I am looking at buying the following aftermarket additions for an Accurate Miniatures TBF-1, and wonder if any one can advise whether they are good or bad additions?
From Sprue Brothers in the U.S.:
Eduard 49267 Color PE set
OR
Eduard FE267 Zoom Colour PE
also
Eduard 48467 Landing Flaps
Vector Wright R-2600 Engine kit
I am particularly interested in comments about the Vector engine kit? has any one used these? is there a better option?
Also looking at getting the Verlinden Avenger Super Detail set 1274, again are these any good? I can not find any real details on these.
Has anyone used Sprue Brothers? its hard to find aftermarket kits in New Zealand and SB seem to be reasonably priced plus have good shipping prices to downunder.
SprueBrothers is definitely one of the top, preferred vendors. Good service, quick shipping and their inventory numbers are usually right on, so you don’t order something only to find out that they don’t have it.
And you’ll be very happy with Eduards’ color PE sets. They really MAKE the model.
I’ve only built one vector and I think it was a PW R2800, but I was quite happy with the detail.
Personlly, I’ve had hits and misses with verlinden. Some of their parts don’t quite fit, but some are absolutely fantastic. Their PE is a bit on the thick side, so that’s a consideration for smaller parts.
Ive b uilt several AccuMini TBM/Fs over the years and theyre very detailed kits. Just wanted to ask...do you think you need a bunch of AM stuff to make this kit look good? Dont take my question the wrong way…just rying to help…did you eer build one of these kits before? In my opinion I never felt the need to use PE or resin on these kits…but thats just me..[:D] I tried bidding on wing-fold resin sets numerous times on Ebay but they went way too high for me..lol. When I use PE, its alway Eduard. They put out some really nice stuff.
Id hate to see you buy a bunch of AM stuff and then realize...maybe... you didnt need it! Now the Monogram kit…definately could use AM help or scratchbuilding/gizmology to make it stand out. Anyways…good luck on your build and post some WIP pics when you get goin!
All good and fair comments regarding the AM kit’s detail level, I am just looking at options, I haven’t built an AM kit before, nor have I used P.E. or Resin so I figured lets really dress this bird up. I like the idea of a diorama setup with the engine and gun bays open with ground crew servicing pre flight. (now if I can find 1/48 ground crew that are not carrier based I will be really happy!!)
Anyway I appreciate the input and certainly don’t take it the wrong way, I am asking for the opinions of those more experienced than me for a reason.
As to WIP photo’s, again this will be a first for me, as is taking part in a GB, so I will be attempting a “newbie” take on the whole thing and will try to photograph/comment the whole process.
It’s been a few years since I built that engine, but I remember it going together, quite effortlessly.
Don’t be scared by resin. Fundamentally, it’s no different than styrene. Instead od cutting it off sprues, you have to cut off and sand the pour stubs. Instead of styrene cement, you use cyanoacrylate (crazy glue).
I have to agree with some of the other comments here. I’ve mentioned it in other posts, the AM Avenger series are pretty remarkable OOB, there really isn’t any need for Photo-Etch or resin enhancements. I used a Quickboost resin seat in one build, but aside from some decals I picked up, I’ve never felt the need to AMS it up on the Avenger. They build up nice with minimal effort. Just remember to paint and install the turret before joining the fuselage halves and you’ll save yourself a huge headache. I will concur with the statements regarding Monogram’s Avenger.
I am still deciding on the engine compartment at the moment, if I don’t go the PE route and open some panels then I will stick with the kit engine, but I really do like the idea of opening some panels…
I think I will start building the kit engine over easter and see how it pans out before final decision on the Vector one.
I apreciate the comments, and am still undecided, I will get at least the colour cockpit PE as my painting skills are woefully inadequate for a cockpit that detailed, (I am practising my painting skills on lesser subjects though). The kit looks nicely detailed in the cockpit, turret and engine but to be honest the rest is not overly exciting, I was surprised to find a raised AM trade mark on the lower wing surface, which will need sanding off, also a little surprised that there is some, albeit soft, detailing on the lower wing halves representing the landing flaps, but no corresponding detail in the upper wing, and no instructions on how to cut and assemble the flaps in the extended position.
The engine cowling flaps appear too thick and are molded in the open position but need cutting out to be correct anyway so those may also go.
BUT still looking at options and really appreciate all the good advice and feed back.
Oh and really big thanks for the turret advice, everything I have read indicates this is a b***h to install with plenty of references to the Accurate Miniatures website (now defunct), I was going to look at whether it could be installed before joining the fuselage and now that you have confirmed it, I will definitely look at that closer.
Right decision made, after re looking at every thing last night, and sitting down with the kit in front of me and googling every thing i could find on the Verlinden products, i managed to find a set of instructions. The engine covers that this set has do not match the cowling of my TBF-1C so aren’t suitable. If I can’t open the engine panels there is no point in buying an aftermarket engine that won’t be seen…
So the Verlinden set (which was quite costly in NZ dollars) would have netted me the .50 cal macine gun and bays, and a wole lot of detail that would never be seen. So scratch that from the list, scratch the Vector engine (every review I read AND Verlindens own instructions say the cowling and the engine need trimming to fit.) and I will just order the colour PE to address up the cockpit and open the Cowling flaps.
It appears the Verlinden Super Detail set suits a TBM-3.
Thanks everyone who responded and offered suggestions.