1/48 Accurate Miniatures 

TBF-1C Avenger

by Jim Dietz

--------------------

 

     Recently I attended a USN Squadron Disestablishment Ceremony, both VS's 38 "Red Griffins," and VS's 29 "Dragon Fires" at NAS North Island, Coronado, California. Outside the hanger sat an immaculate Grumman TBM-3 in the Gray/White Atlantic scheme. I was able to climb up inside this a/c through the crew door and experience the sight and smell of this old warbird...see this motivated me to get the half built TBF-1 finished and done!

I built this kit basically out-of-the-box but with one important exception, I replaced the kit prop with a prop from the Tamiya Birdcage Corsair. It fits perfectly. In my opinion, the kit's Hamilton Standard Hub/Dome does not appear to have the correct proportions and that unique Hamilton Standard look associated with Hellcats, Avengers, T-Bolts, etc.

     Construction followed the instructions, but I kept the wings and horizontals off during the painting process. A word of caution about the aft side cabin windows -- fix them in place BEFORE you paint, and then sand and file them lightly to fit flush. It looks much better. I did it the hard way after I painted the tricolor scheme. The wings and horizontals fit well and true. The a/c "squares up" perfectly. The canopy was masked with a set of EasyMasks, and fixed with white glue. Wing gun ports are covered with Tamiya masking tape, and painted PollyScale Linen. The turret fit tightly, and I think next time I will paint the turret after assembly as I think the paint caused binding in all the moving parts, even after scraping and such. The main wheels are delicate, and I glued them at the near end of finishing to avoid were and tear on the small glue joint. Photoetched belts finished the cockpit.

     I finished the TBF in the markings of future United States President George Bush, whom I believe at the time of his shootdown was the youngest Naval Aviator in the USN at 20! The Decals were from a defunct company name "AeroScale," and provided the name "Barbara lll" in yellow, side number "3" and the correct bunos. for this a/c. The sheet was printed by MicroScale, and went down perfectly over a glossy coat of Future. Paint is Aeromaster Enamel Dark Sea Blue and Mid-Blue, and Xtracolor Gloss White. The Interior "Bronze Green" was Floquil's Enamel USAAC Medium Green 42. The Blues was both lightened 25% for a better scale, and Central Pacific "finish." Final finish was 2 very thin coats of Polly Scale Clear Flat, thinned with Windex. Once the gloss white is flattened, it takes on the perfect seagoing "dirty white" that I myself have seen on ships and a/c that go to sea. Panel lines, wheel wells, etc., are done in a light black brown water color wash. The antenna wires are down it stretched black sprue for a better scale appearance than monofiliment.

Jim

Photos and text © by Jim Dietz