1:72 TBF/TBM-1 Avenger

The real subject

The Avenger was an American carrier torpedo bomber of the Second World War and the heaviest machine flying off a deck at the time. It had a roomy internal bomb bay that took a torpedo, a crew of three and a powered turret above the fuselage. The wings folded back along the fuselage for the hangar. The designation TBF belonged to machines from the Grumman factory, while the letter M in TBM marked the machines built by the automaker General Motors at its aircraft plant; it was one and the same aircraft.

What photo-etch brings to a model

A photo-etched part is a thin metal sheet with the drawing of the parts etched into it. It comes into its own everywhere the material is meant to be thin in reality and where a plastic part is inevitably thicker: instrument panels, seat belts, grilles, fittings and fine linkages. On a large carrier machine with a glazed cockpit and an open bomb bay there are plenty of such places. Which parts of the model the set covers and which Avenger kit in 1:72 scale it is tuned for are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Working with photo-etched parts

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface; scissors will buckle the sheet. Make the bends along the marked groove in a bending tool or between two blades. They are glued with cyanoacrylate applied in a small amount, as polystyrene cement will not join metal. Degrease the metal before painting and coat it with a primer for metal, otherwise the layer cracks and peels. Put the separated parts into a dish or onto a sticky surface, as they are easily lost under your fingers.

• a photo-etched metal set for a TBF or TBM-1 Avenger model
• 1:72 scale
• thin elements for places where plastic looks too heavy
• bends along the marked grooves, separated with a blade
• glued with cyanoacrylate, degreased and primed before painting

Terms of supply

A photo-etched set is supplied. The model, glue, paints, primer and tools are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.