Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1213 Grumman TBM-3E2 Dutch Marine Luchtvaartdienst Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service Marine-Luchtvaartdienst (MLD)

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.

In 1958 as part of the MDAP (Military Defense Assistance Plan) the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service Marine-Luchtvaartdienst (MLD) received 20 TBM-3E and TBM-3E2 aircraft from the Royal Navy. They were initially serialled U20 - U39 but in 1959 eleven aircraft were given new serials of 065 - 075. This particular aircraft 070 originally was a Royal Navy AS.5 serial XB379 shipped from the U.S. on September 29, 1953. On February 6,1958 the aircraft was received by the MLD and serialled U30 later changed to 070. The TBM was assigned to 4 Squadron at Valkenburg AB where the primary role of these aircraft was anti-submarine patrols. Four of these aircraft ended up being used for parts for the remaining TBM-3E2s. On August 2nd, 1961 070 was SOC (Struck Off Charge) and sent to the U.S. to be scrapped. By October 1961 all the TBM-3E2s were SOC from the MLD.

Specifications for the Grumman TBM-3E2 Avenger (post WWII version - same as the TBM-3E but with upgraded avionics)

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