Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1204 TBF-1C “Avenger” NZ2518 “Plonky” 30 Squadron, RNZAF, Piva, Bougainville, 1944

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE RETAIL VERSION

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons that are not permanently attached. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable.

9839 Avengers were built (2293 by Grumman, and 7546 by General Motors) with the RNZAF operating 48 TBF-1s from 1943-1959 and 42 of them being TBF-1Cs. The planes were assigned to 30 and 31 Squadrons for dive-bombing, spraying and drogue towing. After WWII they were transferred to 41 and 42 Squadrons where they were dedicated drogue-towers. The majority of the Avengers were returned to the USN and FAA, 6 were sold for scrap. Counting the U.S.A. 7 countries had the Avenger in their inventory.

In 1943 NZ2518 arrived in New Zealand was assembled for 30 Squadron. Pilot Fredd Ladd, later a well-known aviation author, named it “Plonky”. Since Ladd didn’t drink alcohol so he thought it funny to have a comic beer barrel pouring the contents down on the enemy. Plonky went to 31 Squadron in June 1944 and while on a mission was hit by flak. It burst into flames, dove into the ground, killing pilot F/L C. Prior and crew. It was several years before the wreckage was found.

Grumman Avenger AS Mk.IV / TBM-3S (post war designation)

Wingspan: 52 ft. 2 in. Length: 40 ft. Height: 16 ft. 5 in. Empty Weight: 10,843 lbs. Maximum Weight: 18,250 lbs. Power-plant: one Wright R-2600-20 rated at 1,900 hp Armament: two forward firing .50 caliber machine guns, one mounted in each wing One .50 caliber machine gun in a Grumman 150SE power turret 8 x 5 inch HVAR (High Velocity Aerial Rockets) 4 x 500 lb. bombs or 1 x torpedo Performance: 267 mph @ 16,000 ft. Service Ceiling: 23,400 ft. Crew: three