1/48 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator VT-8 "Midway" (Finished)

Looks like anorher fantastic finish. Love the weathering

Greatmaker

Looks like anorher fantastic finish. Love the weathering

 

Thanks Robert 

According to this review, the kit should have the option for the single or twin MG mount.  The decals will be different, but the review shows a source for aftermarket Coral Sea decals.

https://modelingmadness.com/review/preww2/tc/tmctbd.htm

I forgot how fast you work Joe. Paint work and weathering so far are first class.

Shipwreck

Joe, it seems that in order to represent a VT-8 TBD-1 in April 1942, I will need a red dot on the star an a single .30 cal. gun (thanks stikpusher). My question for you is, does it look feasible to hack the dual guns on your set down to a single without making too much of a mess of it? I know that I could get the GWH VT-6 version of the same kit. It comes wit a single .30 and pre-midway insignia, but not VT-8 pilot codes!

 

I’m not sure shipwreck, I see the single gun in there but I haven’t seen the mount. I’m building a pre-war version as well that requires a single mount. I’ll let you know when I get there.

It probably wouldn’t be too hard to fabricate one. 

mustang1989

I forgot how fast you work Joe. Paint work and weathering so far are first class.

 

Thanks Mustang...

Great model, lawdog!!! Nice detailing!

tempestjohnny

Geez. Snap your fingers and its almost done

 

Not quite, I still have to do those canopies...lol.  Thanks for stopping in Johnny  

John 3:16 KJV

Great model, lawdog!!! Nice detailing!

 

Thanks John

You’re welcome! :D

I think I'm finally done.  To recap, it's the recent Great Wall Battle of Midway boxing.  I did John Waldron's T-16 from VT-8. Overall the kit was quite good.  I've never built the Monogram kit, so I cannot compare the two (if I'm being honest the TBD isn't particularly high on my to-build list).  The main weakness of this kit is the multi-part canopies which are comical at best fit-wise, particularly towards the rear sections.  They are too thick and aren't even shaped right. I supplemented a few pieces of rear section with the beyond crappy Squadron vacuform designed for the Monogram kit.  I'd rather put my tongue in a garbage disposal that deal with vacuform.  In the end, I think it turned out fairly decent.  Note that of you use the closed canopy, the fit is good...........but fun would that be?  It's also a good idea to reinforce the inside of the wings if you display them in the down position.  

Other than Montex paint masks, which were challenging due to the corrugated wings, it's pretty much out of the box.  I did add the distinctive aerial wire with smoke colored invisible thread and brass tubing for insulators.  It's probably not accurate but I'm happy with it. 

Now I have to go full speed on the pre-war version to end my Devastator adventure.  Fortunately it will be getting the closed canopy.

Here is my tribute to those brave men on that June day. 

Rambo

She looks really good lawdog I'm like you not a fan of vacuformed anything, but you made them look good. I look forward to your next build.

 

Thanks Clint

tempestjohnny

Joe you did it again. What a beauty in an ugly TBD kind of way

 

Thanks Johnny

Shipwreck

Joe, I am glade you are happy with your build because there just is not much room for improvement here; great job! Now I am looking forward to your pre-war build because that will be very similar to my April '42 Hornet build. BTW, I do have a Monogram TBD-1 in my stash; I need to decide if it is worth $50 to upgrade to the GWM kit!

 

Thanks ship. I’ll only be posting finished pics of that one. I’ve already started painting it And I’m about to start on the yellow wings.  

$50.00? Well.....Lets just day it’s only worth it if you truly love the Devastator....

Fantastic work. I love the detail and weathering.

Great looking airplane and excellent workmanship. Really nice paint job.

Beautiful finish Lawdog. I’m looking forward to that Yellow Wings TBD. Which squadron are you planning for that one?

One small critique, and that would be the base- USN aircraft carrier flight decks were stained blue before December 7th. Before that they had a red mahogany stain.

Well crap. Guess I'll just go ahead and sell my kit now, because it will never look this good. Holy cow, Joe, what an amazing looking kit. Excellent.

BK

Brilliant work as usual!

Really a kick to view your finished work. I love your MG's and ammo belts among lots of other sections of this build - such realistic painting and weathering!

Fantastic finish Joe.  Weathering looks spot on and your attention to detail raises the bar.  That tri-color prop tip is pretty spiffy. Must have been a pain to mask but it sure looks better that my triple dipped one. Can’t imagine placeing the montex masks on a corrugated surface. I have enough problems placing them on flat ones 

cnq

Fantastic work. I love the detail and weathering.

 

Thanks cnq

JohnnyK

Great looking airplane and excellent workmanship. Really nice paint job.

 

Thanks Johnny

stikpusher

Beautiful finish Lawdog. I’m looking forward to that Yellow Wings TBD. Which squadron are you planning for that one?

One small critique, and that would be the base- USN aircraft carrier flight decks were stained blue before December 7th. Before that they had a red mahogany stain.

 

Thanks Stik. Indeed the yellow wings version will be uncharted territory for me. It will definitely be my most colorful. I will be doing the one that’s on the box of the Monogram kit, from the Lexington. The guy am building it for built that one as a kid. I think he’s feeling nostalgic....lol

I have a handful of bases and pilots I use for photography. That’s the only carrier deck I have right now. It’s just a Verlinden cardboard sheet glued to a wooden plaque, nothing fancy. I use it for Japanese Navy subjects too. I should make more I suppose.

BrandonK

Well crap. Guess I'll just go ahead and sell my kit now, because it will never look this good. Holy cow, Joe, what an amazing looking kit. Excellent.

BK

 

Sure you will, your an awesome modeler Brandon. Go for it! Thanks for the kind words bud.

1943Mike

Brilliant work as usual!

Really a kick to view your finished work. I love your MG's and ammo belts among lots of other sections of this build - such realistic painting and weathering!

 

Thanks Mike. The ammo belts are actually photoetch that come with the kit. I just painted them copper and gave them a wash. I don’t think they turned out half bad.