GB-48 1/48 TBM-3 (1) - Carrier & Maritime Patrol A/C of WWII

[Donivanp]

Username : donivanp
First name : Don
Category : intermediate
Scale : 1/48
Manufacturer / Model : Academy/Accurate Miniatures TBM-3
Extras :

 

[Donivanp]

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice one.

 

[Donivanp]

I plan on building OOB with no mods other than maybe seat belts and decals. I want a true comparison between the two different kits.

 

[rochie]

looking forward to seeing how this goes together, another subject i could do with adding to my Fleet Air Arm collection !

 

[Airframes]

Nice one, and a great kit, but careful with the turret - there's a knack to fitting it. (see my build, way back in the GBs).

 

[Crimea_River]

The issue of turret fitting shows up in the Accurate Miniatures kit as well and I don't know if the Academy or HB ones are reboxings. Discussed here: **** DONE: 1/48 TBM-1C Grumman Avenger VC-13 - Carrier Aircraft GB

 

[Airframes]

I believe the Academy kit is a rebox of the AM kit - not sure about the HB, but thinks it's a different kit.

 

[Donivanp]

I believe the Academy kit is a rebox of the AM kit - not sure about the HB, but thinks it's a different kit.

Academy is the reboxed AM. HB is a new pop. They are similar in build with the biggest difference that HB has a wing fold option. Yes there are several other differences but that is the biggest notable thing.

 

[Crimea_River]

In that case do look into that whole turret thing Don. I had issues not so much with getting the turret in but with putting the shelf in after that.

 

[Donivanp]

In that case do look into that whole turret thing Don. I had issues not so much with getting the turret in but with putting the shelf in after that.

I'll keep an eye on that. Thank you all for the information.

 

[Donivanp]

OK so I've determined my subject matter. I wanted to do an Atlantic fleet bird but have had issues finding the marking, and when I say Atlantic, I am referring to the dark gull grey over non spack white. From what I can find, this was limited to the TBF-1, I do have that kit but not the markings. I do have marking for a TBM-3 off the USS Mission Bay CVE-59. It is painted in the tri color non spack sea blue, intermediate blue, white. As this is an "AeroMaster Decal" set, I hold in suspect everything on it till I can find prof. I've been burned before to say the least. Well now, Guess what we found.

TBM Avenger code E16 of Carrier Aircraft Service Unit CASU-22 onto catapult on board the escort carrier USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) on October 23, 1943 | World War Photos

USS Mission Bay CVE-59 spent the whole war in the Atlantic fleet, supported anti submarine and escort duties. Even fairing P-40 and P-47 aircraft back and forth.

 

[Michael Stolting]

In that case do look into that whole turret thing Don. I had issues not so much with getting the turret in but with putting the shelf in after that.

I concur. Googling the turret for that kit I was able to read and view a few helpful hints ... sorry, lost any links I may have had.

I built the Accurate Miniatures kit twice. The last one with a wing folding after market kit. Love the look of that aircraft.

Mike

 

[Wayne Little]

Another one to look forward too...

 

[T Bolt]

Yes, me too

 

[Donivanp]

Going to have to change the markings. The selected bird is a TBF-1. A bit of a hack job to back date this kit. I'll look at it a bit more!

 

[fubar57]

Just found that out myself about an hour ago while searching for extinguisher shots

 

[Donivanp]

Just found that out myself about an hour ago while searching for extinguisher shots

It's hard to tell un less you can see head on and upper starboard nose.

 

[Donivanp]

Well I want to do the E16 bird, but as it turns out is a TBF-1! As most of you know, you can tell from this angle by the .30 cal gun trough and the forward set antenna mount. The other change is in common with the TBF/TBM-1 and 1C is the single upper oil cooler on the forward cowl, but it can't be seen in this photo

Which brings us to the next issue. The only 1/48 TBF/M-1 was the old Monogram kit. From the review in Detail & Scale volume 53, TBF & TBM Avenger Copyrighted 1997. So I ordered one and it is coming in. Now that leaves and issue of how do I do the modifications! According to the publication, the exterior of the kit is fairly accurate, but the interior is more a toy then a real model. Also the TBF-1 has a slightly different cockpit arrangement as there is a second cockpit behind the pilot.
There was a Medallion Models kit to modify the Monogram, but I can't find it available anywhere!

What I did find eventually was a KCM kit to backdate the AM/Academy kit and I have a bit in on it with the added input of decals for one of the Midway attackers (the sole survivor, if you could call it that), it really did not survive.

SOOO If the group will indulge me, I have my work cut out depending on how my bid works out and what I can do here!

 

[Donivanp]

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come not to bury a TBM-3, but raise a TBF-1 from its ashes!.
OK so I won, at some expenses, the KMC update set for the TBF-1 for the AM TBM-1C which included the Yellow Hammer decals for BuNo 00380 one of the very first production aircraft delivered to the US Navy. VT-8 received the first deliveries of the new Avenger but they arrived at Pearl Harbor two days after the USS Hornet departed for Midway. Of the delivered aircraft, which were to replaced the ageing TBD Devastators, six were ordered to fly from Ewa field Hawaii to Midway to participated in the battle. As with the Devastators it was almost a total wipe out. All the TBD were lost with not hits to any ships and only the sole survivor Ens George (Tex) Gay, of the six Avengers launched from Midway that fateful day, only one came back. Ens Albert K. "Bert" Earnest and Airman Third Class Harry Ferrier, both wounded, and the aircraft a wright off, but none the less brought them back to Midway. Thus, the truth is that there was not as often proclaimed, one survivor from VT-8, but indeed three.

With the Judges approval I'd like to complete this as that one aircraft, steed, ridden into battle from the "six hundred"

by Alfred Tennyson.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!" he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not,
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honor the charge they made!
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!