Hobby Master Archive

USS Hornet CV-12 Essex Class carrier was originally USS Kearsarge renamed in honor of the USS Hornet CV-8 lost October 1942 at the Battle of Santa Cruz. The ship earned 7 Battle Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation during WWII. It is now a museum and designated as a National Historic Landmark. VT-2 with 18 TBF-1Cs was assigned to the Hornet and was one of the units involved in the first Battle of the Philippine Sea, aka ‘The Great Mariana’s Turkey Shoot". This cost Japan 3 aircraft carriers and over 600 aircraft.

Designed as a replacement for the aging TBD-1 Devastator the new TBF-1 was hastily sent to Midway when the USN became aware of the imminent attack on the island. The six TBF-1s were sent to attack the Japanese fleet that resulted in 5 aircraft being shot down and the 6th crash-landed on Midway. Lesson learned more firepower was added by placing a .50 caliber machine gun in each wing and larger fuel tanks. This modification brought about the TBF-1C with later modifications adding four rockets rails under each wing. This greatly increased the Avengers ground attack capabilities. There were a total of 9,837 aircraft produced in all variants of the Avenger with 2,291 being the TBF-1 variant and 7,546 of the TBM variant.

TBF-1C Specifications Dimensions Length: 40’ 11.5" Height: 16’ 9" Wing Span: 54’ 2"

Weight Max Weight: 17,364 lbs Empty Weight: 10,500 lbs Engine & Power 1 X Wright R-2600-8 radial engine Power: 1700 HP at sea level Performance Stall Speed: 77 mph IAS Max Speed: 249 mph Ceiling: 21,400 ft Rate of climb: 1,400 fpm at sea level Range: 1,100 miles Armament 2 X .50 cal machine guns in turret 2 X .50 cal machine guns in wing 1 X .30 gun in tail Various bombs or torpedo.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1208 Grumman Avenger TBF-1C, White 97, VT-2 USS Hornet CV-12, June 1944 “Battle of the Philippine Sea”

Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons are not permanently attached. Bomb bay can be displayed open or closed. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable.

THESE ARE ONLY PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT