Way back in the 1980s there was a monthly Orbis publication called War Machine. It was one edition devoted to riverine patrol craft. Most of these were the Brownwater Navy of Vietnam. However one entry featured a vessel that was a Latin American (Brazilian?) river gun boat. I seem to remember that it was British built and quite an age in the 1980s
Can anyone on the forum source an image and/or some info about this mystery ship ?
10 minutes of surfing later -Might have found it - The Parnaiba U17 - still in use today!
Is there any site that offers a deck plan ? I was hoping to scratch build using the Trumpeter Zhong Shan Chinese gunboat in 1/150 as a base hull.
Hello Sunray
Haven't been able to find much. You've probably seen it all before in your surfing.
There's this from Shipbucket:-
(http://www.shipbucket.com/Real%20Designs/Brazil/MON%20U17%20Parnaiba.png)
and this page has lots of photos and info but no plans:-
http://laststandonzombieisland.com/2015/11/25/warship-wednesday-nov-25-2015-the-enduring-monitor-of-the-amazon/ (http://laststandonzombieisland.com/2015/11/25/warship-wednesday-nov-25-2015-the-enduring-monitor-of-the-amazon/)
This page shows profiles from various dates:-
http://www.navypedia.org/ships/brazil/br_of_parnaiba.htm (http://www.navypedia.org/ships/brazil/br_of_parnaiba.htm)
Cheers
GrumpyOldMan
Quote from: GrumpyOldMan on 02 April 2016, 11:25:43 PM
Hello Sunray
Haven't been able to find much. You've probably seen it all before in your surfing.
There's this from Shipbucket:-
(http://www.shipbucket.com/Real%20Designs/Brazil/MON%20U17%20Parnaiba.png)
and this page has lots of photos and info but no plans:-
http://laststandonzombieisland.com/2015/11/25/warship-wednesday-nov-25-2015-the-enduring-monitor-of-the-amazon/ (http://laststandonzombieisland.com/2015/11/25/warship-wednesday-nov-25-2015-the-enduring-monitor-of-the-amazon/)
This page shows profiles from various dates:-
http://www.navypedia.org/ships/brazil/br_of_parnaiba.htm (http://www.navypedia.org/ships/brazil/br_of_parnaiba.htm)
Cheers
GrumpyOldMan
Vic, thank you very much indeed ! The last reference is particularly useful. I want a generic post 1960s look - based on the Parnaiba but with a helicopter landing pad. I might also add a new funnel to denote a more modern engine.
Its remarkable that this old tub is still in action after 78 years of active service.
The weak spot about the Trumpeter kit is the badly sculpted secondary armament - so I might raid Pendraken to source AA guns and MGs. I might keep the original 105mm turret and gun as it makes for useful firepower in bombardment and shore party supported landings.
And I do need to do something about the bridge/superstructure - the original model really doesn't have one.
It amazes me why plastic kit manufacturers don't see the potential market in 1/144 MTB and Motor Gun Boat craft. N gauge forums are filled with requests for small ships in railway harbour dioramas.
Amazing she is still in service :o
She is older than the Royal New Zealand Navy, they turn 75 this year
Quote from: paulr on 03 April 2016, 02:56:08 AM
Amazing she is still in service :o
She is older than the Royal New Zealand Navy, they turn 75 this year
Yeah! She is really a veteran. There is a good table quiz question there. It comes down to having an indigenous engineering industry. Brazil also did amazing things with obsolete Stuart light tanks. So amazing that they actually built a new look Stuart - the Carcara.