FULL STATIC REMOTE CONTROL DIVING CAPABILITIES

See Pictures Of The Completed Model

You will be amazed at the detail and precision of this beautiful model. The Revell company have really excelled themselves with this 52 inch World War II US submarine, originally designed as a static display. This handsome, fifty-two inch long, 1/72 scale model submarine caught the eye of the world famous submarine model maker David Merriman. With Merriman's cooperation and dedication to this project, we are proud to introduce all the hardware and documentation one needs to convert this stunningly beautiful Fleet Boat into a well running, fully capable r/c submarine. Without doubt, David is a real pioneer and innovator when it comes to model submarines. Here are some shots (13MB QuickTime Movie) from David’s workshop as he develops the conversion kit.

The major component of the conversion kit is the D&E Sub-Driver™. It's a WTC (water tight cylinder -- a term invented by David D Merriman lll nearly two decades ago) and much, much more. The D&E sub-driver™ is your submarine’s control room, ballast control center, and engine room all in one package. Each D&E sub-driver™ comes with installed servos, water tight seals, motor and gear reduction unit, and a complete gas type ballast system -- all systems installed, checked out and ready to make your submarine hull come alive in the water.

His system, the brawn and brains of free-flooding type r/c submarines, houses all the electronics, propulsion and control devices needed to operate the submarine in a realistic manner. David's Sub-Drivers have become the world standard and are available in a veriety of sizes and configurations -- each designed for a specific range of model submarine sizes and propulsion arrangements. His Sub-Driver™ is specifically configured to propell and control the Revell GATO kit.

The Sub-Driver includes the following fittings:

THE GATO Sub-Driver™ kit contains a completely outfitted Lexan water tight cylinder with gas type ballast system, instruction manual and the GATO DVD.

It also includes the Gato-Fittings Kit, pictured below:

Not only has David invented a GATO specific Sub-Driver™, he's gone on to develop and chronical an entirely new building protocol that will enable the kit-assembler to easily adapt the GATO kit to his Sub-Driver™. Now, you can follow his instructions and video as he takes you, step by step, through the building process. If you undertand English, appreciate a straight, no nonsense approach and can follow instructions, Dave will guide you from the moment you tear the shrink-wrap off your kit to the point where you finally trim out your model in the water and take it down for its initial dive. He leads, you follow. And, yes, he knows the way.

See more of the Gato Sub (8.6MB QuickTime Movie)

See the Gato In Action At SubRegatta 2007 (3.5MB QuickTime Movie)

See a 360 degree view of the Revell Gato

After the US Pacific fleet had been seriously weakened at Pearl Harbor, at the beginning of the war in the Pacific much of the responsibility in the battle against the Japanese expeditionary forces rested on the shoulders of the American submariners. The submarines of the Gato Class were large fleet submarines that had been specially developed for use in the wide expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Due to their size and equipment they could remain in non-stop service for 75 days. Between 1940 and 1944, 77 Gatos were build at four different shipyards. Together with the Balao and the Trench Class they formed the backbone of the US submarine fleet. Most of these subs went to the Pacific, but a few were also used in the Atlantic. These submarines were extremely successful. Not only did they sink a large number of irreplaceable freighters and tankers, but they also decimated the Imperial naval fleet. The most grievous losses were the aircraft carriers Shokaku, Taiyo, Unyo and Taiho. Developed for use in the expanse of the Pacific, the Gato was much larger than for example the German type VII submarine. It had a length of 95 m, a beam of 8.20 m and a draught of 4.60 m. Its displacement was 1825 tons surfaced and 2410 tons dived. The diesel engine gave it a speed of 20.75 knots on the surface.


The Gato class submarine was the state of the art in American design during World War II and bore the brunt of the fighting against Japan during the war. This all-new 1:72 scale kit is over four feet in length and boast 250 to 300 parts. When you get this kit, you'll find a secret code inside that will give you exclusive access to an interview by a Topedo man who served on the Cobia. If you have the code, go here.

Add an Underwater Video camera and use Virtual Goggles to see underwater as you steer your Gato towards your target.

We offer several ways to purchase and build the Gato Submarine.

1. Buy the static model alone. It needs to be converted to dive, float or be radio controlled.
2. Buy the Complete Revell Gato Submarine Kit, which contains everything you will need. This kit includes:
• The Gato Revell Model
• The Gato D&E Sub-Driver (including the DVD)
• The Gato D&E Fitting Package
3. If you already have the Revell Model, simply buy the Gato Conversion Kit. The Gato Conversion Kit contains:
   • The Gato D&E Sub-Driver (including the DVD)
• The Gato D&E Fitting Package which contains:
  • The following metal parts:
    • 2 strut bearings
    • 2 propellers
    • 1 rudder bell-crank
    • 2 bow plane retract struts
  • The following resin parts:
    • 1 hull closure foundation
    • 1 bow plane bell-crank
    • 2 rudder bearings
    • 2 stern tubes
    • 2 hull closure clips
    • 2 thrust bearings with inserted oilite bearings
    • 2 propeller dunce caps
  • The following misc parts:
    • bow plane retract mechanism
    • stern plane bell-crank
    • stern plane bell-crank clevis
    • 2 1/8" diameter stainless steel propeller shafts
4. Buy the static model and the other components seperately as needed.