Accurate Miniatures' 1/48 scale
Grumman TBM-3 Avenger

by Martin Sokolowski

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In 1939, the Navy sent a request for a new Torpedo Bomber to replace the slow and short ranged TBD Devastator which was obsolete by 1939. Bids were accepted from several companies but Grumman's design was selected as the Devastator’s replacement. First prototype was called the XTBF-1.

The first production TBF-1 was delivered to the Navy on 30 January 1942 and more were delivered in February to Naval Station in Norfolk, VA. where the first Avenger Squadron was formed.

The TBF was the heaviest single-engine plane of WWII, and it was the first design to feature a wing-folding mechanism intended to maximize storage space on an aircraft carrier. Wright R-2600-20 14-cylinder supercharged air-cooled two-row radial engine was used with produced 1,900 hp. (1,420 kW). There were three crew members, pilot, radioman/bombardier/ventral gunner and turret gunner.

The pilot’s part of the cockpit was separated from the rest of the aircraft by the radio equipment which filled the whole glass canopy to the rear of the pilot. The Avenger had a large bomb bay carrying either Mark 13 torpedo, a single 2000 lb bomb, or four 500 lb bombs. Later Avenger models carried radar equipment for the ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) and AEW (Airborne Early Warning) roles.

After hundreds of the TBF Avengers were built, Grumman began production of the F6F Hellcat fighters. Then  Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors took over production of Avengers, with these aircraft being designated as TBM. TBF/TBM Avengers took part in sinking the two Japanese battleships Musashi and the Yamato which was Admiral Yamamoto`s flagship for the most part of the war. Besides the traditional surface role (hunting surface ships), TBF/TBM Avengers claimed about thirty submarine kills, including the Japanese cargo submarine I-52.

The Avenger was also used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm where it was known as the "Tarpon".

This model represents TBM-3 AVENGER BuNo 23549 "Bayou Bell" of VT-83 operated on board the U.S.S.Essex.

• Kit: TBM-3 Accurate Miniatures 1/48. 
• Paints: Tamiya.
• Additiona: Ez-Line antenna wire and PE seat belts.
• Decals: Yellowhammer #Y48-04

If you would like to see my model of a TBF-1 AVENGER from the USS Block Island, VC-55, 1944 please follow this link.

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2008 by Martin Sokolowski
Page Created 15 April, 2008
Last Updated 15 April, 2008

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