Grumman TBM3W Avenger MLD (Dutch fleet air arm)
Kommentarer
98 17 September 2022, 09:47
Erik LeijdensA model I always wanted to make! The pregnant Avenger in service of the Dutch fleet air arm, from the time we had a aircraft carrier.
The MLD received 34 Avengers TBM-3S2 and 24 pieces TBM-3W2 from 1954 and later from 1958 from the British Fleet Air Arm 20 second-hand coffins TMB-3E/TMB-3E2.
The S- and W-types were the first to be delivered and formed the core of the anti-submarine warfare force and a large number were stationed aboard the Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman.
Will use a conversion from MDC models for the Accurate Miniatures TMB3, will be a time consuming project I think..
Started cutting up the fuselage, fit of the resin parts is not really great.
17 September 2022, 09:50
Erik LeijdensThanks and welcome mates. I just hope this conversion is not a step too far for me, we'll see I guess. Have already coated the cockpit with bronze green FS34151. It makes it easy that this type of Avenger only has a "half" interior! Also, the windows differ on this type, the circled windows need to be puttied shut. A more complicated task will be to enlarge the door, the MDC conversion supplies a new door with window but it has the same size as the kit door which is to small for the Dutch TBM3W.
18 September 2022, 10:22
Jan Peters"fit isn't great" , that's quite an understatement 😄
Following for sure 👀
18 September 2022, 10:26
Erik LeijdensWelcome Jan and Jasper 😃
Finished the pit, the AM Avenger has impressive internal details, only need the front part for this version though.
28 September 2022, 21:37
Nathan DempseyWow, that's an interesting subject & I love a conversion project. Your interior is already nice!
28 September 2022, 23:09
Jan PetersVery nice cockpit from the box👍🏻
What's next? Loads of filling and sanding?
29 September 2022, 14:27
Erik LeijdensWell, yes Jan. After the fuselage is closed the real work begins.. Wish me luck! Hopefully it doesn't end in the bin
29 September 2022, 14:28
Erik LeijdensAlmost forgot: before I close the fuselage the door on the starboard side has to be enlarged.
29 September 2022, 18:53
Erik LeijdensChange of plans. Will build this one with the door closed so there was no need to make the hole bigger. Unfortunately I had already done that. Closed the hole again and then puttied and re-scribed the bigger door. Also puttied the windows on the starboard side. Fuselage is now closed so the real work can begin.
2 October 2022, 16:28
Erik LeijdensThe resin part for the turtle back fairing does needs quite a bit filler..!
3 October 2022, 19:25
Jan PetersYou've got your work cut out Erik, good luck on re-shaping and sanding 🤞
4 October 2022, 03:23
Erik LeijdensThanks mates. Finished the sanding and started rescribing the fuselage.
7 October 2022, 20:15
Jos JansenOff course I am in Erik, not behind my bench but from the Eastern front 😉!
7 October 2022, 20:34
Erik LeijdensThanks Jan! Mated the radar under the fuselage, not a tight fit but quite easy to blend witn the fuselage I think. The new part for the underside of the fuselage is a different story, will need a lot of elbow grease and filler. Have some new stuff to work with; Apoxie clay. Will see ow that works out.
9 October 2022, 14:35
Ben MIt's such a fat little bird. I'm enjoying watching you get all the parts fitted together - it looks like quite the challenge
9 October 2022, 14:41
Erik LeijdensWelcome ben 🙂. Started blending the new part for the fuselage, quite a work!
13 October 2022, 18:56
Andy BallMy word,…some plastic surgery going on there…results speak for themselves!!
14 October 2022, 06:56
Erik LeijdensThanks mates, I work with Tamiya grey putty and Apoxie clay. Stil nog satisfied though, de radar also needs more attention. So for peace of mind purposes I dry fitted the wings etc to get an idea of the complete aircraft, quite a biggie'!
15 October 2022, 09:50
Jan PetersA monster job Erik!
I almost forgot how big these aircraft are, even in 72nd scale they are large, let alone in 48th.
15 October 2022, 10:07
Erik LeijdensApparently TBM Avengers have propellers with wider blades, so adjusted the kit TBF prop with blades from a Eduard Hellcat kit.
21 October 2022, 21:41
Erik LeijdensMade some rivets on the wings, didn't have a good drawing so shamelessly copied from Sid de Koning's wonderful Avenger model 🙂
3 November 2022, 19:22
Björn SvedbergThat is some impressive work already. Love the modifications! 👍 I'll grab a chair and watch 🙂
5 November 2022, 07:35
Erik LeijdensThanks Bjorn!!! It is the biggest conversion of a model I have ever attempted. So far it is not disappointing I must say. Must be careful tough to not to set the bar too high and get demotivated when something doesn't work out as hoped.
Meanwhile, I started some re-scribing work around the radar hump. Unfortunately, the Apoxy and Tamiya putty crumbled a bit here and there. All in all, I'm not done with the "Warner" soon 🙂
6 November 2022, 13:25
Hanno KleineckeWhat an undertaking ! Watching with great interest how this Avenger changes its appearance
6 November 2022, 16:27
Erik LeijdensThe engine is ready! Now I can add the engine to the fuselage and close the parts of the cowling.
12 December 2022, 15:09
Erik LeijdensMe too Nathan! The nice thing of the AM Avenger is that the fit of the wings is very good. You just click them against the fuselage. So will paint them separately.
23 December 2022, 10:59
Erik LeijdensThis one is still alive too, although it's giving me a headache sometimes. After each coat of primer to check for anomalies around the resin bits new ones still pop up. Also I added rivets on the fuselage which was time consuming. Luckily the time for primer is imminent 🙂
15 March 2023, 21:34
Erik LeijdensThanks mates, will have to scratch a couple of inlets(?) that will go on the portside of the new "canopy". Almost forgot them!
[img1]
22 March 2023, 13:18
Bernhard SchrockEric, I'm impressed by you project. Such a conversion is not off the shelf, but very special. I'm curios to see the next steps especially painting and decaling. Btw your project inspired me to reactivate my dusty Avenger project. Originally I intended to build a TBM-3S in US Navy markings. But I decided now to build a Royal Dutch Navy machine in grey and sky. Do you maybe have any ideas where I might get fitting decals?
30 March 2023, 18:32
Erik LeijdensThanks for the nice words Bernhard! It is indeed quite a tricky conversion but slowly but surely there is progression in it. Your project is already very impressive, that engine really is a gem, wow! And the detail you added to the tailplane is really complementary. A very good choice to make your model also of the Dutch navy! Dutch Decal has released 2 sets that have the -3S on them, the one I also use for my -3W but it's about 15 years old, there's also a newer one that also has some on it for the -3S. I have both sets, will see if I can spare some.
30 March 2023, 19:45
Alec KI have been peeking at this project already, time to officially take a seat. Magnificent progress Erik 👍
31 March 2023, 11:43
Erik LeijdensThanks Alec! Hope to show some new progress soon. Still thinking of a way to recreate the small inlets.
31 March 2023, 20:52
Erik LeijdensIt took a while but finally I've started painting the Warner Avenger.. Sprayed the wings and fuselage with Sky and the top of wings with Extra Dark Sea grey. Unfortunately, I forgot adding some details to the fuselage due to the fact that when a project is left aside for a while I forget things which were on the "to do" list.. Happy with the result of the rivets under a layer of paint though.
11 March, 21:14
Erik LeijdensWelcome mates!! I hope the chair will be there for a while now Jos!
Dry fitted the wings tonight, perfect fit. Threaded them with a gloss coat for de decals.
13 March, 21:41
Erik LeijdensAdded a gloss coat and decals, the Dutch Profile decals are quite old (2008) and not very responsive to Mircrosol but they look gooood. And the only ones on the market for a Dutch Warner Aveneger I believe.
5 April, 18:12
Erik LeijdensHi John oh yes and I also have the Strong version from Daco but sometimes they are just too aggresive..
5 April, 18:14
JohnDefinitely have to be careful with that stuff. I had Solvaset chew through an X-22 clear coat like it was the blood from Aliens.
5 April, 18:15
Ben MI always let tamiya gloss dry for a week or so before I do stuff like micro-sol. So far that has worked for me.
5 April, 23:29
Bernhard SchrockI'm very glad to see the progress and looking for the completed model. 🙂Decals & markings looks very good.
6 April, 05:44
Erik LeijdensOff course after all the paint work I discovered the Warner Avengers have two handgrips on each side of the fuselage. The kit only has 1 molded, so some work is required!
24 April, 07:08
Erik LeijdensSo, after some time of not doing anything to the hobby I can finally show an update on the Warner. This one is really nearing the finish line now thankfully. The last few days I applied a light gray wash + a satin coat over it. The MLD Avengers were high gloss but in 1/48 satin seems better to me. Also removed the masks from the canopy and the undercarriage is placed, also added some zebra stripes to the tailhook. I have not yet decided whether to glue the wings on or keep them removable, they do snap on nicely so I am leaning towards the latter. Also the turtle back handles and steps still need to be put on and of course an antenna wire. And also the window in the roundel still needs "glass".
8 August, 20:40
HansI say! Your cat does a nice job sanding and re-scribing. I love anything MLD. Wonderful job.
8 August, 21:07
Bruce HuxtableSuperb end results for sure! Perhaps the break was needed, after all the early hard work? So glad to see you are approaching the final steps, on this stunner 🙂
9 August, 06:40
Erik LeijdensAfter 4 months of no modelling at all decided it's about time to finish this Guppy, only a couple of small to be done. Added some handles and steps from brass wire today.
5 December, 08:28
Erik LeijdensWell mates this one is finished, just need find the right time to make some nice daylight photo's. But the weather is all wet and grey the last weeks in the Netherlands unfortunately, and when it's clear I'm at work 🤔
4 12 December, 21:48
Zbynek HonzikReally looking forward to seeing pictures of the finished model, Erik!
The building process looks great and inspiring.
1 12 December, 22:50
Jennifer FranklinLooking at everyone else's work amazes me; I have much to learn. Very nice.
1 13 December, 00:17
Damian GüttnerErik, a very good job !! Very nice, interesting model with even more interesting paintwork. This model will be very well received at exhibitions !!
15 December, 13:30
Album info
The MLD received 34 Avengers TBM-3S2 and 24 pieces TBM-3W2 from 1954 and later from 1958 from the British Fleet Air Arm 20 second-hand TMB-3E/TMB-3E2.
The S- and W-types were the first to be delivered and formed the core of the anti-submarine warfare force and a large number were stationed aboard the Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman
