This is a fun plastic model build and it is a skill level 2 which means it is pretty easy. You add the pieces to the bottom of the boat then for the most of it you add all the various parts, torpedoes, guns and personnel to the top of the boat. In this tutorial I show you how it is done step by step and I also have added a little bit about the actual boat and JFK.

Will has a youtube channel with over 700 videos on projects you can make. Check it out right here

There is an interesting story behind the specific boat PT-109.

John F. Kennedy was the commander of the boat and in 1943 it was hit by a japanese destroyer and cut in half. JFK and the surviving crew members swam to a nearby deserted island and lived on coconuts for six days in hiding. He carved a help message on a coconut shell and some natives, at great risk, got it to the US Navy. They were then rescued. JFK had that coconut shell cast as a paperweight and kept it on his desk in the oval office during his presidency.

I have a page with the books JFK has written.

Tools and Materials

• The Model Kit ( Pt 109 Plastic Model by Revell in 1/72 Scale )
• Testors Cement (Cement Glue Value Pack Testors 2-7/8 fl oz tubes )
• Paints: Black, Gray, Blue, Black, Skintone
• Some basic tools like xacto knife, pliers, sand paper, magnifying glass

Here are the parts that come in the box. They are the various plastic parts and the decals. Not shown is the instruction booklet that has step by step instructions and the painting instructions.

Start by washing the parts in mild soapy water. Be gentle with them. You don't want to knock any of the parts off the sprue. Don't dry the parts afterward. Just lay them on paper towels and let them air dry on their own. If you hand dry them you run the risk of knocking pieces off.

Inspect the parts. Look for problems or missing parts. This also gets you familiar with them which will make it easier for you to build it.

The instruction booklet has everything you need including what color to paint each piece and how to assemble each piece. You start at step one and just move through the instructions step by step.

Okay! Let's get to building the model

Watch the Video Tutorial Here:

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Pt 109 Plastic Model by Revell in 1/72 Scale

PT-109 Elco 80 ft Torpedo Boat. USN. WW II. John F Kennedy. Features: Molded in dark green, Waterslide decals, Four torpedo tubes, two twin .50 caliber machine guns, a 20mm cannon, a life raft, four crew figures, and three rudders, propellers and shafts. Contains clear assembly instructions with a detailed synopsis of Kennedy's exciting and dangerous voyage. Includes a display stand. One decal sheet with markings for one boat: PT109, 109, and two American flags.

This is the cement you will probably use. It is the work horse of plastic model making. (Cement Glue Value Pack Testors 2-7/8 fl oz tubes ) And it is quite adequate. But, These tubes are a bit unwieldy and a bit difficult to control. As you build models you will want to use some other options.

Pt 109 Movie rental - Cliff Robertson stars in this stirring saga of Kennedy's wartime exploits as skipper of a PT boat in the Solomon Islands.

Will's Book on Diorama Making

How to Make Fantasy and Medieval Dioramas

This books shows you how to make fantasy and medieval dioramas using many commonly available tools and materials. There are over 100 pictures and illustrations showing you how to make great dioramas in fantasy and medieval styles. Chapters include basics, water effects, terrain tips and special effects like electricity and small motors. Tutorials include how to use foam, plaster of paris and paper mache to make great looking dioramas.