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Trumpeter TBM-3 by Marcel Bargallo The engine "only" has got 77 pieces, can you handle it? This is not a puzzle, this is the Wright Cyclone with 1900 hp!!!!
The Cockpit is probably the most difficult part of the plane, not only because there are a lot of small plastic and metal pieces, but also because of the complication in painting every display, joystick, light and all the other small details that makes the cockpit more lookable to a real one.
I started with the floor, the back and the chair, everything completely glued and painted separately, the both left and right side instrument panels and of course, the central one. After that point, I glued the floor, the back and both side panels, re-painted the joints. Then, was the turn to the chair, re-painted the joints and after that was the turn to the central instrument panel. I found the seat belts were a little short, so I had to glue it and look more like a modern fighter chair, but anyway it looks wonderful, the photo echted seat belts are damn real!!
All the ribbets are painted with a graphite pencil, this way all the ribbets get brillian as if it were real. Due the Trumpeter building book doesn't show how was in reality a real Avenger cabin, I checked photos of real Avengers so I could know how every display, joystick and light had to be painted, it was also very helpful finding the "Pilot 's Handbook of Flight Operating Instructions Navy Model TBM-3 Airplane" that a guy from E-Bay sold me, what a great buy, I could understand every cabin instrument the meaning and due that was really easier for the paint. If you need a copy, please ask me! Once I finished this part I could have a little idea about how big this bird is. I needed more than 40 hours to finish this part.
By fixing these parts, the "monster" is getting bigger and bigger, and will grow a lot more. A minimum of 35 hours were needed on this part.
This is finished the first week of January. Next weeks, there'll be more adds to show how the bird is looking.
By the way, if you want to see more photos, please check the web page: http://www.geocities.com/tbm_3/tbm_3.html © Marcel Bargallo 2006 |
