Grumman TBM-3 Avenger - Modelling information

1/72nd Scale

Below an overview of Avenger models available in 1/72nd scale. Most of the more or less reviewing information I have derived from Detail & Scale.

Note that the TBM-3W2 in use with the RNlNAS has an antenna on the rudder. Check photos of original aircraft. Note also the TMB-3S of the Dutch Navy lacks the antenna on the rudder. Check photos for further detailing.

The canopy of the TBM-3S of the RNlNAS is of the same type which was in use by the US Navy.

• Academy/Minicraft
  • Kit 1651: TBF-1 Avenger: In fact this is a mix of a Tarpon I and a Tarpon II. The model lacks the nose mounted machine gun of the early machines and also the later machine guns in the wings. The cockpit is more like that of the TBF-1 and Tarpon I. The position of the antenna resembles that on the TBF-1C and later types. Also blister for the Tarpon are in he kit.
    In fact this kit is not suitable for a TBM-3E model of the Avenger.
• Airfix
  • Kit 03033: TBM-3 Avenger; this is one of the oldest models of the Avenger. The kit has the famous Airfix riveting all over, so you'll need to remove these and replace it with engraved panel lines.
    The fit of the parts is reasonable. The cowling flaps resembles more the flaps of the TBM-3E than the supposed TBM-3. The YAGI antennas supplied with the kit are rather coarse and you'd better replace them with scratch built antennas.
    The interior and wheel hubs need some more detailing. The engine is quite reasonable, but can be replaced.
    The canopy is rather thick, though the framing is nice. Also wrong is the strut in the frame just on the right side of the pilot. This should be removed. Overall a quite good model.
• Hasegawa
  • Kit 24AP34 / 2400673: TBM-3 Avenger/ TBM-3E Night Avenger: [Hasegawa also released a model of the TBM-1C/Tarpon II .]
    The bomb compartment can be opened, though you can look through the model, so you'll need to fix this.
    The small windows between the bomb compartment and radio compartment are not in the kit. The engine is also quite reasonable, you can replace it if you want.A chair for the second cockpit is available, but it doesn't belong in the TBM-3.
    The space towards the radio compartment need to be opened.
    The cabin is quite poor, so detailing is necessary. Decals for the instrument-panel are available in the kit. The YAGI antenna's you have to built of your own. Also the wrong strut is present, so remove it.
    The cowling resembles the flaps of the TBM-3E.
    To built a model of the TBM-3E remove the machine gun in the belly and remove the windows. Also correct the arrestor, which is external on the TBM-3E.
• MACH2
  • Kit GP.013: TBM-3W released a short run injection kit. I don't know anything about this kit.

Model of a Grumman TBM-1C, I built a Grumman TBM-3. I used the Academy kit with decals of the Dutch Decal set.
[Main difference is the engine. Further more the Academy kit is not correct, check the notes above.]

Model of a Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, built by Peter Banis.

Model of a Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, built by Adri Kleijn.

Model of a Grumman TBM-3S2 Avenger, built by Adri Kleijn.

Model of a Grumman TBM-3W2 Avenger, built by Adri Kleijn.

Model of a Grumman TBM-3W2 Avenger, built by Adri Kleijn.

Modelling add-on

• Aires
  • Set 7001: landing gear
  • Set 7007: Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger detail set (for Hasegawa)
  • Set 7208: TBM Avenger wheels & paintmask (Hasegawa)
• Airmodel
  • Set XX: TBM-3W: Een vacu-gevormde conversie-set voor een TBM-3W.
• Airwaves
  • Set AC72108: Detaillering set TBM Avenger
• CMK
  • Set Q72045: TBM Avenger Wheels (Academy)
• Eduard
  • Set SS252: Detailleringsset for Hasegawa
  • Set BIG 7216: Detailleringsset for hasegawa
  • Set E72-441: Landingsflaps for Hasegawa
  • Set E72-442: Bomb bay (for hasegawa)
  • Set E72-252: Detailleringsset interior for Hasegawa
  • Set E72-244: Detailleringsset for Hasegawa
  • Set E72-245: Detailleringsset, Flaps en bombbay for TBM Avenger (Hasegawa kit)
  • Kit E72-079: Detailleringsset for TBF/TBM Avenger (Hasegawa kit)
  • Set E72-080: Detailleringsset, flaps, for TBF/TBM Avenger (Hasegawa kit)
  • Set E72-199: Update set for TBFAvenger (Hasegawa kit)
  • Set XS052: Express Mask TBM/TBF Avenger (Hasegawa)
• Falcon
  • Triple Conversion Kit 7: Vacu Conversion Kit for P2V-5 Neptune, TF86F Sabre en een TBM-3W Avenger.
  • Set VAX01: US Navy WW2 (TBM,OS2U,TBD,F4F)
• HighPlanes
  • Kit 72021: Grumman TBM-3W: conversion set for Hasegawa model.
• KMC
  • Set 72-7007: Update set TBM-1C
• Leading Edge
  • Set SDP72-001: conversion set for three different (Canadian) Avengers such as TBM-3S
• Mach2
  • Set GP.013: Grumman TBM-3W AEW Avenger Sub Hunter
• Magna Models
  • Set 1572: conversion set for TBM-3S
  • Set 7204: Grumman Avenger AN/APS Radome
• Minimeca
  • Set REF.7203: exhaust for TBM/TBF Avenger
• Neomega
  • Set A4: undercarriage and wheels (for Academy)
  • Set M2: Pratt & Whitney R2600 (A20 B25, TBM/TBF)
• Owl Decals
  • Set PE72003: Radar Aerials ASB - Night Avenger
  • Set PUR72004: TBM3D Avenger Torpedo Nightfighter conversion

• Pavla
• Set V7207: US Navy WW2 canopy set (F4F, F6F-5,F8F,F4U-1,TBF-1,SC1)
• Quickboost
  • Set 72033: TBM/TBF Avenger engine (Hasegawa)
• Res-im Resin Improvements
  • Set E72035: Detailset Grumman TBF-1 Avenger (Hasegawa)
• RVHP
  • Set 7240 conversion set for TBM-3W.
• Scobi-do Produtions
  • Set 72-001: Royal Canadian Navy Avengers (Hasegawa)

Decals

• Dutch Decal
  • Set 72004: decals for Meteor T.Mk.7; Grumman TBM-3E Avenger; Grumman TBM-3S2 Avenger; Grumman TBM 3W2 Avenger; De Havilland DH-82 Tiger Moth; Sikorsky SH-34J; Fairey Firefly Mk.IV; Noorduyn Harvard UT-6; Lockheed Harpoon; Westland Lynx UH-14A/14B; Dornier Do-24K X-12 RLM-02/RLM-01. Bij de set zijn geen rozetten of 'stencilling' toegevoegd.
  • Set 72018: decals for Grumman TBM-3W2 Avenger; Grumman TBM-3E2 Avenger; Fairey Firefly T.Mk.1; Fairey Firefly Mk.1; Fairey Firefly FR.Mk.IV; DeHavilland DH-82; Westland Wasp AH-12A; Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune; North Americxan B-25D MItchell.
• Flevo Decal
  • Set FD72-013: decals for Royal Netherlands Navy Pt. II (Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, Harvard, Catalina, Oxford, Beech TC-45J, Fokker S-11)

1/48th Scale

Kits

• Academy
  • Kit 12285: TBM-3 Avenger "USS Bunker Hill"
• Accurate Miniatures
  • Kit 3403: Grumman TBF-1C Avenger
  • Kit 480120: Grumman TBF/M Avenger (Lt George H.W. Bush, VT51 USS Jacinto)
  • Kit 480121: Grumman TBM-3 Avenger Night Fighting Bomber of VT(N)90
  • Kit 480120: TBF/TBM Avenger (VT51 USS San Jacinto, Lt George Bush)
  • Kit 480123: Grumman TBM-3D Avenger
• Hobby boss
  • Kit 80325: Grumman TBM-3 Avenger
  • Kit 80331: British Fleet Air Arm Avenger Mk 1
  • Kit 80314: Grumman TBF-1C Avenger
• Italeri
  • Kit 342644: TBF/TBM-1 Avenger
• Lindberg
  • Kit 5307:George Bush TBF Avenger
  • Kit 70575:George Bush TBM-1C Avenger

Modelling add-on

• Belcher Bits
  • Set XX: RCN TBM3E/AS3 Avenger Conversion set including Accurate Model kit (MLD versie)
  • Set YY: RCN TBM3/AS3 Avenger Conversion set
• Dangerboy
  • Set TBF: TBF/TBM Avenger Wingfold Conversion (Accurate)
• Eduard
  • Set BIG4938: Detailset Grumman TBF-1 Avenger (Hobby Boss)
  • Set BIG4935: Detailset Grumman TBM-3 Avenger (Hobby Boss))
  • Set E49-457 / FE457: Detailset Grumman TBF-1 Avenger Self adhesive (Hobby Boss))
  • Set E48-626: Detailset Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger Landing Flaps (Hobby Boss))
  • Set E49-450 / FE450: Detailset Grumman TBM-3 Interior Self adhesive (Hobby Boss))
  • Set E48-629: Detailset Grumman TBF-1 Exterior (Hobby Boss))
  • Set E48-628: Detailset Grumman TBF-1/TBM-3 Bomb Bay (Hobby Boss))
  • Set E48-624: Detailset Grumman TBM-3 Exterior (Hobby Boss))
  • Set BIG4843: Detailset TBM3 Avenger (Accurate Miniatures))
  • Set E49-287 / FE287: Detailset TBM-3 Avenger (Accurate Miniatures))
  • Set E48-467: Detailset TBM Avenger Flaps (Accurate Miniatures))
  • Set BIG4830: Detailset TBF1 Avenger (Accurate Miniatures))
  • Set E49-267 / FE267: Detailset TBF1 Avenger (Accurate Miniatures))
  • Set E48-482: Detailset Grumman TBF Avenger landing Flaps (Accurate Miniatures))
  • Set E48-187: Detailset Grumman TBF-1c Avenger)
  • Set E48-206: Grumman TBM-3 Avenger (Accurate Miniatures))
  • Set E48-144: Detailset Grumman TBM Avenger (Bomb Bay))
  • Set XF108: Express Mask TBM/TBF Avenger (Accurate Miniatures)
• Falcon Canopies
  • Set VAX07: US Navy WW2
• Minimeca
  • Set REF.4803: Uitlaat voor TBM/TBF Avenger
• Model Design Constru
  • Set CV005: Grumman TBM-3W Avenger
  • Set CV007: Grumman TBM-3S Avenger (Royal Canadian Navy)
  • Set CV008: Grumman Avenger AS6 (Royal Navy)
  • Set CV006: Grumman TBM-3S Avenger (Kon Marine,USA,France,Japan)
• Neomega
  • Set M2/48: Pratt & Whitney R2600 (A20 B25, TBM/TBF)
• Obscureco Aircraft
  • Set 48003: Two Hamilton Standard 13'1" Props
• Owl Decals
  • Set PE48003: Radar Aerials ASB - Night Avenger
• Scale Aircraft Conversions
  • Set 48136: TBF/TBM/Mk.1 Avenger Landing Gear (Hobby Boss)
  • Set 48029: Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger (Accurate Miniatures/Italeri)
• Teknics
  • Set 4857: TBM/TBF Avenger Instrument panels & Rudder Pedals
• True Details
  • Set 48044: TBM/TBF Avenger Wheel Set
• Vector resin
  • Set 48010: Wright R2600
• Verlinden
  • Set 1274: Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger Super Detail Set for Accurate Miniatures/Italeri
• Wolfpack
  • Set 48005: TBF/TBM Avenger Wing Folded set (for Accurate Miniature

Decals

• Flevo Decal
  • Set FD48-013: Royal Netherlands Navy Pt. II (Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, Harvard, Catalina, Meteor T7, Auster MKIII)
• Dutch Decal
  • Set DDPROFILE 10: Grumman TBM Avenger (MLD)