During assembly, you create various sub-assemblies such as an impressive engine, interiors and the gun turret. It all adds up to a very nice representation of the Avenger.

Thankfully, most parts have a pretty good fit and this should not stop any modeller on making this nice Avenger in this large scale!

NOTE: The colour numbers I could not find on the instructions; these are GUNZE and should be I think:

H1  black
H2  white
H3  red
H8  aluminium
H9  gold
H13 red ?
H27 Humbrol 63 (brown/yellow)
H33 black ?
H43 green about Humbrol 116
H61 grey Humbrol 146
H78 mat oliver drab
H304 olive drab?
H340 green about Humbrol 116

The Grumman’s TBF Avenger was one of the most successful naval aircraft of the second world war and was also deployed by various air arms after the war. First flown in 1941, various versions were produced. All the versions have their own typical characteristics and external differences. Almost 10,000 planes were eventually built. 

I was interested in a model of he Dutch Fleet Air Arm (MLD: Marine Luchtvaart Dienst) as they also used the Avenger after the war in various roles. 

They had Warner AEW aircraft with a large radar dome (see here for a Warner 1/32 Building Report).

Another variant was the TBM-3S2. Of the TBM-3S2 variant, 34 planes were delivered to the MLD under Military assistance program from January 1954 to May 1955 and these were ex-planes from the US Navy. Serialled 1-1 to 1-34 (later 020 to 042), they were used as submarine 'killer'. Some were deployed from the Dutch navy aircraft carrier “Karel Doorman”. 
Also 25 TBM-3W2 planes delivered in the 1953 also coming from the US Navy. Serialled 16-101 to 16-124 (later 045 to 064), these were used as submarine 'hunter'.
Another 20 TBM-3E and -3E2 planes were delivered January to March 1958, coming from the Royal Navy. Serialled 21-20 to 21-39 (eleven became 065 to 075 in 1959), these planes were used for patrol. 
Some Avengers were later converted to target tugs and the last Avenger was used in the MLD mid 1961. 

I wanted to build a TBM-3S2 "Killer" of the MLD and this building report will show how to model a TBM-3S2 from the MLD. It operated in pairs, with the Hunter (with a radar) and Killer. 
What conversion work is necessary and what is the most logical sequence to follow? 

The TBM3-3S2 has a couple of specific characteristics:

[A] internally, there is a provision for an observer and a radar equipment operator as no gunner is present; 
[B] a large curved observer window is fitted and many windows faired over.
[C] it has no gun turret, and no gun armament is present in the wings or lower fuselage belly; 
[D] at the fuselage belly, no gun is present and a closed fairing; 
[E] as on all TBM-3 types, an oil cooler opening is present in the engine cowl and the cooling flaps have a straight edge; 
[F] the arrestor hook is external; this modification was done to prevent corrosion problems; 
[G] there are several changes in antennas including the wire antennas; 
[H] a search light pod was usually fitted under the wing; 
[I] usual armament were 4 depth bombs and below the wings sonar boys could be carried. The sonar required a deployable wire antenna; 
[J] some special small antenna's and fairings are present.
 

Starting the Avenger kit build.

The modifications' major work on this -3S2 conversion is the large observer bubble window. This first required the cut-out of a part of the plastic walls at both fuselage halves. This would need to be followed by modeling the observer clear bubble window of exactly the right dimensions. All the other conversion work is relatively easy. 

As I had experience with moulding clear parts, it looks feasible.

I began by marking the cut- lines with a marker in the fuselage, making a cut slightly lower than the edge of the observer window. A TIGER razor saw was used here.

Next step was continueing with the model as usual with all models.

First was to do some “pre-painting” on the various parts. Some smaller sub-assemblies were made like the undercarriage legs. These were given the appropriate colours with an airbrush or paint brush and some other parts were pre-sprayed while still in their sprues.

Following the Trumpeter instructions in fact result in quite some sub-assemblies. 
Let us see how it' the model construction is done....

[ Steps 1 to 4 ] 
The suggested building sequence starts with the forward fuselage.
The inner details aft of the firewall bulkhead can hardly be seen and it was decided to skip step 1 parts.

The Wright Cyclone R-2600 engine is accurately portrayed and assembled. Some details were added like electrical lines from stretched sprue. I had the impression that there are too many parts D27 and how the piping runs is a bit tricky. You won't see a lot of the engine in the dark cwling.

The engine was later on sprayed black with dark metallic cylinder heads. 
In step 4, the engine was NOT yet fitted on the bulkhead but set aside.

Next step was to start working on the interior. 

[ Steps 5 - 9 ]
This deals with the instrument panel and cockpit interiors and was simply assembled. The model is well detailed.
No particular info was found on how the TBM-3S2 interior should exactly look like, so it may not be completely accurate for this model. But who will know?

[ Step 10 ]
The engine was as noted NOT yet fitted to the bulkhead. 

[ Steps 11 - 13 ]
These interior details were assembled. Very nice indeed. 

On the fuselage sidewalls, some plastic strip was added to suggest stringers. Please note that as most of the greenhouse is faired over/closed, there no detailing is needed. To the rear of the boxes (such as on part #A8 ), some wiring was suggested with sprue. 

[ Steps 14 - 16 ]
The bomb bay was also assembled as in the kit and sprayed interior green. 
(HUMBROL Authentic HD5 paint, or green Xtracolor X117 or Humbrol 151 enamel can be used. ) 

[ Steps 17 - 22 ] 
It was decided not to fit the fueltank, bombs nor torpedo  inside the bay (yet). 

[ Steps 23 -  24 ]
This deals with the general floor assembly and seat. The seat will be used for the "observer" on this conversion.

The seats were painted interior green with dark brown cushions and with seat belts made from tape and the kit's etched parts.
(NOTE: there are 3 crew members in the TBM-3S2).

[ Steps  25 - 27 ]
The TBM-3S2 did not have the gun turret [C], so these assemblies can be skipped and parts referred to the spares box. The turret is a model in itself by the way!

[ Step 28 ]
The tail leg was assembled, but without the wheel tire and part #G41 not yet fitted. The gun is not needed on the TBM-3S2 . 

[ Step 29 ]
The arrestor hook on the TBM-3S2 is externally fitted, so here do not fit it. [modification F]

[ Step 30 ]
The interior parts were fitted. You get a good wing spar to add strength to the overall assembly. 

[ Steps 31 + 32 ]
Assemble the bay doors; it was decided to set the doors in the open position. The doors  internal surfaces were sprayed interior green. 

[ Step 33 ]
This is the major fuselage assembly. Note the modification needed for the TBM-3S2 as noted before.

The bench (parts #H24, 26, 31) was not used, instead some extra details added in the interior.  Add a scope and some "boxes" to cope for the extra equipment in the TBM-3S2 for the operator and the observer. An extra operator seat was made from some plastic. 
Paint the extra parts added. 

The rudder was assembled as shown. Remove the "antenna" on its top. 

Before joining the fuselage halves, the various boxes were painted black. As noted, the turret is not fitted.  It was decided to keep the rear door (part #B1) half open. This will enable a look inside, seeing the interior details. 

After paint drying for 24 hours, squeeze all parts together and assemble the fuselage. Use tape and allow enough drying time. A little bit of filler and sanding may be needed at the centre edges. The spar can also be seen here, very good to fit the wing later on. 

For the TBM-3S2: 

the transparant parts #K20 & K21 (in step 34 & 35) should be overpainted/ faired over. Same applies for the belly window part #K15 in step 34.
a small fairing was added at the rear right fuselage side aft of the entry door. 
at the left side, a small "round" fairing was added. Parts found in the spares biox were used. 

[Step 36]
Cowling. Note the supplied metal grills of the kit are a nice touch. I added some more plastic to suggest an intake. Also, make some cuts in the cowling "flaps" at the rear edge with a razor saw. 

The cowling for this variant has a straight aft edge; add some thin card to the kit part.
(note: picture of a painted cowling, I found out later on...).

To the next [ page 2 ] ...
 

WARNER AEW Building Report

85 jaar Marineluchtvaartdienst in beeld, P. Korbee, 2002
Very nice book in Dutch

70 jaar Marineluchtvaartdienst, Nico Geldhof, Uitg Eisma, 1987;
Very nice book in Dutch

IPMS The Netherlands, NedMil website (restricted)