TBF/TBM 1 Avenger

This is the 1:48 scale kit:



Update later tonight I hope.

Nice subject, I have the Academy 1/72 one and plan to do it as
a WWII sub hunter in the Atlantic scheme, gray over white. Definitely
will be watching this.---John

A wingy thingy to go with the floaty thingy.

Finally got an update to show you guys.

The cockpit is well underway but there is still a fair old bit to do to it.

I bought an Eduard photo etch cockpit set for it and boy some of those parts are TINY. P/e bits added so far are the instument panel (a total of fourteen pieces) and the pilots seat belts.

The arrows showsome of the P/e parts added to the four part P/e instument panel:







The arrowed piece in this photo is a separate piece. Compare it to the size of a standard sewing pin head. It's about 2/3rds the width at most.



All the handling leaves a little touch up to do yet.

For scale:

looking good Al ........ has the cat infiltrated the work area ... there's a hair attached on picture three. lol

Beautiful work! I have done a little PE work but you have a lot of patience, much
more than I. What decals, US, NZ, or UK ?---John

Thanks guys.

John... I'm doing it as a plane from the USS Block Island, January 1944. Dark Gull Gray upper and White underneath. and if it comes out as nice as this one................



............. I'll be a very happy chappie indeed.

Ahhhhhh good choice! That's what I am eventually doing to the Acdemy 1/72 one
I have. You just gotta love the Atlantic scheme, gray over white. Those were ASW
planes chasing the u boats around the Atlantic. I will be keeping an eye on this.
---John

Phew!!! all the interior p/e and detail painting is complete. Now I can rest my eyes and nerves a little!!!


I'll close it up tomorrow and start work on the exterior.

Amazing detail Al. I don't think my old eyes would hold up for this.

The thing is, once its closed up, you never see it. lol

Man !! That is some nice looking detail !!!

Great interior details, Al. Hope the windows will allow a peek at them.

, I was thinking the same thing, aren't most of the interior details hidden in an aircraft model? Looks awesome though.

Wow!There's tons of interior details hidden, well hidden.
Good thing you have pictures before! Great job!---John

JohnJ wrote:Amazing detail Al.  I don't think my old eyes would hold up for this.

Where are you John?.... speak up so I can find you!!!!

RetiredMike wrote:Great interior details, Al.  Hope the windows will allow a peek at them.

I'm not going to glue down the canopy Mike plus there is a large door on the rear right, which I will fix in the open position.

Zbuckster wrote: , I was thinking the same thing, aren't most of the interior details hidden in an aircraft model? Looks awesome though.

JohnV wrote:Wow!There's  tons of interior details hidden, well hidden.
Good thing you have pictures before! Great job!---John

"It's not the arriving that matters but the journey" (para)

The masking up for paint is done. It don't look like much but even using die cut Eduard masks, it took about three hours work!!





The white will be first up, followed by soft masking for the grey.

AL...there is an anaconda trying to crush your plane !!!

Going fishing? Why the bait on your model???????---John

What should have been soft masking turned out to be pretty hard edged in the end. Oh well!!

Paint finished and first gloss coats applied. Decals are up next followed by another two light coats of clear and then it will get a sludge wash!

Great looking plane Al, interior is exquisite, p/e seat belts are terrific, would like to try some one day on a car.. There the bees knees youth!