Here’s another one on the fine points of photoetched frets and what fits which. This time, I have two 1/48 Eduard sets, both for AccMin’s Avengers. However, the fret for the interior is for the “TBF-1”. The other set is “Flaps for TBM.” Now, it’s always been my understanding that the two planes were identical, one being manufactured by its designer, Grumman, and the other, the TBM, made by General Motors under contract, and that in fact GM made more Avengers than Grumman did. My question is, are these interchangable, or is there some subtle difference in these flaps I don’t know, that make them different.
Could someone enlighten me? I find I’m more and more ignorant on naval aircraft of the Big War than I once thought I was.
Thanks,
Tom.
per TBF/TBM In Action, “Eastern Aircraft (GM) Avengers and Grumman produced TBF1 Avengers were virtualy identical and could not be differentiated except by comparing the BuNo.”
There’s no difference between the two aside from the serial number lots.
JH
Thanks, guys. I’ve built two of these beauties, both OOB with very satisfying results. I guess now, when I can afford a new one, I’ll have to build it with all this AM stuff on it, which is sort guilding the lilly, but the cockpit/radio operator station frets are mostly color, so I’m eager to see if it adds to the overall effect, as well as the dropped flaps with their nice, thin ribbing. I seem to have found myself up to my tail in PE flaps lately, and I’ve never once used any, so if I ever get the kits they go with, I’ll have a new experience.
I don’t think, however, I’ll be building the Hasegawa FW-190’s in 1/32 scale I suddenly find myself the recipient of so many PE frets for. Same with the 1/72 A-10 weapons detail fret, the 1/32 F4U-1D color instrument panel or the 1/48 A-7 and F-14D PE cockpits, though the color Eduard used really is dazzling, and generally accurate too. In fact, some of them probably should be toned down to keep them from looking too perfect. The MiG-21 fret, a little one from the ZOOM series, is pretty much an entire cockpit with some seat details and full instrumentation, floor and consoles, and the colors are so dazzling I just pull it out and stare at it. I’ve never even seen that Academy kit it goes with out of the box, but if I find one cheap, I think I’ll build it just so I can use this thing.
And if anyone’s building a Hasegawa 1/72 He-111 and needs some brand new AM decals for it, give me an email. First come, first served. Same goes for the 1/72 Nightfighters sheet for Brit a/c with Czech pilots: a Hurricane, a couple of Beaufighters and a Mosquito are on this sheet.
Tom
hey tom is the A-7 cocpit set for the Hasegawa A-7 because I have the 1/48 scale A-7 from Hasegawa.
Mikey it is indeed for that kit, which I’ve never built, but have always heard is one of Hasegawa’s finest series of kits. The ZOOM fret (that’s Eduard’s smaller, less expensive series) has full color instrument panel, consoles, cockpit sides and various levers and switches and some seat details. But remember, this one is for the Air Force A-7D model, not the Navy versions, though I don’t know the differences.
Tom
as it happens I have the air force version of the A-7 [:D]