Hey everyone - I was at the Intrepid Museum in NYC yesterday with my son and took some detail pictures of the TBM-3 Avenger they have. It's one of my favorite planes and want to get it in my queue to build (I have an OLD Monogram TBF kit - can anyone recommend a new one?).

If anyone is interested I'll post them - I got shots of the wing fold, landing gear, tail hook, the turret (which is a separate display), torpedo bay, visible parts of the engine and some general body shots.

First time I've see one close up and I was amazed at how big it is. It dwarf half the jets they have on the flight deck.

And boy was it hot on that flight deck. I can't imagine being in the pacific in full flight gear, or even flight crew gear on that deck....

Hey Scott !

Sounds like you had a great day being out there Hobby Boss or even Accurate Miniatures would be the best kit's out there . For detail go with the AM kit even out of the box it's wow ! For price wise Hobby Boss would be the ticket .

Or? I'd say "and". They both look like great kits (I got the AM kit in my stash, glanced inside the box of HB in a LHS).

There's kit previews right here on Aeroscale of those two kits:
- Italeri (Reboxing of Accurate Miniatures kit)
- Hobby Boss

Scott, for my money, pick up the AM kit, or the Italeri re-box of it, and you will have the best available. I see the Italeri re-pop on sale a lot for under $20.00. Believe me, it's a steal.


Cheers,
Mike

Hi Scott

I'd go along with that - the Italeri version is outstanding value for money. Definitely show us your walkaround pics - shots of the real thing are always extremely welcome.

All the best

Rowan

I agree with what has been said about the Italeri re box of the AM kit - it is a great price and comes with a huge decal sheet and all of the weapon options found in the AM kits all in one box. All you need to add is seat belts or the awesome Ultracast resin seats.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll be hunting down that Italieri model for sure.

Here are the photos:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v297/a_discordian/TBM%20Avenger%20walkaround/

Copy and paste the link, I guess.

Enjoy

Link made clickable:

Avenger Walkaround

Doesn't quite work for me, though. Asks for a password.

Cheers,
Mike

thanks for the link, mike... thought I made that folder public...
I'll look at it when I get to work.

mmmmkay.

try this then

link to photos on the kitmaker site

these were reduced to conserve space. If anyone would like any of the full size images send me PM. They're 3.3 MB each, taken with a digital SLR with the built in flash and stadard lens.
I need to get a zoom lens... and/or a wide angle to get the whole plane.

Thanks for the pics i am sure they will come in handy on future builds.Have you decided which kit to get yet?

I'm going to try to find the Italieri...

And even better news - there's an airshow in my area in about a month that will have an Avenger. And a Mitchell. And a Stuka. And a Corsair.

Needless to say I'm very excited about this.

Lucky! We only have on regular one in NZ and its in a place called Wanaka which is a long way from my home.I have been lucky enough to see Mustangs and Corsairs in the past but a flying Mitchell and Avenger would be amazing to see.

If you are able to get pics of the flying Avenger and Stuka that would be awesome I didnt even know there were any Stukas flying!

huh. looks like i can get the AM Avenger cheaper on eBay with shipping included.
seems that everyone selling the Italeri is asking 20-25 with about 10-15 for shipping.
I hate ridiculous shipping on eBay. I have always kept my shipping honest when selling.
Yeah, I know - they pay less fee to ebay by putting up a lower starting bid and adding to shipping but it's still cheesy.
sorry for the rant.

So which AM should I go for? it seems there are several.

Hmmm thats strange. I got my Italeri kits ( i have 5) for between 30 - 45 NZD off an online site over here.I paid 50 NZD each for my two AM kits.AM make a TBM which will make up to be pretty much like the plane you photographed here. Its just a case of which markings/weapons you want to put on there - most AM kits just come with a torpedo or bombs where the Italeri kit comes with the whole lot.

I would say you would want kit #3406 as it is a TBM-3

OK - found the Italeri one for $22 with only $8.00 shipping from a guy in Colorado.
Grabbed it.

Now I just have to get out of the summer slow period and finish the King Tiger I'm working on... And the Zero I'm just starting up.

So the postman left me the Italeri kit yesterday...
and then I got crazy and bought the Verlinden Super Detail kit for it.

oh dear.