Dave Fleming Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 3 hours ago, Homebee said: Sprues: https://swordmodel.cz/en/home/151-sw72130-avenger-as4.html V.P. Curious as to what that bullet shaped thing is on the left hand side is? (and hoping it's the rear of the ASV19A radar for the AS5!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 I assumed it to be the underwing ASV.19 pod. The bomb door mounted dustbin radome seems to be to the right if it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 5 hours ago, 71chally said: I assumed it to be the underwing ASV.19 pod. The bomb door mounted dustbin radome seems to be to the right if it Turns out it’s the searchlight for under the port wing of the Dutch example. The AN/APS -4 pod for the starboard wing is on the right hand side next to the cowl ring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 I did wonder when I looked at the Dutch boxing. Ah well, one might be able to fashion it to represent the radar pod, or the spares box might yield something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Markings now available Looks like the USN one is not in the same squadron as their TBM-3W. Bummer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homebee Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 Schemes - ref. SW72130 - Grumman Avenger AS.4 Source: https://swordmodel.cz/en/home/151-sw72130-avenger-as4.html - ref. SW72131 - Grumman TBM-3S2 Avenger Source: https://swordmodel.cz/en/home/152-sw72131-tbm-3s2.html - ref. SW72132 - Grumman TBM-3R Avenger Source: https://swordmodel.cz/en/home/153-sw72132-tbm-3r.html V.P. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 (edited) What a shame they haven't included markings for the totally incorrectly WW2-painted AS.6 without ball turret in the Fleet Air Arm Museum... (removes tongue from inside cheek) Edited July 1, 2020 by Truro Model Builder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 I'm impressed the Sword appear to have sussed that there at least four different canopy designs for this family. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 On 7/1/2020 at 10:11 PM, Truro Model Builder said: What a shame they haven't included markings for the totally incorrectly WW2-painted AS.6 without ball turret in the Fleet Air Arm Museum... (removes tongue from inside cheek) Martin go to the naughty step. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I'm not too familiar with FAA Avengers in general. Like many US aircraft used by the RN, there appear to be numerous variants, not all of which are aligned with their US manufacture, nor are they too well documented! I'd like to add one of these to my huge stash (and probably will no matter) but the kit description is confusing. Is is an AS.4 or an ECM.6? From what I've gleaned from references, including the one linked below, AS.4's retained their turrets with guns probably removed. I'm assuming the box title may be a reference to the ESM.6 being a conversion of an AS.4 air frame, but I don't think an AS.4 (or even AS.5) can be made out of the box. Edge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 The information is quite vague on the 'net, and it hasn't helped that some publications have got it wrong in the past. The Royal Navy acquired 100 TBM-3E Avengers post-war, due to development delays with the Gannet. They operated it as two types, the AS.4 which had the ASH radar pod in a slim pod under the stb'd wing, and the AS.5 which had ASV.19 in a large teardrop prod under the stb'd wing, I would guess there were other equipment changes associated with the radars. Both of these types came in one batch and their serials reflect this. The ECM.6 (also seen described as ECM.5 & AS.6) was an Electronic Counter Measures version converted from the AS.4s &5s. This conversion involved removing the gun turret and fitting of the long glazing across the top, adding a dustbin radome to the fwd bomb doors, and various other antenna that came and went. The Avenger ECM.6 depicted in the kit, XB446, was originally an AS.5. These pics show AS.4 XB311 before and after, https://www.airphotographicinternational.com/products/xb311-grumman-avenger-ecm-6royal-navyabbotsinch-1963 You won't be able to make the AS.4/5 from the box without reverse conversion, but other TBM-3E kits would be a good basis for these. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homebee Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 New clear sprue. https://swordmodel.cz/en/home/151-sw72130-avenger-as4.html V.P. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilwell Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Released: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/grumman-tbm-3s2-avenger-striker-5-markings-rcnfrancemld-dutch-koninklijke-marinejapanusn-finaly-sw72131-sword-8596444721318-netherlands-military/product/?action=prodinfo&art=157196 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/grumman-tbm-3r-avenger-3-markings-2xusnjapan-sw72132-sword-8596444721325-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=170311 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/grumman-tbm-3s--avenger-as4--2-markings-faarcn-sw72130-sword-8596444721301-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=170310 Jonathan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 On 7/30/2020 at 1:22 PM, Homebee said: New clear sprue. https://swordmodel.cz/en/home/151-sw72130-avenger-as4.html V.P. It's great to see that Sword have recognised the various rear canopy configurations of this family of Avengers, it would have been so easy just to have just done one type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homebee Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) Released https://swordmodel.cz/en/172/151-sw72130-avenger-as4-8596444721301.html https://swordmodel.cz/en/172/152-sw72131-tbm-3s2-8596444721318.html https://swordmodel.cz/en/172/153-sw72132-tbm-3r-8596444721325.html and https://www.aviationmegastore.com/grumman-tbm-3s--avenger-as4--2-markings-faarcn-sw72130-sword-8596444721301-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=170310 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/grumman-tbm-3s2-avenger-striker-5-markings-rcnfrancemld-dutch-koninklijke-marinejapanusn-finaly-sw72131-sword-8596444721318-netherlands-military/product/?action=prodinfo&art=157196 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/grumman-tbm-3r-avenger-3-markings-2xusnjapan-sw72132-sword-8596444721325-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=170311 V.P. Edited August 19, 2020 by Homebee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilwell Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Also now at Hannants as well: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SW72130 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SW72131 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SW72132 Jonathan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Mine arrived this AM. On the frames it looks really nice, possibly the best that Sword have done yet. Now to go and find a Hasegawa one to compare it too! And I hope someone does a masking set! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Hi Dave, I looked at both last night and although it might be an easier build, the Hasegawa kit is less detailed, especially around the cockpit area. The parts breakdown is different in terms of wheelwells, tail planes and other areas. Also I reckon Sword might to a TBM-3 looking at some of the cockpitparts as a turret ring is there. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 (edited) On 8/12/2020 at 9:39 PM, 71chally said: It's great to see that Sword have recognised the various rear canopy configurations of this family of Avengers, it would have been so easy just to have just done one type. Modeldecal sheet 18 notes that there were two different configurations on FAA ECM6s - one with the rear cockpit clear overall (XB375 on that sheet) and one with a solid section and bulges (as per XB446 in the kit.) A quick look suggests both are possible from the kit 5 hours ago, Mr T said: Hi Dave, I looked at both last night and although it might be an easier build, the Hasegawa kit is less detailed, especially around the cockpit area. The parts breakdown is different in terms of wheelwells, tail planes and other areas. Also I reckon Sword might to a TBM-3 looking at some of the cockpitparts as a turret ring is there. The ECM 6 retained the turret ring - there is a photo elsewhere on here showing a pic of the FAA museum example Edited August 26, 2020 by Dave Fleming 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) Ah well, it was a bit of a long shot, perhaps Airfix will oblige. The Sword kit looks nice though, wants me to build it. The caption for the FAA version says 831 Sqn Syerston 1958. At the time the Avengers were based at RAF Watton in Norfolk and so it could have in the static at that years BoB display. I would have seen it then, although being four and a half my only memory of the event is a pillar of smoke from the Vulcan testbed breakup. Looking at the link, I see a reference to a Modeldecal sheet and a scan of the instructions. One of the photos shows a sister aircraft at Waddingtons BoB display. I wonder if 831 sent their Avengers to some of the nearer displays that year. Edited August 27, 2020 by Mr T Revised some content 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Mr T said: Ah well, it was a bit of a long shot, perhaps Airfix will oblige. The Sword kit looks nice though, wants me to build it. I wouldn't bet against it, they are 3/4 of the way there! Re Syerston, you may be right! https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1463877 https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1462153 https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1462067 Edited August 27, 2020 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Sword have even noticed that the RCN Avenger AS.3s have two different canopy designs, and have include done of each in two different boxings. I really hope that @belcherbits might consider doing parts for the MAD boom equipped RCN Avengers, and maybe even the hightop below it, These are from this excellent resource for Canadian Avengers, http://silverhawkauthor.com/canadian-warplanes-5-the-post-war-piston-era-general-motors-grumman-tbm3e-avenger-rcn_690.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 2 hours ago, Mr T said: The caption for the FAA version says 831 Sqn Syerston 1958. At the time the Avengers were based at RAF Watton in Norfolk and so it could have in the static at that years BoB display. I would have seen it then, although being four and a half my only memory of the event is a pillar of smoke from the Vulcan testbed breakup. Looking at the link, I see a reference to a Modeldecal sheet and a scan of the instructions. One of the photos shows a sister aircraft at Waddingtons BoB display. I wonder if 831 sent their Avengers to some of the nearer displays that year. The Syreston thing relates to the fact that it appeared at the airshow there, as you and Dave have deduced, Sword did a similar thing with a 'Lakenheath' based Lightning! 831 NAS Avengers (as per the kit) were never Watton based, 831 Squadron moved to Watton in mid 1963, the Avengers having been replaced by Gannets in 1960 while they were still at Culdrose. XB446 itself remained at Culdrose to serve on the Station Flight, and ended becoming the last Avenger in FAA service. 751 NAS with Avengers were Watton based up to Oct 1957. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 2 hours ago, 71chally said: The Syreston thing relates to the fact that it appeared at the airshow there, as you and Dave have deduced, Sword did a similar thing with a 'Lakenheath' based Lightning! Airfix did the same with their Jet Provost T3 and T4 kits 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detail is everything Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 I've yet to have answers re-internal arrangements post AS/ECM FAA conversion from TBM-3E and I've yet to see drawings/clear photos of the ASV.19A radar pod. Photos and production details for post war FAA Avengers can be found in Air-Britain Aeromilitaria Vol 27 issues 107 (pt 1) and 108 (pt 2) Autumn/Winter 2001 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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