Although I started this kit a little over 3 months ago, I have been working on this Accurate Miniatures TBF-1 Avenger model on a fairly regular basis only recently. I finished building my three F4U-1 Corsair models in December and January, and the SB2C-4 Curtiss Helldiver build was also finished in January. These 4 other planes were taking up all of my model building time.

This will be my second entry to our Midway Group build. It will be easier for me to keep track of them this way, and probably much easier for you to follow along with the build as well.

I am planning on building this plane as it was delivered in Norfolk, with red and white rudder stripes and red centers to the US National insignias, or possibly as it was when it was crash landed after it's "Baptism of fire" at the Battle of Midway.

The Avenger made it's combat debut at Midway. There were 6 planes on a mission. 5 of them were shot down by Japanese Zeros. The 6th one returned shot full of holes, with one dead crew member and the other two men were wounded. This last remaining Avenger from this group of six, crash landed on a beach since it had the elevator control cables shot away. The pilot although injured, was able to barely fly the plane by adjusting the elevator trim tabs... but it got the men home.

The Grumman TBF Avenger was not off to a good start... but this gives you some indication as to why the company became known as the "Iron Works".

I simply haven't decided which scheme to go with just yet...

I have been very fortunate to have had access to several real TBF Avengers in person. One is just like my model, an early dash 1 that was recovered in Lake Michigan, and is now being restored to a static display. The other was a later dash 3E that was having it's annual inspection and maintenance performed.

These planes are HUGE in real life. It makes one wonder how they operated them off the smaller escort carriers...

My kit started out as a TBF-1C, which had several changes built into it, which were not present on the initial "Early" TBF-1 model. The most notable differences that are visible are quite numerous. They involved filling in side windows on the fuselage, cutting a gun trough in the cowling above and on the Starboard side of the engine, removing the wing mounted machine gun breach bulges and filling in the ammo tray doors, filling in the empty shell casing and link ejection holes under the wing, and so on...

I have started a build thread that you can see by using this link.

http://imodeler.com/groups/work-in-progress-aircraft/forum/topic/148-accurate-miniatures-tbf-1-avenger/

There are quite a few pictures over there, and a good description as to what all has been done to the model so far.

Meanwhile, here are some pictures to get you a little more familiar with the build.

24 attached images. Click to enlarge.

I'll bet you're NOT looking forward to masking those canopies, though...are ya? Especially the rear turret. I remember what a pain they are - even with an aftermarket masking set.

I found some really cool pictures showing an early TBF Avenger shortly after Torpedo 8 took charge of the plane. It has everything that I was looking for. I think I may have decided on a final paint scheme.

Check it out, and see what you think. It has the "8-T-1" markings I was looking for.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

I think they had to survey the aircraft, due to the damage.

Cool photos Louis buddy! - I made the AM kit a few years ago myself and was amazed at the detail inside as well as the clear & concise instructions on painiting!
I'll try & get some pics this weekend if you like? I seem to recall some disaster with the canopy aerial mast though...

Cheers dude!

I ordered a set of "Airscale" instrument decals for the Avenger since the original decals were missing when I purchased this kit. The instrument panel is clear, and I thought it would look good if I installed the decals behind the panel, allowing the clear plastic to act as "glass" for the instrument dials. I will post up a picture of these instrument decals when they arrive. There are supposed to be 26 different instruments depicted in the set.

I also just finished up my "Koga" Zero, so I will be getting back to work on this TBF, and my companion build the Dauntless.

Tonight's progress was good. I managed to get the interior portions of the fuselage patched where the original side windows were located. I used some thin sheet styrene and square plastic strips to replicate fuselage stringers.

And sprayed the rear interior portion of the fuselage with interior green FS 34151.

I think that the glue I used to adhere the sheet styrene was too hot. It looks like it melted the thin sheet material. If you look closely at the last two pictures you can see where the plastic took the shape of the original side windows.

Hopefully this will not be too noticeable once everything is buttoned up.

Next I'll be tackling the instrument panel.

Stay tuned...

WOW Louis that is looking fantastic buddy . Sweet job on drilling the instrument panel out 🙂

Brian