1/48 Accurate Miniatures TBM-3D

by Alan Williamson

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Additions: Eduard TBF-1 Avenger Zoom Set FE267

Construction

I was at Aeroworks one day when I spotted this kit and thought why not.  When I got the kit home I had a look, the detail looked fantastic like most of the kits that Accurate Miniatures supply.  However, I noticed that the control panel was on the clear spur didn't seem to have much detail.  This would not do, so I sent Craig from Aeroworks an E-mail to order me in the Eduard TBF Zoom set.  Even after the Zoom set arrived I didn't start on the kit.  It looked like a fair bit of work was needed to assemble the kit, and at the time I had my hands full with the Hasegawa F-14.  Two F-14's later I decided to start  on the Avenger kit.  Accurate Miniature have supplied some good goodies in with the kit with a few options throughout the build.  

I started with the cockpit using the Eduard kit.  I assembled the cockpit which looked great.  I did use the Accurate Miniature web site a fare bit through out the construction as I found the instructions a little hard to follow.  Not as clear as Hasegawa or Tamiya.  After the cockpit was assembled and painted it was time to add some shaded detail and for this I used the Tamiya weathering kits to weather the cockpit.  When I was happy with the weathered detail, I went over the cockpit with some matt clear to seal the pastel.  With the cockpit and interior assembled, it was time to assemble the fuselage halves together, the kit went together with little fuss and minimal putty.

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Photo 3

  

Photo 4

  

  

Picture 3 and 4 show the cockpit assembled and weathered. I used Model Master Interior Green to paint the interior.  Tamiya's pastel set was used for the weathering. 

 

The engine was assembled and weathered and I found the detail of the engine is quite good and when painted and weathered it comes up looking great.  With the engine now done, it was time to attach the engine to the Avenger and glue the engine nacelle halves together.

Painting and Finish

 With the Avenger basically assembled it was time to paint.  I followed my usual method of first laying down the aluminium followed by the gloss clear and then the sea blue.  In the past I have used the old tape and rip method to obtain the chip effect, but this time I used some gritty wet rub sand paper and attacked the surface of the Avenger.  When I was happy with the result, I hit the kit with a gloss clear ready for the decals.  Once I had applied the decals, it was again time to cover the Avenger in another gloss cote followed up with a pastel wash to high light the panel lines.  With the panel lines completed I airbrushed matt clear over the entire Avenger.  

Time to add the finishing parts.  I had a little trouble placing the turret into the kit and had to revert back to the Accurate Miniatures web site for clearer instructions on how to the get the turret into the Avenger now it makes sense.  I finished adding the cockpit windows landing gear and bomb bay doors which were also a little tricky, I opted for a torpedo for the ordnance, but there is nice little bomb trolley as well as other ordnance supplied in the kit. The Avenger has been built to represent that of one of the Avengers from squadron 79M of the ill fated flight 19.  Although Flight 19 last flight was a training bombing mission which was accomplished before they disappeared, I went with the torpedo and placed a bomb on trolley next to the Avenger

Thanks

Thanks to Craig from Aeroworks aeroworks@iprimus.com.au for the kit, Zoom set and the display base.  Craig retails in kits, resin and accessories for model aircraft.  Drop Craig an E-mail for a updated product list here and around the globe

Thanks to Steve Bamford for his endless work on this site

Alan 

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Photos and text © by Alan Williamson