Hasegawa 1/72 Avenger AS Mk IV 'Royal Navy'

 The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world.

The Avenger entered U.S. service in 1942, and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Despite losing five of the six Avengers on its combat debut, it survived in service to become one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of World War II. Greatly modified after the war, it remained in use until the 1960s. One of many nations to use the Avenger was the Royal Navy. Initially call 'Tarpon', the US name was eventually chosen. These planes were used as ASW platforms and as COD airplanes until replaced by the Gannet.

While you can find the TBF/M-1 version rather easily from both Hasegawa and Academy, the later -3 was only kitted in this scale by Airfix in the 1960s and later by Hasegawa. The Hasegawa release is quite difficult to find without a premium price tag, but I was able to get this one for a reasonable price as most modelers don't realize that the AS.4 is basically a -3.

The kit itself is standard Hasegawa 1/72 with very nicely done crisp external engraving and a rather basic cockpit. This area has a one piece lower floor, two seats, a control stick and an instrument panel. There are decals for instruments. The kit has the ability to have the bomb bay built open, but one only has the option of a torpedo as the weapon. The kit also comes with under wing rockets and a search radar pod. I'd leave the bay doors closed.

Clear parts are well done and all of the bits aside from the upper canopy  and lower gun opening are installed prior to or during fuselage assembly. The turret is a single piece and the turret interior is adequate though not really that well detailed. One thing for sure, masking will be time consuming, especially the one-piece upper greenhouse canopy. Stabs are a single piece on either side and the wings are a left and right upper and lower half. Wheel well detail is adequate and the gear/wheels are well done. This kit comes with a cast metal tail hook as the British used a different version from those used by the US.

Markings are provided for the box art plane aboard HMS Bulwark during the 1956 Suez Crisis. This plane is overall sea blue with black and yellow stripes. The latter are supplied by decals and you are provided two sets for the fuselage, which look the same to me.

If you can find this one at a reasonable price, pick it up. With aftermarket decals you can do a late war US plane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TBM_Avenger

April 2024