Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1211 Grumman TBM-3E Avenger s/n53322, 826 Squadron, RCN (Royal Canadian Navy) 1950

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.

The TBM is the Grumman TBF built under license by Eastern Aircraft, a subsidiary of General Motors. The TBM-3E was the last Avenger model put into production during the war. The company managed to reduce the empty weight of the 3E by 1,980 lbs. but still was able to increase airframe strength. This variant saw the elimination of the rear-firing .30 caliber machine gun and faired over the opening. Another distinguishing feature is the non-retractable arresting hook. This variant was used for ASW and Avengers also flew in the Atlantic from small escort carriers and played a large role in helping to defend allied convoys. U.S. Avengers are credited with sinking 30 German U-boats between 1943 and 1944.

After WWII the RCN (Royal Canadian Navy) needed a replacement for their old Fairey Fireflies so they purchased 125 former USN TBM-3E Avengers. Between 1950 and 1952 these aircraft arrived in the same dark blue paint scheme used by the USN with only the USN symbols being painted over. By this time the RCN had signed the 1949 NATO agreement designating the RCN to an ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) specialty. All sorts of modifications were made to 98 of the Avengers from electronic updates to structural alterations in an effort to make them more suited for the purpose. In the end reality set in and the Avengers were replaced by the S-2 Tracker with its longer range and greater payload capacity. This along with it having a second engine greatly increased the safety factor when on long-range patrols over the North Atlantic. By 1957 the Avengers had been assigned training duties and by July 1960 had been officially retired. Aircraft 53322 was delivered to the RCN 826 Squadron located at RCNAS, Shearwater, Nova Scotia in May 1950 and on September 29, 1956 while assigned to the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent was lost in an accident with the pilot being rescued. During WWII 826 Squadron was designated part of the Royal Navy and even after the war had ended. However in May 1951 the 826 Squadron was renumbered 881 Squadron (RCN) and the 826 designation was returned to the RN.

Crew - (3)

Performance Powerplant - Wright R2600-20 Double Cyclone 14 Cylinder, air-cooled radial engine, rated @ 1900 Hp Weight Empty - 10,545 lb (4,783 kg) Fully Loaded - 17,890 lb (8.115 kg)

Range - 1,010 miles (1,610 km) Fuel Capacity - 726 US gal (2,748 litres)

Speed Maximum - 276 mph (444 km/h) Cruising - 115 mph (185 km/h) Service Ceiling - 30,100 ft (9,170 m)

Dimensions Wingspan - 54 ft 2 in (16.51 m) Length - 40 ft 11.5 in (12.48 m) Height - 16 ft 5 in (5 m)

Weapons (2) .50 caliber (12.7 mm) forward-firing wing-mounted machine guns (1) .50 caliber (12.7 mm) turret-mounted machine gun (1) .30 caliber (7.62 mm) ventral-mounted machine gun Armament Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ordnance made up of possible combinations of: (1) 2,000 lb (907 kg) Bliss-Leavitt MK.13 Torpedo or High Explosive, Fragmentary and/or Anti-personnel bombs in these combinations: (2) 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs (4) 500 lb (226.8 kg) bombs (6) 250 lb (113.4 kg) bombs (12) 100 lb (45.4 kg) bombs or (4) Depth Charges (8) 5 inch rail-launched unguided rockets