Page 8 - Nov2019

Grumman TBF-1C “AVENGER”

SCALE & KIT: 1/32 Trumpeter
MODELER: 林周市
Our collection of original .303 Brownings for the
Hurricane. Lots to be done to strip them down, HISTORY: The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated
complete with newly machined parts and then refinish TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is
them all to look like new. an American torpedo bomber developed initially for
In addition to supplying the newly machined gun parts, the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and
the Mosquito Society also had two new hand crank eventually used by several air and naval aviation
starter handles manufactured by Tekoa Research Design services around the world.
and Development of Okotoks, AB. Upon delivery to HASI
they agreed that the new hand cranks were
distinguishable from the original by virtue of their
superior workmanship. After consulting with Vintage V-
12s and scouring our sources in the UK, we have also had
to enlist Tekoa to machine some sprockets for the starter
system and now await their delivery. Unusually the
Hurricane has a 12 volt electrical system and the hand

crank starting system may well have to be functional in The Avenger entered U.S. service in 1942, and first saw
order to start the airplane. For practical purposes, action during the Battle of Midway. Despite the loss of
virtually every flying Hurricane in the world has been five of the six Avengers on its combat debut, it survived
converted to a 24 volt system, but ours, despite the in service to become one of the outstanding torpedo
disadvantages and challenges, will remain authentic. On bombers of World War II. Greatly modified after the
that topic we were asked to source a proper 12 volt war, it remained in use until the 1960s.
meter for the airplane which was generously supplied by
Rick Featherstone. Additionally we also supplied a
Fairchild AN-N6 gun camera which was sourced from my
personal collection.

It is a truism in this business to say that the airplane is
now 90% complete, with 90% left to go. Speculating on
an exact date for first engine run and eventual delivery
would be foolhardy no matter how close we seem to be.
Such endeavours as restoring 77 year old airplanes seem
to keep their own timetables in defiance of all mortal
desires and schedules.