Trumpeter 1/32 TMB-3 Avenger

BarryW

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I finished the body of the rockets and have cut the ignition wires as 1.5cm lengths of lead wire. I will attach these when it comes to final fittings.
1B60CDD6-8BC7-4ADF-BDAD-AF79A22EC240.jpeg
I then cut the rocket wing mounts from the kit parts.
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And drilled holes for the ignition wires
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Cementing them into place. Lots of care using mk1 eyeball to make sure they lined up
4E481869-467A-498A-8E25-49C285E1A328.jpeg
When firmly glued in place I used first a scriber to score a guidline, then the corner of a square file, followed by a round file to get a curve to which to fix the rockets
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Then some primer sprayed onto the rockets.
3C0DA291-EA25-4D7B-A9EF-721114B0DD8F.jpeg

I am now in the process of masking, a long one.......
 
D

Dave S4

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This aircraft project is just great. Going to be a cracker, I suspect.
 

wotan

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Barry

I am beginning to understand just how much work goes into building a decent aircraft model. You seem to go that one step further to add the extra finish to your models that make them stand out from the crowd. very nicely done and I am watching closely to learn from.

John
 

BarryW

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Thanks everyone.

This is a very time-consuming model but well worth the effort.

I have finished the rockets and done some canopy painting while also working on masking the main airframe. Hopefully the masking will be finished tonight so I can lay down the first coat of primer to highlight flaws.

here is a shot of the rockets all painted and the canopy masked and painted USN Sea Blue.
IMG_4270 (004).jpg
 

Jakko

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Interesting attachment. Too bad it doesn’t say what web site it’s about, though :smiling3:
 

BarryW

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Interesting attachment. Too bad it doesn’t say what web site it’s about, though :smiling3:
Mmmmmm...... Yes, I thought I had deleted that when I realised I linked to the wrong thing Jakko... anyway deleted now....
 

BarryW

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I have been masking up...
underside done
IMG_4271 (002).jpg
Top-side to do tonight.
IMG_4272 (002).jpg
Then it is on with the disposable gloves and an alcohol wipe all over the aircraft before the first black primer coat.

I will also find the time to remove the masking from the canopy glass as that has been painted, wash applied and a varnish coat done.
 

Jakko

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I’m now wondering: what are the brass strips on the wings for? That is to say, what do they represent that couldn’t be moulded in plastic straight onto the wing parts?
 
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They look like wing skin strengthening plates to me.Trumpeter do more than one version of the Avenger. Maybe earlier aircraft didn’t have these plates.So it would make sense for Trumpeter to provide them as PE instead of having to mould two different wings.
 

Jakko

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That would make sense, yes.
 
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Ranwulf

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Gleaned from Fine Scale no accreditation found. Some sort of seal off, same application on on wing lower. Each terminating at pivot. My 2 cents.
Restored TBM WIng Fold Detail.jpg
 

BarryW

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Black Primer sprayed. It helped highligh some flaws that I addressed with a little filler, sanding stick and scriber.
ED3ED341-1C98-4910-ACEE-7DA0E51876EC.jpeg

I then layed down a very thin white primer coat on the underside. As the underside is white I wanted to first tone down the black basing just a little. Primer being a little thicker and less translucent is ideal for this.

I then sprayed the underside with the base coat, a light overall coverage first then I focussed on the centre of panels to lighten them along with other areas that I wanted lighter and closer to the base colour.

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I am pleased with the overall modulated look but I think I need one or maybe two more mist coats to pull it together and slightly reduce the contrast.

I will decide tomorrow when I get some more benchtime.
 

BarryW

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I am progressing well with the painting.

Underside painted white, the sides intermediate blue and she is masked up ready for sea blue.
IMG_4276 (002).jpg

I adopted my usual method of base coat application for darker colours.

First an overall application then I mix the base colour with a little white to spray into the middle of panels and in areas that would catch the light.
IMG_4277 (002).jpg
Next it all needs blending in and toning it down with repeated mist coats of thinned base coat until you get the effect that you want.IMG_4278 (002).jpg
You just have to be careful not to overdo these mist coats.
I then end with a final mist coat of Mr Levelling Thinner. This helps even out the paint and makes sure it is nice and shiny for decals. All paints are MRP of course.

here she is with some of the masking removed. The rest will be removed when I have finished the matt coats after weathering..
IMG_4279 (002).jpg
There are just a few areas where I need to touch up. The touching up will be done by airbrush using Clever Putty for local masking.

Next I will be painting details before decalling.
 

BarryW

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Thanks Dave - yes thats right, the MRP range, not the Gunze products.
 
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