Hobby Boss 1/48 TBM-3 Avenger
Representing an aircraft from VT-83, USS Essex (CV-9), April, 1945.
A very well engineered kit and enjoyable build. Model Master enamels used throughout and constructed out of the box with the exception of the pilot's seat belts, which are, you guessed it, foil from a wine bottle. No pre-manufactured masks were harmed in the process of painting the canopy framing.
4 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on March 10, 2015
Very nicely finished, Bryan...excellent job! And THANK YOU for posting it. 🙂
Frank Cronin said on March 10, 2015
Bryan,
Good job. Looks great. You have done the Avenger proud.
Terry Schuler said on March 11, 2015
Excellent build Bryon. Glad to hear I'm not the only one collecting foil off of wine bottles.
Paul van Acker said on March 11, 2015
Very nice. Great work on a very cool aeroplane.
Maurits De Ridder said on March 11, 2015
Very nice plane. Thanks!
bob mack said on March 11, 2015
fine looking turkey...exceptional
Bails said on March 11, 2015
A bit of a tricky build. VERY well done, Bryan.
Greg Kittinger said on March 11, 2015
Nice job - lovely weathering.
Jim Sullivan said on March 11, 2015
Hello Bryan...Your Avenger build turned out quite well. That's the first completed Hobby Boss TBM that I've seen and you did a fine job with building it and a good choice of markings too. Very nicely done.
Morne Meyer said on March 11, 2015
Hi Bryan. She is absolutely stunning! How does the Hobbyboss offering compare to the Accurate Miniatures Avenger?
Bryan W. Bernart said on March 11, 2015
I haven't built the Accurate kit, but by all accounts it's first rate. This one was almost putty-free, flashless moulding and excellent fit. There is no verbiage in the "destructions", so one needs to fit and figure.
Mike Maynard said on March 11, 2015
Nice build, the paint job is very prototypical.
Simon Whitney said on March 11, 2015
A well built TBM sir.
Nice work on the framing etc.
Well done sir.
Bryan W. Bernart said on March 11, 2015
Thanks, all, for the kind comments!
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on March 11, 2015
Bryan, what do they give you for the bomb bay? I see the rockets underwing.
Accurate Min doesn't give you the auxiliary fuel tanks you're showing.
Bryan W. Bernart said on March 11, 2015
A torpedo, two 500 and two 250's, plus an internal auxiliary tank. I went with the 500 lb. bombs as the Turkey had been relegated to the role of a ground pounder since the IJN had little left afloat by late spring of 1945.
Tom Cleaver said on March 11, 2015
Nice model. I have the TBM-1C "in progress" (actually "in stasis" since all modeling stopped shortly into the new year to prepare for the Big Move). It is indeed a nice kit and doesn't need any filler. I have also built the Accurate Miniatures kit, and the two are very comparable in effort, with the HB kit having the option of folded wings, which the AM kit doesn't.
Craig Abrahamson said on March 12, 2015
George Williams said on March 12, 2015
Very neat build, Bryan.
Bernd Müller said on March 13, 2015
Outstanding Avenger, great job on a sound kit !
Drew Tarter said on March 14, 2015
Beautiful build, Bryan!