SPA Modeler

As I wrote some weeks ago, I bought some months ago a second hand kit, Accurate Miniatures TBM-3 Avenger in 1:48.

Work has been ongoing in slow tempo, despite my original plan to finish it by the end of 2024.

Indeed, as John (Keavdog) also commented in the "What's on your work bench atm"-thread, the ball turret is tricky. Especially when I did not pay too much attention to the rather important instruction and piece nr 20, the cabin shelf, was added too early. The idea with nr 20 is to hold the turret in place. I tried gently to remove the cabin shelf without success. So, I fear the turret needs to go in before the fuselage halves are closed up.
Will see..



If this is the approach, then I will do some paintwork first on the turret, but first masking.

I'm not really fond of Montex vinyl masks, I would prefer Eduards, but could not find Eduards anywhere (read with decent price) so I had to order Montex. The fit is not 100% either.. but then again, masking from scratch would not either be 100%





But all in all, what a wonderful kit, not the easiest one, but a great one!


- Kari

Yeah… I’m not a fan of Montex canopy mask myself. Too thick for my liking. I prefer Eduard’s as well.

I do want to add the TBF Avenger kit to my stash. I guess watching the new version of Midway on Netflix got me in the mood to build dive bombers. The other two types I want are the Devastator and Vindicator. While I do have a Dauntless (Accurate Miniatures kit) I will get the Academy SBD-3 Dauntless kit that included Richard Best’s markings.

Definitely will make a mental note on the ball turrent of the Accurate Miniatures Avenger kit. Although I looked in scalemates and it appears that Trumpter is a repop of Accurate Miniatures kit. Wonderful…

The other brand kit is Academy. Those are 1/32 scale.

Very cool Kari!

Medicman71 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 01, 2025 2:30 pm Very cool Kari!

Thanks Mike!

- Kari

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 01, 2025 1:15 pm The other two types I want are the Devastator and Vindicator.

I had in my hand both Academys Vindicator and Dauntless kits last Sunday, when visiting my local hobby store.. And I bought the Dauntless. Should have picked with me both..

- Kari

Kari, at least you showed up. We all have those slow years at some point. May 2025 be full of successful model completions for you.

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Wed Jan 01, 2025 9:30 pm Kari, at least you showed up. We all have those slow years at some point. May 2025 be full of successful model completions for you.

Thanks & indeed!

- Kari

Started meanwhile with the second US Navy bird, the SBD-5 Dauntless from Academy.

The Avenger from Accurate Miniatures and the Dauntless from Academy are like day and night when it comes to practically everything. While the Avenger is fullpacked with crispy details, the details in the Dauntless are rather soft (and full of ejector marks), picture below demonstrates this rather well.



There was a decal for the IP, but something is not correct. The indicators on the decalsheet does not match the ones on the panel. One solution of course would be to place the decals one by one on the panel or an AM instrument panel.



The fit however is very good in the Dauntless. Most of the cockpit stuff will be added afterwards, when the fuselage halves are already joined.



The Avenger is really a beast compared to the Dauntless!



Had to order online some paint for the build, hope I get them by tomorrow! They have been already dispatched, so far so good!

Let's see what next!

- Kari

Kari they both look fantastic. The Academy Dauntless was originally a Accurate Miniatures. When AM went out of business Academy, Italeri, Revell, even Eduard released boxing of the molds