Author Topic: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II  (Read 26330 times)

Offline Second Air Force

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5775
    • View Profile
Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« on: June 24, 2019, 02:26:27 PM »
Here's another of those old kits that have been sitting on a shelf for far too long--my old Accurate Miniatures TBM. I never really knew what paint scheme to use on this one, there are a fair number of good choices. Finally I went through all my decals and fell on to the best (for me :) ) scheme, a Fleet Air Arm Avenger II from the Pacific Fleet.


Offline No.1

  • Administrator and Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23091
  • Owner: www.letletlet-warplanes.com
    • View Profile
    • LetLetLet - Warplanes
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2019, 02:52:42 PM »
 :-love :-love :-love

Offline Second Air Force

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5775
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2019, 03:27:34 PM »
Oh, yes--this is a lovely kit, mate! A great amount of detail is molded in and the engineering of the kit is really fantastic. It looks pretty complicated at first glance but goes together quite nicely and the fit is superb. One drawback of this one is the instruction sheet--it jumps around quite a lot and isn't all that clear until you read the entire text, and even after reading it the illustrations are a little confusing.

Since I'd never built one of these I started by assembling the large interior subassemblies and test fitting everything before painting. I was skeptical that all those interior pieces would come together smoothly, but they fit like a glove! Once all the three cockpits and weapons bay parts were glued I fitted the fuselage halves and it clicked together perfectly.


Offline Second Air Force

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5775
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2019, 06:40:20 PM »
Once I was satisfied with the fit of all the internal parts and bulkheads I sprayed the interior green. Note that this is different depending on whether you're building a Grumman-produced or Eastern Aircraft machine. The early Grumman production had bronze green front and center cockpits. Also I sprayed the wheelwell interiors before gluing the wing halves together in order to get a good coating inside.

Offline modellius

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2520
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2019, 07:37:21 PM »
I love Accurate kits, they are great, have a few in my stash and every time I see one on some market I just can't help my self...... Nice work mate, like it a lot !

Offline draken35

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8724
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2019, 07:27:08 PM »
:-ok

Offline GregM

  • Beginner
  • *
  • Posts: 105
    • View Profile
    • Aviation At War:  Military Aviation Photography of Yesterday and Today
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2019, 03:12:49 AM »
I built one of these for the first round of models I built for the Hornet Museum, and have a second one 2/3 complete now for the second set going to the museum.  They're great kits, but getting the turret in was kind of a pain.  I used a mask set and sprayed the turret frame with an airbrush, it got a little beat up when installing and the paint had to be touched up.  I think I was ready to deal with the turret when I stopped working on the second one.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2019, 03:14:56 AM by GregM »

Offline Second Air Force

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5775
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2019, 12:09:12 PM »
Yes, I test-fit the turret right after I glued the fuselage halves together. (Last time I follow the instruction sheet!!! :))I think the best solution to it would be to complete the turret and paint it, install it in place and then glue the halves together. I never really thought of that alternative and now it's too late, but I did pry it in there just like you did, so that's what will happen.

Offline Second Air Force

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5775
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2019, 12:51:04 AM »
This is truly a relaxing kit to assemble, it goes together with little need of filler. The only thing I can find wrong with it is that it will be BIG when finished--quite unlike all the Bf 109s I've been used to!! The engine is assembled with kit parts only, no PE or other embellishment and it still looks pretty nice.

Offline No.1

  • Administrator and Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23091
  • Owner: www.letletlet-warplanes.com
    • View Profile
    • LetLetLet - Warplanes
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #9 on: June 29, 2019, 05:48:39 AM »
Engine look so detailed, will look nice inside cowling

Offline draken35

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8724
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #10 on: June 29, 2019, 07:41:26 AM »
Nice indeed

Offline Second Air Force

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5775
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2019, 12:42:23 AM »
Thanks, friends.

I've assembled the primary sections together, here is the result. This kit fits together so nicely that I almost painted it in sections like my Fleet Air Arm Hellcat, but decided to glue the wings on first to maintain strength for later.

It won't be long until painting starts.....

Offline No.1

  • Administrator and Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23091
  • Owner: www.letletlet-warplanes.com
    • View Profile
    • LetLetLet - Warplanes
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2019, 05:30:02 AM »
From my side, look like very good parts, almost no filler need, fast progress

Offline draken35

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8724
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2019, 05:31:57 AM »
Looks like a nice kit to build indeed

Offline Second Air Force

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5775
    • View Profile
Re: Accurate Miniatures Avenger II
« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2019, 04:55:25 PM »
Primer last night, Sky this morning: