Night Avenger *finished*

[sandiego89]

Night Avenger.

In mid 1944 the US Navy fleet was being harassed by night attacks from Betty bombers.  It was thought that the Grumman TigerCat was still too far off, and the the hunter killer concept with a radar equipped TBM and Fighters would be unwieldy and would limited by the fighters range/endurance.  The Navy asked Grumman to develop a modified TBM with a souped up engine to reach high altitude quickly, radar, armament and a space for 2 radar observers in the rear fuselage.  The TBM also had the endurance to loiter for a dawn landing which was deemed safer.  

1/72 Hasegawa TBM-3, a bit from the Italeri F-4U/5N and some extra spares.



Going to be really tight for me- out of town mid week for work and my daughters graduation next weekend- fingers crossed!

-Dave  

[sandiego89]

Some progress, faired in the rear cockpit/turret area- used a 1/700 Akula Submarine hull- about a perfect match in the curve.

[ysi_maniac]

A single seat Avenger. I love the concept!

[kerick]

Do the radar operators get a "coal hole"?

[sandiego89]

Do the radar operators get a "coal hole"?

Exactly....plenty of room back there in the radio/belly gunner station.

[sandiego89]

To help preserve the pilots night vision, I extended the exhaust pipes out of the pilots view below the leading edge of the wing. 





Quad 20MM



Hump on behind the pilot.  Gah- 100% humidity today causing orange peel on the paint- partial strip off. 

[Mossie]

The single seat does make for a different look, like this one!

[NARSES2]

It's got a Skyraider look about it from some angles. Nice looking aeroplane

[PR19_Kit]

Grumman did it for real at the end of WWII, I read it in a World Air Power edition a couple of nights ago.

I'll try and find it and scan a pic.

I think yours looks better than theirs though Dave. 

[DogfighterZen]

That is a great idea, Looking forward for the completion!

[Captain Canada]

Love it ! I've had a single seater in the half built pile for over a decade...and you make it look so easy that it's in a 1 week GB !

What is the pic of ? never seen that before either !

[sandiego89]

Grumman did it for real at the end of WWII, I read it in a World Air Power edition a couple of nights ago.

I'll try and find it and scan a pic.

I think yours looks better than theirs though Dave.  

I am aware of the real night versions, and a single seater, but mine will be "whiffier" and combine a few features.

If you have some other photos/scans great! Thank you.

Captain, I will see if I can find the source picture, i am away from the bench.

-Dave

[sandiego89]

Love it ! I've had a single seater in the half built pile for over a decade...and you make it look so easy that it's in a 1 week GB !

What is the pic of ? never seen that before either !

Link to the picture (scroll to bottom) of the single seat attack Avenger, perhaps only one built?

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2015/07/post-war-eastern-tbm-variants.html

-Dave

[Ed S]

Looking good. The idea of a single seat Avenger similsr to the Skyraider is tempting.

[Captain Canada]

Thanks for the link ! Excellent article.