Building a particular TBM Avenger

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

I hope to start soon on my next model, a 1/72 Revell Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, which I hope to build as a particular TBM converted to a tanker and flown in fire-suppression duties by the U.S. Forest Service.

Here’s the model:

These photos show the actual plane I want to build; I took the black-and-white photo in 1962:

This same TBM was still flying until just a few years ago. It was manufactured by General Motors under license from Grumman, which designed and manufactured the same plane under the designation TBF.

My interest in the TBM goes all the way back July 2, 1962. I was flying in the instructor’s seat of a Forest Service T-34B mentor when I attempted to photograph a TBM as it dropped a load of fire retardant (borate slurry) on a small fire in New Mexico’s black range. Moments after the drop, as the T-34B pilot attempted to fly over a ridge, the plane apparently stalled, flipped upside down, and fell into the forest. Both the pilot and I were seriously injured, but survived with the help of two volunteer smokejumpers who parachuted to the crash site with emergency supplies, which included a chain saw. The next morning, they felled several ponderosa pines to create a helipad, and the pilot and I were transported to hospital by helicopter.

I will never know for sure, but I believe that the TBM shown in the photographs is probably the the same plane that I tried to photograph, but I’ll never know if I succeeded (my camera was destroyed in the crash). In previous years, there were two TBMs being used in fire suppression in the Gila Forest; just the year before my crash, in 1961 a TBM crashed in the Gila Forest, killing the young pilot. My dad and I saw both planes as they flew over our house on the way to the fire late that day; when it was nearly dark, just one of the TBMs returned, and we knew that something bad had happened.

I have already built a replica of the T-34B that I crashed in; a model of the TBM seems to be an appropriate follow-up.

I’ve taken a look at the kit, and I’ve obviously cut out a big job for myself, especially considering that I’m barely a beginning model builder. If any of you have some thoughts and suggestions to help this project be a success, please let me know.

Right off the bat I know that finding red paint in the right shade is going to be difficult — I use Tamiya rattle can lacquers for the most part, and none of the Tamiya reds seem even close to what’s needed. I don’t own an airbrush because one would be a time-consuming pain to use in my small apartment.

Bob

2

Looks to me to be the same exact aircraft except they converted the torpedo bay into a fire retardant tank.

Based on the color phot you provided, I think Insignia Red is a close match.

3

Hi Bob! You’ve got one fairly good-sized project there. I’m sure you’ll be able to git-er-done.

Maybe if you go to the “Painting” section you’ll be able to get the info you need for the paint.There are members there that really know a lot about all brands of paint and would be able to lead you to one that has the color you need.

Hope you post a WIP on the build so we can watch how it comes along.

Jim [cptn]

Stay Safe.

4

Great project. I really like the fire bombers. Lonestar did a conversion for a Hemet fire bomber. Not sure if the tank is the same or not AND if you can order one Lonestar anyhow. Looking forward to this build

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/lone-star-models-lsm70573-hemet-valley-type-tbm-firebomber--1011825

5

Don’t mean to be a buzzkill…and maybe it was just a typo…but that kit is 1/48, not 1/72. Is it the old Mono kit, or a rebox of something like the Accurate Miniatures release?

6

That is the latest rebox of the old Monogram 60’s vintage TBF-1

7

The changes to the canopy look to follow pretty much the same contour, can sand down the frames behind the pilot and just paint it

Will have to make the plug to replace the turret and fair it in.

I’d just close up the bombbay doors.

Your B/W pic looks to be a solid red tail rather than the later scheme in the color shot

8

And…the canopy was heavily modified. Between the canopy and the drop tank, I’ve got my work cut out for me.

Tamiya TS spray paint doesn’t seem to come in an insignia red. Other brands?

Bob

9

That

Not a buzzkill — I just goofed. I knew it was a 1/48 kit, which is fine, because my T-34B is also a 1/48 kit.

Bob

10

Never thought I would read something about Hemet Vally, CA here on the forum. My birthplace.

11

I may be " talking out of my hat" here but,

I seem to recall that several tbf/tbms were converted to air ambulances.

( used during Korean/Vietnam wars? )

The bomb bay was modified to hold 2 wounded, and the gun placement was faired over.

Your fire plane looks like it was converted from one of the air ambulances.

I say all this because, I could swear somebody did a kit of one of these. It would save you a lot of scratchbuilding if you could find on of those kits.

12

There’s a number of fire eater forums about, where you’ll get all the answers you need.

Memory fails but a couple of members here, like Randy; might help.

Bill

13

Hello!

I looked stuff up and thought maybe the firefighter was converted from this:

Good luck with your project Bob and have a nice day

Paweł

14

Yup - swap the canopy from that kit.

15

Won’t work, that’s 1/72, his is 1/48. No idea if it was produced in that scale or not. Might be hard to come by

16

It’s interesting that the firefighter versions lack the mini-fins on the stabs that the AEW and utility versions for the military had.

I can understand not having to do combat maneuvering…but you would think that with the air turbulence surrounding fire areas, a little extra directional stability might be useful.

I guess not having to do low-speed carrier landings might make the difference.

17

Hello!

When you remove the big bubble in front of the center of stability or whatever the correct term for “center” is here, then those fins aft not only become something of a dead weight but might also actually spoil the directional characteristics of the plane - I imagine it could tend to turn into the wind more strongly, that could be a problem in presence of those fire drafts.

There’s still the enlarged fillet between the fuselage ant the tail - absent in the regular variants of the Avenger.

Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Paweł

18

Good eye… I do wonder if he didn’t realize that’s a 1/48 scale kit. If he gets the 1/72 scale kit, it’s very doable.

19

In looking at the box art, looks like it has the fillet for the vertical tail, so that much would help.

20

Great project, Bob! I look forward to seeing this build completed!