castelnuovo
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Oct '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: July 2023
From the "wet coast"
Posts: 211
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
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Post by castelnuovo on Jul 18, 2023 23:02:25 GMT -5
This is Academy's TBM-3 in 1/48. The interior is the most detailed and complex I have ever seen. Everything fits perfectly, the big moment will be when the two halves are put together as there are lots of parts on one side that have to fit somewhere in the other half.
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Post by keavdog on Jul 18, 2023 23:07:12 GMT -5
Looking great dude. I literally just put the AM TBF-1C Atlantic on the bench so I'm dialed in. I built that one some time ago and as I recall there's a trick to get the turret in - little twist and shimmy.
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TJ
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June '23 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: May 2023
Posts: 2,165
May 14, 2023 18:18:36 GMT -5
May 14, 2023 18:18:36 GMT -5
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Post by TJ on Jul 19, 2023 3:45:26 GMT -5
Looks really good. Its a rebox of the AM kit. Probably one of their best
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Post by 406 Silverado on Jul 19, 2023 5:09:49 GMT -5
Looks really good. Its a rebox of the AM kit. Probably one of their best I thought that interior looked familiar and wanted to say that it has AM originations and you just confirmed that John and TJ. Accurate Miniatures kits really were ahead of their time and great kits at that. I've still got an AM Dauntless kit in the stash. Your interior work is coming along very well Castel. I've run into the fitting blues when assembling kits before and it's a true nightmare after spending so much time focused on the detailing that something doesn't fit on down the road. Unless it's a high end kit, I usually buy two of any kit that I build. This allows me to completely mock something up to see if there's any issues I'll be encountering beforehand and I've avoided alot of pitfalls like this. Looking forward to more on your very cool project here bud. |
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Post by deafpanzer on Jul 19, 2023 6:47:05 GMT -5
Great start! AM produced best kits for those dive bombers back then and they still do. You definitely have my attention cause I love those especially after watching the recent movie Midway.
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Joe Rix
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Post by Joe Rix on Jul 19, 2023 7:25:29 GMT -5
Your interior work is looking really sharp Castel. Yup, there be no better than these AM Avenger kits. I have yet to hear about anyone having issue with the fuselage fit on these so hopefully, all goes together flawlessly.
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stikpusher
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Post by stikpusher on Jul 19, 2023 13:03:31 GMT -5
Beautiful work so far! And with that nice big greenhouse canopy, much of that interior work will be visible!
I see that several others already beat me to the part about this being originally an Accurate Miniatures kit and that there is a trick to installing the turret... looking forward to your next update on this.
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TJ
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June '23 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: May 2023
Posts: 2,165
May 14, 2023 18:18:36 GMT -5
May 14, 2023 18:18:36 GMT -5
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Post by TJ on Jul 19, 2023 19:18:51 GMT -5
Looks really good. Its a rebox of the AM kit. Probably one of their best . I've still got an AM Dauntless kit in the stash. Really just one. I've got 4 Dauntless, 2 Avenger, and at least 5 Mustangs |
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castelnuovo
Full Member
Oct '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: July 2023
From the "wet coast"
Posts: 211
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
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Post by castelnuovo on Jul 20, 2023 16:47:13 GMT -5
Beautiful work so far! And with that nice big greenhouse canopy, much of that interior work will be visible! I see that several others already beat me to the part about this being originally an Accurate Miniatures kit and that there is a trick to installing the turret... looking forward to your next update on this. The turret installation does appear a bit tricky. I think will put the turret together first, then fit it in, then put the two fuselage halves together. I tried dry fitting them and they fit perfectly but the turret opening looks very narrow. At least this is the plan so far... |
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buddho
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Post by buddho on Jul 20, 2023 20:50:03 GMT -5
Awesome looking interior...watching this build.🤓
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Post by 406 Silverado on Jul 21, 2023 5:47:28 GMT -5
Beautiful work so far! And with that nice big greenhouse canopy, much of that interior work will be visible! I see that several others already beat me to the part about this being originally an Accurate Miniatures kit and that there is a trick to installing the turret... looking forward to your next update on this. The turret installation does appear a bit tricky. I think will put the turret together first, then fit it in, then put the two fuselage halves together. I tried dry fitting them and they fit perfectly but the turret opening looks very narrow. At least this is the plan so far... Will be watchin' for the next update Castel. I'm sure you'll get the turret figured out well. |
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castelnuovo
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Oct '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: July 2023
From the "wet coast"
Posts: 211
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
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Post by castelnuovo on Aug 2, 2023 19:15:49 GMT -5
Lo and behold, the two halves went together perfectly. I am really impressed (with myself too  ), given that there are lots of parts from both sides that had to fit into the other side. Little bit of a filling here and there to even out the edges. The turret was a bit of a project in itself and turned out reasonably well...if you don't look too close . It took me few days with my shaking hands to paint it as I did it very slowly, freehand, few frames in the morning, then few later in the day. It sits a bit wonky inside but nothing dramatic. I forgot to put in the arresting hook  but it is no big deal as it can just be pushed in. Now I have to figure out how to install the bombs. There are no holes in the bomb bay and the instructions are a bit weird. In some places the arrow points in a sort of general direction, kind of, this goes somewhere there, figure it out  . But the precision of the parts is super.
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stikpusher
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Post by stikpusher on Aug 2, 2023 19:49:49 GMT -5
You’re painting this freehand and with a brush?! Nice! Looking good!
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Post by keavdog on Aug 2, 2023 19:52:10 GMT -5
Great progress!
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Post by 406 Silverado on Aug 3, 2023 4:48:19 GMT -5
Super kits with details aplenty. I may have to search on the internet for one an original AM kit of one of these as there's so much opportunity with these kits.
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Post by deafpanzer on Aug 3, 2023 11:59:58 GMT -5
Looking real good... thanks for sharing tips about this because one day I will build this eventually.
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buddho
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Post by buddho on Aug 3, 2023 20:00:33 GMT -5
Coming along really well, the details are eye popping good.
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kyledehart5
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Post by kyledehart5 on Aug 7, 2023 15:56:59 GMT -5
Just stumbled across this. Wonderful progress
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castelnuovo
Full Member
Oct '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: July 2023
From the "wet coast"
Posts: 211
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
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Post by castelnuovo on Aug 7, 2023 20:49:36 GMT -5
Thank you gentlemen
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Post by 406 Silverado on Aug 8, 2023 5:12:38 GMT -5
Just so you know Castel......I was so inspired by this build that I picked up an Accurate Miniatures TBM at the Nats that was still sealed up after watching this build.  |
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handiabled
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Apr '23 Showcased Build Awarded
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Post by handiabled on Aug 8, 2023 5:31:13 GMT -5
Great detail going on here! I've a 1/32 TBF 1C in my pile somewhere I have been procrastinating on but seeing your bird come together is giving me inspiration to start digging around in the box. I'll be following this one for sure!
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Post by Medicman71 on Aug 8, 2023 21:05:46 GMT -5
Very nice work! I think I have the AM Dauntless in the stash.
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Post by 406 Silverado on Aug 9, 2023 6:19:07 GMT -5
Very nice work! I think I have the AM Dauntless in the stash. Now THAT'S.....a good kit. I've got one of those as well. |
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castelnuovo
Full Member
Oct '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: July 2023
From the "wet coast"
Posts: 211
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
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Post by castelnuovo on Aug 9, 2023 17:43:11 GMT -5
Just so you know Castel......I was so inspired by this build that I picked up an Accurate Miniatures TBM at the Nats that was still sealed up after watching this build. Glad to hear that. You will enjoy it |
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Joe Rix
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Post by Joe Rix on Aug 9, 2023 18:18:54 GMT -5
Bravo on a successful fuselage close up Castel. It's looking right fine.
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castelnuovo
Full Member
Oct '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: July 2023
From the "wet coast"
Posts: 211
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
Jul 16, 2023 0:17:51 GMT -5
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Post by castelnuovo on Aug 20, 2023 0:34:32 GMT -5
A bit o' update... This turned out reasonably well, I think. Under the light and zoom the paint looks uneven but under a normal light it is fine. Now, if somebody could solve this mystery...Look at the wingtips. The green navigation light fits perfectly but the red is short and leaves a gap at the tip. Is it normal or is the red piece faulty?
This is something that sort of ruins ones day. The glue vapours on the windshield are quite visible. Maybe we can say that some shrapnel hit the windshield but didn't quite penetrated it? 
The white paint is always a bit of a pain to work with. I used AK off white but ran out of it. So I found some off white among some old art stuff but one off white was a bit off-off so not quite the same off. Makes sense?  Strangely, I kind of like it. Maybe the plane was shot up from below, fixed up, repainted and, oh darn, the paint is not quite the same. And the tail wheel slipped a bit to the side during a hard landing but not too bad 
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handiabled
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Post by handiabled on Aug 20, 2023 3:31:26 GMT -5
A bit o' update... This turned out reasonably well, I think. Under the light and zoom the paint looks uneven but under a normal light it is fine. Now, if somebody could solve this mystery...Look at the wingtips. The green navigation light fits perfectly but the red is short and leaves a gap at the tip. Is it normal or is the red piece faulty?
Progress looks great The nav lights look stretched out to my old eyes. HTH  As for the windscreen craze a pre-dip in Future can prevent this, or look into Bob Smith Industries BSI-139H Clear Super-Gold which won't craze clear For the rest of the bird I say "artist's discretion" is always allowed. I hope to see more soon! |
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Post by deafpanzer on Aug 20, 2023 7:51:47 GMT -5
Looking real good. Wish I can help with your question but I don't have books on those... hope somebody here does.
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Post by JimD on Aug 21, 2023 21:03:43 GMT -5
Nice! I've built this kit in one boxing or another three times now. Actually I want to do it again with proper weathering. My last go was on a deadline so it's a little cleaner than I normally like. But this is truly one of AM great kits. A lot of their stuff is very highly over rated unfortunately  |
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stikpusher
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Post by stikpusher on Aug 22, 2023 11:12:19 GMT -5
It looks like there is some sort of access hatch on the real aircraft immediately behind the left wing light  |
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), given that there are lots of parts from both sides that had to fit into the other side. Little bit of a filling here and there to even out the edges.
but it is no big deal as it can just be pushed in. 
Strangely, I kind of like it. Maybe the plane was shot up from below, fixed up, repainted and, oh darn, the paint is not quite the same. And the tail wheel slipped a bit to the side during a hard landing but not too bad 
