True Details Cockpit for TBF Avenger?

yes, i do. i am currently buildingvthe trumpeter 1/32 Avenger and i am backdating it. what was the thickness of the sheet plastic for the window covering, and the diameter of the rods used forthe second seatsupport. also where can i get thecontrol stick for the second seat, thank you for your time

dipaoj,

I am glad you are well enough to be able to get back to modeling.  From what I have read I am confident that the first 60 or so TBF-1s had the second seat, control stick and basic flight control panel (behind the pilot seat).  I have not seen any photos, but believe the seat/control stick was cented in the cockpit.  These second seats were in the six Midway Avengers because the pilot (Albert Earnest) stated that radio operator (Harry Ferrier) climbed up into the "second seat behid the pilot cockpit" while they tried to find their way back to Midway.  A more common detail most modelers miss is the different fuselage window configuration on the Midway Avengers.  "8-T-1" (BuNo. 00380) was literally the first Avenger delivered to the U.S. Navy, so the short lived, original window configuration is a detail worth trying to reproduce.  I hope this helps.

Phillip1

The TBM-3 Avengers flying had the vacuum tube radio equipment removed after the war, and alot of the one flying had the seats installed for revenue flights. The very early productio TBF-1 had the seat there with the option for rear flight controls but was deemed useless and removed. Also pretty much all the flying Avengers are the 3E model which does not have the stinger side windows (I have seen two converted back to the 1C/3 stinger configuration. Also the 3E had an external tailhook unlike the earlier models. If I remember correctly the Avengers that participated in Midway did not have the seat behind the pilot due to Grumman omitting them during the early TBF trials.

Phillip1,

Thanks for your response (sorry for the delay but I've been having some medical problems).  I'm working with the Italeri/Accurate Miniatures 1/48 kit, so the rear cockpit build could be a challenge.  I'm curious about your decision to include a control stick back there and to "center" the seat in the fuselage.  Bert Kinzey's Detail & Scale provides conflicting information.  The photo on p.13 shows some flight instruments and the seat offset to port while the one on p. 17 has the seat centered, and both photos appear to show sheet metal covering the attachment point for the control column.  On the other hand, the Squadron/Signal "Walk Around" has a picture of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum's TBM-3 fitted with the rear cockpit (p. 25), and it clearly shows a fitting for the stick.  (It's difficult to tell, but it looks as if the seat may be offset to port.)  Did you make a judgement call with the Trumpeter kit, or are there any other reliable references out there?  BTW, I think a battle-damaged 8-T-1 would make an interesting build and a fitting tribute.  I've been collecting the few "after" photos that are out there (there are some that show details of the tail damage), but I think I'll try my hand at a "before" version first.  I'm getting back into the hobby after 40 years and have a lot of catching up to do!

Now if your doing one of the really early TBF's just remember that the access door in the fuselage had a window in there. 

dipaoj,

The national insignia markings are Yellow Hammer decals and the squadron codes came from a microscale general number sheet.  There are no aftermarket sets to backdate Trumpeter's 1/32 TBF-1C to a TBF-1, but if you have specific questions about the model I built in the article I will be glad to share with you what I did.  

Phillip1

Update - Thought I'd pass on this response I received from Jeff Melton, Customer Service Manager at Squadron:

"Thanks for checking with us.  Unfortunately, there is no True Detail resin cockpit conversion kit for the TBF-1 Avenger in production . . . just confirmed this with our production manager."

Bummer - will have to scrounge one from the aftermarket or try my hand at scratchbuilding one.