Good to see the two halves came together without much issue. Shame to hide a lot of that lovely interior work.
Tim’s Hobbyboss 1/48 Fleet Air Arm Avenger MkI
- Thread starter Tim Marlow
- Start date
Is the 'rear 'Bomb Aimer' actually listed as such?
My hypothesis!
To me, with it being FAA and all that. I would perhaps suggest the rear guy is actually a communications guy and gunner!! Or TAG, Telegraphist Air Gunner, a recognised trade within the FAA. The Swordfish carried one. (Just out of interest, the TAG's were the predecessors of my trade 'Aircrewmen'.)
With the aircraft being so big, I would assume it would have some range to it? (An assumption). That being so, then it would make sense for the RN to utilise the trades they have, TAG's) to communicate with the fleet and also he doubles up as tail end charlie in the event of the cunning enemy attacking the rear.
I would also think that all crew positions would have some form of harness even it were only a lap strap. Seems strange to me that so little consideration would be made to even the lowliest of crew members. Even during the war years.
Unless y'all know different!! :smiling2:
Edited bit.
Looking at Andy's Avenger, there appears to be a hatch on the port side under the turret operators position, (probably for the turret gunner). Also a hatch on the starboard side rear which I reckon would be the access to the 'stinger' operator!!
My hypothesis!
To me, with it being FAA and all that. I would perhaps suggest the rear guy is actually a communications guy and gunner!! Or TAG, Telegraphist Air Gunner, a recognised trade within the FAA. The Swordfish carried one. (Just out of interest, the TAG's were the predecessors of my trade 'Aircrewmen'.)
With the aircraft being so big, I would assume it would have some range to it? (An assumption). That being so, then it would make sense for the RN to utilise the trades they have, TAG's) to communicate with the fleet and also he doubles up as tail end charlie in the event of the cunning enemy attacking the rear.
I would also think that all crew positions would have some form of harness even it were only a lap strap. Seems strange to me that so little consideration would be made to even the lowliest of crew members. Even during the war years.
Unless y'all know different!! :smiling2:
Edited bit.
Looking at Andy's Avenger, there appears to be a hatch on the port side under the turret operators position, (probably for the turret gunner). Also a hatch on the starboard side rear which I reckon would be the access to the 'stinger' operator!!
Cheers Andy. That’s the lot of the wingy builder I’m afraid…..you do it all because you don’t really know what can and cannot be seen, and it turns out nearly all of it has disappeared :sleeping2:
Hi Doug. As far as I know he was a radio operator/navigator/gunner/bomb aimer. All the kit for all three is in his position. Probably a TAG, as you suggest. Stinger is only needed when under attack, and bomb Aimer only when attacking using level bombs. The flight there and back would give him plenty of time for the rest of it….busy little chap though…..
As to access, as far as I can make out, both rear crew members got in through the big hole in the starboard side…..the bottom flap in the turret below the seat drops down to let the gunner in. Always thought they must have been quite fit to clamber around in there…..
Naval aircrew have always had to be fairly adept at getting into and out of awkward spaces!!! Crew considerations seem to have been low down on designers priority lists!!! Look at the Sea Vixen? The Observer, (navigator/tactical), was in an awful place if it came to ditching!!
But you know the detail is there!
Cheers Steve, very kind of you.
Great progress Tim, as already said shame a lot of the internal detail will be hidden but I suppose creating it all adds to the fun :thinking: 
Geoff.
Geoff.
Thanks Geoff. It is usually fun, but for some reason I’ve found this one a bit of a drag. Glad it’s zipped up now so I can move in to the next stage.Great progress Tim, as already said shame a lot of the internal detail will be hidden but I suppose creating it all adds to the fun :thinking:
Geoff.
Beautiful interior Tim and I know it's there after it's all closed up.
I thought the TAG was the third guy that just 'tagged' along...where's my coat.
Could never bring myself to get a 1/48 version as the wing area is so huge I have to do major weathering to make it look interesting. I would end up folding it or perhaps only one wing. What's your plan Tim...folded or unfolded?
Cheers,
Wabble
I thought the TAG was the third guy that just 'tagged' along...where's my coat.
Could never bring myself to get a 1/48 version as the wing area is so huge I have to do major weathering to make it look interesting. I would end up folding it or perhaps only one wing. What's your plan Tim...folded or unfolded?
Cheers,
Wabble
I just caught up too Tim. Thought you had started playing with Lawn Ornaments again.........Or am I just going blind in my old age........Like the guys said, it's a shame to close her up, but you/we all knows it is all inside and very nicely done too!!! Hope to see more progress soon and maybe even a dash of paint on her...
Oh, and don't mind Richard, He's still suffering from that 'Jungle Medal' fever thang!.!.....
Prost
Allen
Oh, and don't mind Richard, He's still suffering from that 'Jungle Medal' fever thang!.!.....
Prost
Allen
Cheers Richard. Big wings indeed when they are out, but mine will be folded, mostly to get it in the cabinet
The wingfold on this kit actually looks very good.
Hi Allen. I think the last blokes I did were the safety elves in their autumn collection. Got some good looking Orcs primed up, but they will probably have to wait until the next GB is done and dusted.
Thanks for the compliment. Next job is to smooth out the joins and reestablish the surface detail I’ll probably loose. Paint is a while away yet….I never mind Richard, he’s one of the good guys :thumb2:
Just had a catch up Tim and I'm very impressed, I have to agree with Andy about all that superb work getting hidden away, but we all know it's there
Cheers Mick. Very kind of you. As to aircraft interiors, the trouble is that at some angles you might be able to see things you didn’t complete, so you do them all just in case. Nothing screams “model” more than unfinished plastic, after all.
Cheers Rick. Nothing to be guilty of, I miss loads on here because there is just so much coming through at times.
Even using my Magic Carpet Mk7 to flit between builds I miss lots.
There are just so many good builds going on.
There are just so many good builds going on.
Bit more progress made……nascelle on, and stub wings pretty much done….
That’s going to be the folded side, so started detailing the wingfold area….
Bit rough and ready but it will have to do….took quite a while because all the frames are butt glued….
Better than the kit parts anyway….
This one is the deployed (not folded) side so it didn’t seem worth swapping out what I won’t see…..
Ive moaned a bit about the complete lack of tolerance on part fitting for this one, but must give the wing root a shout out…..
This is the best I’ve ever made, from any manufacturer….absolutely perfect fit :thumb2:
At least I’m back to sticking big bits together now so it feels like I’m making progress…..
Oh, and no prizes for spotting the non deliberate mistake…..
That’s going to be the folded side, so started detailing the wingfold area….
Bit rough and ready but it will have to do….took quite a while because all the frames are butt glued….
Better than the kit parts anyway….
This one is the deployed (not folded) side so it didn’t seem worth swapping out what I won’t see…..
Ive moaned a bit about the complete lack of tolerance on part fitting for this one, but must give the wing root a shout out…..
This is the best I’ve ever made, from any manufacturer….absolutely perfect fit :thumb2:
At least I’m back to sticking big bits together now so it feels like I’m making progress…..
Oh, and no prizes for spotting the non deliberate mistake…..
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