Grumman TBM3W Avenger MLD (Dutch fleet air arm)

Erik Leijdens
A model I always wanted to make! The pregnant Avenger in service of the Dutch fleet air arm, from the time we had a aircraft carrier.

The MLD received 34 Avengers TBM-3S2 and 24 pieces TBM-3W2 from 1954 and later from 1958 from the British Fleet Air Arm 20 second-hand coffins TMB-3E/TMB-3E2.

The S- and W-types were the first to be delivered and formed the core of the anti-submarine warfare force and a large number were stationed aboard the Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman.

Will use a conversion from MDC models for the Accurate Miniatures TMB3, will be a time consuming project I think..

Started cutting up the fuselage, fit of the resin parts is not really great.

Thomas Bischoff
I'm in 👍

Ben M
Taking a seat.

Bruce Huxtable
Watching with interest 👍🙂

Erik Leijdens
Welcome 🙂

Villiers de Vos
My hat off to you. An interesting conversion.

David Culp
A very interesting conversion. I'll be watching this project.

Erik Leijdens
Thanks and welcome mates. I just hope this conversion is not a step too far for me, we'll see I guess. Have already coated the cockpit with bronze green FS34151. It makes it easy that this type of Avenger only has a "half" interior! Also, the windows differ on this type, the circled windows need to be puttied shut. A more complicated task will be to enlarge the door, the MDC conversion supplies a new door with window but it has the same size as the kit door which is to small for the Dutch TBM3W.

Jan Peters
"fit isn't great" , that's quite an understatement 😄
Following for sure 👀

Jasper Breur
Interesting project Erik!

Erik Leijdens
Welcome Jan and Jasper 😃
Finished the pit, the AM Avenger has impressive internal details, only need the front part for this version though.

Nathan Dempsey
Wow, that's an interesting subject & I love a conversion project. Your interior is already nice!

Michael Kohl
Wow, that's a decent looking cockpit I'd say.

Jan Peters
Very nice cockpit from the box👍🏻
What's next? Loads of filling and sanding?

Erik Leijdens
Well, yes Jan. After the fuselage is closed the real work begins.. Wish me luck! Hopefully it doesn't end in the bin

Jan Peters
Good luck 🤞

Erik Leijdens
Almost forgot: before I close the fuselage the door on the starboard side has to be enlarged.

Erik Leijdens
Change of plans. Will build this one with the door closed so there was no need to make the hole bigger. Unfortunately I had already done that. Closed the hole again and then puttied and re-scribed the bigger door. Also puttied the windows on the starboard side. Fuselage is now closed so the real work can begin.

Erik Leijdens
The resin part for the turtle back fairing does needs quite a bit filler..!

Jan Peters
You've got your work cut out Erik, good luck on re-shaping and sanding 🤞

Villiers de Vos
Coming along nicely.

Erik Leijdens
Dry fit of the radar is quite good luckily

Erik Leijdens
First steps in the sanding process!

Jan Peters
Looks like the cat judges your work, what's the verdict? 😀

Nathan Dempsey
Looking good Erik.

Villiers de Vos
The blending of the conversion is taking shape nicely.

Erik Leijdens
Thanks mates. Finished the sanding and started rescribing the fuselage.

Jos Jansen
Off course I am in Erik, not behind my bench but from the Eastern front 😉!

Erik Leijdens
Welcome mate! Somebody has to scare off the Russians 🫡😄

Jan Peters
That's looking tidy Erik 👍🏻

Erik Leijdens
Thanks Jan! Mated the radar under the fuselage, not a tight fit but quite easy to blend witn the fuselage I think. The new part for the underside of the fuselage is a different story, will need a lot of elbow grease and filler. Have some new stuff to work with; Apoxie clay. Will see ow that works out.

Ben M
It's such a fat little bird. I'm enjoying watching you get all the parts fitted together - it looks like quite the challenge

Erik Leijdens
Welcome ben 🙂. Started blending the new part for the fuselage, quite a work!

Villiers de Vos
The blending in and re-scribing is coming along very nice.

Andy Ball
My word,…some plastic surgery going on there…results speak for themselves!!

Jan Peters
Masterclass in blending ill fitting parts Erik 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

Erik Leijdens
Thanks mates, I work with Tamiya grey putty and Apoxie clay. Stil nog satisfied though, de radar also needs more attention. So for peace of mind purposes I dry fitted the wings etc to get an idea of the complete aircraft, quite a biggie'!

Jan Peters
A monster job Erik!
I almost forgot how big these aircraft are, even in 72nd scale they are large, let alone in 48th.

John
Awesome blending work! Now go find some snooping Echo class subs.

James C
👀 👍

Erik Leijdens
Apparently TBM Avengers have propellers with wider blades, so adjusted the kit TBF prop with blades from a Eduard Hellcat kit.

Jakub Fiala
Adjusted propeller looks fantastic! 👍

Villiers de Vos
Great attention to detail.

Erik Leijdens
Made some rivets on the wings, didn't have a good drawing so shamelessly copied from Sid de Koning's wonderful Avenger model 🙂

Björn Svedberg
That is some impressive work already. Love the modifications! 👍 I'll grab a chair and watch 🙂

Erik Leijdens
Thanks Bjorn!!! It is the biggest conversion of a model I have ever attempted. So far it is not disappointing I must say. Must be careful tough to not to set the bar too high and get demotivated when something doesn't work out as hoped.

Meanwhile, I started some re-scribing work around the radar hump. Unfortunately, the Apoxy and Tamiya putty crumbled a bit here and there. All in all, I'm not done with the "Warner" soon 🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
What an undertaking ! Watching with great interest how this Avenger changes its appearance

Jan Peters
Keep hanging in there Erik 👍🏻

Villiers de Vos
Very nice progress.

Erik Leijdens
Thanks mates, much appreciated

Erik Leijdens
The engine is ready! Now I can add the engine to the fuselage and close the parts of the cowling.

Nathan Dempsey
Good progress Erik. Can't wait to see the paint work begin.

Erik Leijdens
Me too Nathan! The nice thing of the AM Avenger is that the fit of the wings is very good. You just click them against the fuselage. So will paint them separately.

Erik Leijdens
This one is still alive too, although it's giving me a headache sometimes. After each coat of primer to check for anomalies around the resin bits new ones still pop up. Also I added rivets on the fuselage which was time consuming. Luckily the time for primer is imminent 🙂

Ben M
👍

Jan Peters
Looking forward to more Erik

Villiers de Vos
Exceptional high quality of workmanship.

Erik Leijdens
Thanks mates, will have to scratch a couple of inlets(?) that will go on the portside of the new "canopy". Almost forgot them!
[img1]

Bernhard Schrock
Eric, I'm impressed by you project. Such a conversion is not off the shelf, but very special. I'm curios to see the next steps especially painting and decaling. Btw your project inspired me to reactivate my dusty Avenger project. Originally I intended to build a TBM-3S in US Navy markings. But I decided now to build a Royal Dutch Navy machine in grey and sky. Do you maybe have any ideas where I might get fitting decals?

Erik Leijdens
Thanks for the nice words Bernhard! It is indeed quite a tricky conversion but slowly but surely there is progression in it. Your project is already very impressive, that engine really is a gem, wow! And the detail you added to the tailplane is really complementary. A very good choice to make your model also of the Dutch navy! Dutch Decal has released 2 sets that have the -3S on them, the one I also use for my -3W but it's about 15 years old, there's also a newer one that also has some on it for the -3S. I have both sets, will see if I can spare some.

Alec K
I have been peeking at this project already, time to officially take a seat. Magnificent progress Erik 👍

Erik Leijdens
Thanks Alec! Hope to show some new progress soon. Still thinking of a way to recreate the small inlets.

Bernhard Schrock
Inlets: plastic tube carefully bended over a candle light?

Erik Leijdens
It took a while but finally I've started painting the Warner Avenger.. Sprayed the wings and fuselage with Sky and the top of wings with Extra Dark Sea grey. Unfortunately, I forgot adding some details to the fuselage due to the fact that when a project is left aside for a while I forget things which were on the "to do" list.. Happy with the result of the rivets under a layer of paint though.

John
Yep, those rivets are looking good as well as the paintjob. 👍

Nathan Dempsey
Oh excellent, the painting has started!

Jos Jansen
Grabbing a chair...again 😉🫡!

Erik Leijdens
Welcome mates!! I hope the chair will be there for a while now Jos!
Dry fitted the wings tonight, perfect fit. Threaded them with a gloss coat for de decals.

Alec K
Looks great Erik 👍

Erik Leijdens
Added a gloss coat and decals, the Dutch Profile decals are quite old (2008) and not very responsive to Mircrosol but they look gooood. And the only ones on the market for a Dutch Warner Aveneger I believe.

John
Well there is always the "nuclear option" of Solvaset...

Erik Leijdens
Hi John oh yes and I also have the Strong version from Daco but sometimes they are just too aggresive..

John
Definitely have to be careful with that stuff. I had Solvaset chew through an X-22 clear coat like it was the blood from Aliens.

Remco van Haren
Nice work! Following.

Jan Peters
Lekker!
This is looking better every time 👍🏻

Guy Rump
Looking good, following. 👍

Ben M
I always let tamiya gloss dry for a week or so before I do stuff like micro-sol. So far that has worked for me.

Bernhard Schrock
I'm very glad to see the progress and looking for the completed model. 🙂Decals & markings looks very good.

Erik Leijdens
Thanks mates!
@Ben, patience is key indeed!

Erik Leijdens
Off course after all the paint work I discovered the Warner Avengers have two handgrips on each side of the fuselage. The kit only has 1 molded, so some work is required!

Villiers de Vos
Very nice attention to detail.

Alec K
It's looking great Erik 👍