Grumman TBM-3 Avenger, 1/48, Acc. Min.

[Stikpusher]

I appreciate the sentiment! I am slowly getting a little better at fixing things, since I screw them up so much.

Practice makes perfect...

[LyleW]

Boy, you got that right. Iinally figure out the side console piece was hitting the IP. Out came the nippers. Problem solved.

Put the rear bulkhead in, and by the way there are no clear instructions, it was blocking the turret ring, out came the knife. Problem solved.

I am not loving a lot about this kit.

[Fermis]

I am not loving a lot about this kit.

It's the instructions! They SUCK!!!
Been a while since I've built this one...but I do recall that reading the text part of the instructions helped a little...the pictures certainly don't give a clear....picture!

Have fun getting the turret in place! There is a trick to it. You have to put one edge in at an angle, then spin it around slowly, while applying a little bit of pressure...the closest thing I can relate it to.... ...getting a bike tire back on the rim...except a little different! Hope that helps!

This kit was a game changer for me! Prior to it, I knew Revellogram...that's all we had available locally. I called one of the shops listed in the back of FSM (Jersey Shore IIRC) asking for a TBF kit (I didn't know there were any) to build for my Gramps...he was a radio op on em. He offered up the Mono and the brand new AccuMini. "Trust me, spend the extra money on the AccuMini"....so I did. I had no idea kits could be so good!!!

[LyleW]

I’ll remember (I hope!) the advice about the turret. I agree the instructions are horrible. I’m still looking for som of the parts they reference in steps 1 and 2, bit don’t show on the pictures.

I generally don’t dry fit a lot.on this guy I dry fit everything multiple times and still have issues.

I’ll wut it somehow.

[Stikpusher]

Learning from you guys on this...

[jkim]

Rolling right along, Lyle. Bumps are expected.

As far as a simple wash, I use pastel chalk mixed with a little water. Homemade brew and very inert so it doesn't affect any paint finishes. If you don't like it, you could simply rinse it completely off with water.

The debonder I use does not affect plastic at all. I recommend it after using another brand with less effective results.


And you mentioned Testors Red tube glue. Still useful stuff. But you DO have a bottle of Tamiya Extra Thin cement right? That stuff is a game changer and EVERY modeler should be using it as their primary styrene adhesive, IMO.

[LyleW]

John, thanks for the recipe! I’llhave to get some chalks. I have some, but I don’t think they are pastels.

I have Bob Smith brand debonder. I likely let too much out of the bottle.

I grew uo on good ol’ Testors tube glue. Still my go to fo most things, I have a supply of Taniya Extra thin. Honestly, I get mixed results. In particular trying to join large pieces such as wing and fuselage halves. I still use it a lot though. I also still have a bit of Tenax.

[Duke Maddog]

Lyle, it's always a thrill and a pleasure to watch you work on models. I love the persistence and perseverance you apply to every one of them and it motivates me to keep going when my mojo is down. Keep it coming Lyle, you've done an exceptional job on the cockpit! Most impressive!

[LyleW]

You are too kind! Thank you.

[LyleW]

Postimg is not working this morning. server errors on the album details....Not a good say to advertise for selling your premium service. Got an Imageshack acct and a year for half price, so we will play with that for a bit.

This is about ready to be closed up. Please pray I don't kill it. The tailwheel tire/hub need to be repainted first. Fermis, the instructions are indeed horrible! Anyway, here we are:



The correction I made on the interiors...the oval is where the bulkhead attaches - simply a flat join to the edges. The arrow is the mounting guide for the turret base. I had to trim about 1/16" from the area in the oval to get the bulkhead to sit just behind the mounting point for the turret base. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why this is happening, given no one else seems to have had these types of problems.





I think that rather than trying to mask and paint the black striping on the tailhook, I'll cut some decal stock and use that. I had printed some from the old Williams 247 kit and they ended up being a whole 8x10 sheet. Duh....I kept them around and not I have lots to choose from.