Grumman / General Motors
TBM-3E Firebomber

by Bernhard Schrock

Accurate Miniatures' 1/48 scale TBM-3 Avenger is available online from Squadron

Here is one of the most interesting projects that I have ever build: a Grumman/General Motors TBM-3E operated by a company in New Brunswick in Canada as a Firebomber.

The airplane started life as a TBM-3E by the USN and was rebuilt as a tanker in mid 1960’s by Skyway Air Services Ltd.

During the1990s the airplane was purchased by the Forest Protection Ltd and has remained in service until today.

I started with the excellent TBM-3 kit from Accurate Miniatures and converted this first into a TBM-3E. Followed modifications was necessary:

• new instrument panel,

• redesign of the cooling flaps and exhaust opening,

• modification of the stinger gun-area and a bit larger tailwheel.

After filling the turret opening with a core from baswood,  I “coated” the hump with thin plastic sheet.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Fortunately I found the very good site “Canadian Bushplane Heritage” with two dozen photos of exactly this arircraft.

The markings are from Letraset, Aeromaster and airbrushed (#3 on the cowling).

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2004 by Bernhard Schrock
Page Created 23 March, 2004
Last Updated 23 March, 2004

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