PT Boat Plans

PT boat plans for the famous PT 109 offered in 1:32 and 1:24 scale - buy and download a relatively easy-to-build semi scale Elco 80-foot RC PT boat blueprint.

I was recently looking for a set of PT boat plans for an Elco PT-109 I wanted to build from scratch. I was aiming for semi-scale and was on a stringent budget. I was unable to find anything simple that looked right, so I ended up making my own set of plans.

PT boat model boat plans. This is the first sheet with hull templates and GA.

PT boat model boat plans - sheet 2, with deck house layout and templates.

1:32 RC PT 109 Project

There is a series of pages on this website showing my slow, but steady progress of the RC PT 109. Here is a list of entries so far:

Part One: PT 109 RC model - Background & build kick-off.

Part Two: Assemble RC P.T. boat hull structure.

Part Three: Planking the Elco PT-boat hull.

Part Four: Adding hatch coaming and deck to the PT-109 model.

Part Five: Sealing the hull with Tissue and Dope.

Part Six: Building the Deck Houses.

Part Seven: Building the MG turrets.

The PT boat I'm building is at 1:32 scale - the same as the famous Lindberg kit of the PT-109. The build log and plans have been popular with visitors to this site and I've received requests for a larger, dual-motor option.

Both plans consist of two sheets. The first sheet show the General arrangements and all templates to finish the hull. The second sheet show the deck house layout and the templates to build them. The plans show a lot of detail and could produce a truly handsome boat.

The two plan sets are available in a single zip file. Order below.

1:32 Semi Scale PT Boat Plan

• Skill Level: Intermediate. The plan is intended for balsa construction and should not pose too big a task for someone with a couple of simpler boats under their belt.
• Balsa is inexpensive, light and require a minimal set of tools to build. Millions and millions of balsa models have been built on kitchen tables around the globe in the last 100 years.
• The hull can be sealed using the age-old tissue-and-dope or fiberglass/epoxy.
• Finished, the RC PT boat will measure about 30 inches long and eight inches wide (760 by 200mm) and weigh about three pounds (1.5kg).
• The PC PT boat plan is intended for a single Mabuchi RS-540 RC motor, or similar for simplicity and good economy. I see no reason a brushless motor could not be used if you'd want to.

1:24 Semi Scale PT Boat Plan

• Skill Level: Intermediate. I don't perceive the larger boat to be much harder than the smaller to build, but will cost a little more in materials. It will handle better, but require more water to maneuver and thrive.
• For this plan, I'd recommend using any mix of materials: balsa, plywood or basswood - whichever you prefer. A balsa hull will definitely be the lightest and potentially fastest, but the least durable. The other options require more tools but can take more abuse etc.
• This boat would do best being sealed with fiberglass and epoxy, although tissue-and-dope would still work quite well.
• The 1:24 PT boat will measure about 40 inches long by 10 1/2 wide (1000mm x 267mm) and weigh just under eight pounds (3.5kg).
• The larger PC PT boat plan is intended for a dual Mabuchi RS-540-type RC motor setup. Alternatively, a single 600-size motor could be used with a single propeller. For a single-motor setup, I'd consider up-sizing and centering the rudder for better control. Again, a single or a pair of brushless motors could be be used if that's within your budget.

Other PT Boat Plans

There are several sources for PT boat plans and, as with all ship plans, they are not all created equal. As noted below, one is simply wrong, and only one show model boat construction.

Here is a list of plans and resources if you are looking for more information about PT boats.

PT boats Manufacturers

There where essentially three manufacturers of PT boats during WW2 – each had their own design. They were:

• Elco
• Higgins
• Huckins

The vessel most people associate with the term as “the PT boat” is the 80ft Elco of the PT-103 class. It’s no stretch to imagine the PT 109 had at least a little bit to do with that. It was also manufactured in the largest number - almost 800 boats.

Elco PT boat Plans

Elco 70ft PT boat:

PT 18 by Al Ross. Two sheets. 1:32 scale. Hull lines, profile and plan view as well as many details and sections.

Elco 77ft PT Boat:

Al Ross has drawn up the following Elco 77ft PT boat plans: PT 34, PT 65 and ROYAL NAVY, MTB 315. Each consist of two sheets and include all you need to complete a good quality scale model.

Elco 80ft PT Boat:

“PT-107” by Edward Wiswesser. Single sheet. 1:48 scale. There are inaccuracies on this drawing. The deck profile (sweep) doesn't look right. The “nose” doesn't dip as we're used to seeing. At this point this plan has lost most, if not all, credibility in my opinion.

Glynn Guest (Model Boat Magazine)

This plan is for a semi scale model showing a single propeller and rudder. This is a good way to keep the cost down if you don’t care how it looks out of the water. The material of choice is balsa wood. A great choice since it can be easily worked with simple hand tools. With the plan and a copy of the Model Boat Magazine article, it should be fairly straight-forward to finish a model by an average hobbyist.

Just as with the Wiswesser plan, the sweep of the deck is non-existent and completely flat. It’s available from the UK.

PT 109 by Al Ross. Two sheets. 1:32 scale. Hull lines, profile and plan view as well as many details and sections. This plan was originally drawn up for the book “Allied Coastal Forces of WW2” volume II.

PT 596 by Al Ross. Three sheets. 1:32 scale. This set comes with a sheet of internal detail and camouflage in addition to lines and GA. This plan was also originally drawn up for the book “Allied Coastal Forces of WW2” volume II.

Higgins 78ft PT boats

The Louisiana Digital Library has much of the Higgins Industries PT boat plans on file.

Huckins 78ft PT boats

There are no plans readily available that I know of. The National Archive may be able to help you.

Other PT boats Resources

For copies of the original USN blueprints, pictures and drawings, you can contact PT boats, Inc: www.ptboats.org.

The Al Ross plans referenced above can be purchased from The Floating Drydock, or Coastal Forces (I think that's Al's own site) in the USA or John Lambert Plans in the UK.

A lot of helpful information (again) about the 80ft Elco can be found on John Drain's PT boats site: www.pt-boat.com.

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