Grumman TBF-3 Avenger AS.3/4/6
A number of new kits from Sword lead off things in the new year. An OY-1 and an OY-2 pair of reconnaissance planes are on the shelves, but we look first at a very nice 1/72nd scale Grumman TBF Avenger AS.4 in RAF colors and markings.
The Model
This injection-molded kit includes parts molded in gray plastic, a tree of clear parts, a sheet of decals with markings for 2 British Royal Navy versions, full color aircraft profiles, and assembly instructions.
Included Markings:
- Avenger AS.3, Royal Canadian Navy , 881sqn, 1955, an
- Avenger AS.4/ECM.6, Royal Navy, 831sqn, RAF base Syerton, UK, 1958.
The Aircraft
The Grumman TBM is one of the versions of the TBF Avenger bomber-torpedo plane, however, manufactured under license by General Motors. The TBM-3 aircraft began to be produced in mid-1944 and was based on the TBM-1C aircraft. More than a dozen versions of this model were created, of which the following should be mentioned: TBM-3 (basic production series with a more powerful engine), TBM-3D (version with centimeter radar) or TBM-3N (aircraft adapted to night actions).
It is worth noting that in 1944 222 TBM-3 aircraft were added to the British Royal Navy, designated Avenger Mk. III. Technical data (TBM-3 version): length: 12.48m, wingspan: 16.51m, height: 4.7m, maximum speed: 440km / h, rate of climb: 10.5m / s, practical ceiling: 9100m, range maximum: 1600km, armament: fixed - two 7.62mm M1919 machine guns and three 12.7mm M2 machine guns, suspended-bombs weighing 908 kg or the Mk.13 torpedo.