole cast into the rudder post so the prop shaft could be pulled out through it if it needed work done.
I rigged the paravane downhaul lines at the bow as found in some photos. All the catwalks above the main deck are basswood and brass frame. It took me five weeks to complete Patoka. The longest part was designing the PE and waiting to have it etched. In the mean time I built as much as I could and prayed that everything fit once I had the PE for it, I got lucky and it did.
Presenting the model was the best part as always. Mr. Ryno hadn't seen his ship since 1945 and he became very emotional. This was very rewarding knowing I touched the heart of another person and isn't that's what it's all about. Funny thing while talking to him he remembered everything as if it just was last week and comparing navy stories with the difference of 48 years between us didn't seem to matter, a sailor is a sailor no matter what.
