1:72 TBM AVENGER cockpit set

Resin cockpit set 1:72 TBM Avenger

This resin detail set from Aires replaces the cockpit of a plastic model of the TBM Avenger carrier torpedo aircraft in 1:72 scale. It is not a kit of an aircraft but an accessory that is glued into the fuselage of a base kit and replaces the simplified plastic interior from the box. The exact makeup of the package is not stated here, so check before building that the set matches the model you are building.

The real subject

The Avenger was a carrier torpedo and bomber aircraft of the US Navy from the Second World War period. The designation TBM was carried by machines built under license by General Motors, while the original production from Grumman was designated TBF. The aircraft had a crew of three, a radial engine and a roomy bomb bay. Its pilot's cockpit sits high above the fuselage and under a large glazed canopy, so once built you can see well into it.

Usage tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water so that they are rid of mold release residue. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc; do not snap them. Sand resin wet and with respiratory protection. In 1:72 scale the parts are small, so work with tweezers, good lighting and a magnifier. From the plastic kit the original cockpit tub will most likely have to be removed and the fuselage walls thinned. Try the fit dry, and only then glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Painting is more comfortable before gluing it in, with a primer and a dry brush on the edges.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Avenger in 1:72 scale who want a more faithful interior
• Modelers with experience of resin and small parts
• Anyone interested in Second World War carrier aviation
• Those who build a model with the canopy open or partly slid back

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.