Hobby Master Archive

Just prior to the start of WW II the USN started to look for a replacement for their aging Douglas Devastator. Grumman won the USN contract and delivered a huge rotary engine that was enclosed in a barrel like fuselage to cut down on drag and a fuselage and wing lengths that would accommodate a three-man crew. The aircraft was officially known as the TBF/TBM Avenger but would come to receive the affectionate name of “The Turkey”. The first delivery came in time for the Battle of Midway June 1942.

On September 2, 1944 George Herbert Walker Bush was piloting his three-man Avenger “Barbara III” on a raid to the island of Chichi Jima. As he began his dive on the target the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and began to burn but Bush continued his dive. He then turned toward the sea and told the crew to bail out because the aircraft might explode. Unfortunately only two men got out, George Bush’s chute opened but the second didn’t. Bush was rescued by a USN submarine.

Specifications for the Avenger Crew: 3 Dimensions - Length: 40 ft. 11.5 in. (12.48 m) Wingspan: 54 ft. 2 in. (16.51 m) Height: 15 ft. 5 in. (4.70 m) Wing area: 490.02 ft. sq. (45.52 m sq.)

Weight - Empty: 10,545 lb. (4,783 kg) Loaded: 17,893 lb. (8,115 kg)

Performance - Power plant: 1 Wright R-2600-20 radial engine producing 1,900 hp (1,420 kW) Maximum speed: 276 mph (444km/h) Range: 1,000 miles (1,610 km) Service ceiling: 30,100 ft (9,170 m) Rate of climb: 2,060 ft/min (10.5 m/s) Wing loading: 36.5 ft-lbf sq (178 kg/m sq)

Armament - 1x 0.30 cal (7.62 mm) nose-mounted machine gun 2 x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) wing-mounted machine guns 1 x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) dorsal-mounted machine gun 1 x 0.30 cal (7.62 mm) ventral-mounted machine gun Up to 2,000 lb (900 kg) of bombs 1 x 2,000 lb (900 kg) torpedo

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1221 Grumman TBM-1C Avenger “Barbara III” White 2 VT-51, USS San Jacinto, 1944

Die-cast metal. 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.