Accurate Miniatures TBF 1C...

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hey, fellas. I’ve never built an AM kit before, and people keep telling me that they’re the best kits out there, so i finally ignored the pain comming from my wallet and bought one! It looks FANTASTIC! i’m a bit hesitant to cut something off of the sprue for fear of screwing up the kit… [:p]

Have any of you guys built this kit? Any pitfalls is should know about? What about good color references for the interior? Thanks in advance, guys!

-shrikes

2

If you go to the SBD-1 online build at the AM website, they have a brief tutorial on how to add the rear turret…past that, I have yet to build the AM Avenger…

3

Check out the on-line build tips on AM’s web site. There are a couple of tricky assembly steps and the kit instructions are a little vague. But it’s a really nice kit and only difficult in a couple of areas. pixelater has posted some of his build progress pics on the Forum which are worth checking out. Take your time, check twice before you glue, and you’ll have an impressive model on your hands.

4

Sure beats that old Monogram piece of <<<< .

5

I once built the 1/48 AC TBF-1C(bombs armed). All I can say is that it’s the best 1/48 kit I have ever built. The details are excellent and the parts are well made. I even wonder if Hasegawa or even Tamiya can do that well. However, there are some areas you may wnt to be careful of:

  1. There are LOTS of reading. Make sure you read all the text instructions on each step before you start assemble. My instructiion was published in 1997. The diagrams are not as good as Tamiya’s, you must following the text instruction also.

  2. Always dry fit the parts first before you glue.

  3. On Step 1:

  • For the radio operator seat(#33), since the support of it on the fuselage is small, you may want to use super glue.

  • Be careful when you glue the cockpit floor on the left fuselage. Dry fit the floor on the left fuselage and dry fit the right fuslage to make sure the floor will not off-set to either side. Do the same on front bomb bay buckhead(#117) and rear bomb bay bulkhead(#26). You may have to sand a little bit on the floor.

  • For rear bomb bay bulkhead(#26) be careful for the upper portion(the horizontal bar) that locats below the gun turret. When you insert the gun turret later, be careful not to break it.

  1. On Step 2:
  • The instruction tells you bend the machine gun ammunition belt 90 degree(#35), but I suggest you SLIGHTLY heat it first, because I broke it when i bend it. Also I think it’s better to glue the ventral gun window(#78) first then the gun from inside.
  1. On Step 7
  • Be extra careful when you fit the left and right gun side trunnion(#53&53) to the gunner’s seat and amno box, or else the turret will not elevate.

Also my decals develope crack, probaby the decals sheet was too old.

Overall, this is an excellent kit. ‘Problems’ that I mention here might actually cause by my inexperience[%-)]. So enjoy it.