Author Topic: TBM Avenger resurrection... (Read 4159 times)

wwwarbird · « **on:** November 04, 2013, 11:08:13 PM »

I just got home tonight with this TBM Avenger stunt model that I recently purchased from a private party in the Milwaukee, WI area. In another post here on the forum I was able to find out that it was built by Dave Trible. It is a scratchbuilt original design by him and I think it was originally powered with a PA .40.

The model has changed hands at least twice since Dave originally sold it, and I believe I'm now the third. I'm also pretty sure it hasn't been flown since Dave had it. We'll see how it goes, but I'm seriously considering taking care of the minor repairs that it needs and getting it back in the air.

The thing is kind of a monster too, 63" wingspan, 40-1/2" long overall...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2013, 11:10:35 PM »

Some more pics of the big bird...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2013, 11:15:36 PM »

Needs a little "hangar rash" patchwork on the wing but that's about it. Thankfully it's all on the bottom...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2013, 11:24:51 PM »

The rear exhaust K&B .40 is just something the last owner had hung on the model, probably only as a "prop holder". He told me he never did fly it. The engine actually seems new, it feels really good, and if anything it's just barely broken in. I'm not going to use the K&B but it would only need a venturi and NVA...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2013, 11:30:38 PM »

This is more what I'm thinking, either a .56 or a .62...

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 05, 2013, 02:51:19 AM »

Looks like you'll have fun with whatever you mount in it! That's a really nice plane Wayne!

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2013, 05:30:03 AM »

Grumman Avenger, one of my favorites. I saw one at a Cleveland airshow. Most impressive especially when they start the motor. Very, very manly. This model had to be impressive when flown. Thanks for the pictures.
Wayne

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2013, 07:04:14 AM »

She looks pretty good Wayne. I had so much going on at that time and fried the engine while it was in the Zero so I doubt I ever put more than 20 flights on the Avenger. In those days coming up the cash to buy it a new engine was pretty hard. Never thought of four stroke but why not? Fuel tank space was tight and that would solve that. I notice one of my infamous trim tabs on the bottom- leave it on. As I mentioned in our private messages it has my Delrin controls and no solder anyplace critical so it should be good for thousands of flights. Thanks for the memories and let me know how it flys for you. BTW. .018 x 63' lines.

Dave

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2013, 08:21:33 AM »

What a great build! Even with the hanger rash, it looks good. Assume that it came from Jap anti-aircraft fire.

My Dad was a navigator/bombadier serving in the Navy in WWII in the Pacific. He was on the small carriers, referred to as "Jeep Carriers". He loved the Grumman TBM. He hated the Curtiss Helldiver - said it was held together with bailing wire.

Funny story: a few years ago on one of his visits here I took him to the National Air & Space Museum on the National Mall. They have a great section on the Navy carriers in WWII. They have a big map of the Pacific and all the various actions that took place, so he was showing me where he had served in the Pacific - Guam, Saipan, etc.

A woman in her thirties was standing nearby and was listening in. She walks up to him and says "You're a Real American Hero!" and thanks him for his service to our nation. My poor Dad got all embarrassed and didn't know what to say, other than mumbling an "oh well, we all ...." his voice trailing off. So I thanked her for him. I never had thought of my Dad as a "Real American Hero". He was just my Dad. Now he is 88 and slowly going down hill. But, still, a Real American Hero.

Next Monday is Veterans Day. Remember to thank all of those Real American Heroes that you know. Even though you might embarrass them, they deserve our thanks!

proparc · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2013, 09:39:42 AM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on November 04, 2013, 11:30:38 PM

This is more what I'm thinking, either a .56 or a .62...

Now your talkin!!

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2013, 09:53:09 AM »

Got digging in the drawing closet and found the original pencil drawings for the Avenger. Also the Tenzan, Zero and a Hellcat I never built. That one would look like a twin to Kaz' Hellcat pretty much but wasn't designed as a take-apart. Hope the drawings can be seen in the pics.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2013, 09:53:43 AM »

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #12 on:** November 05, 2013, 10:15:31 AM »

Great model - and I like the drawings!

Dennis Holler · « **Reply #13 on:** November 05, 2013, 10:27:25 AM »

Wayne,
I saw that plane on the auction place

, Did you buy the other one he listed as well?

That looks nice, I was real interested in bidding on it cept it's about a 3 hour drive for me

Oh well, glad you got em, at least they may fly again now.

Will Hinton · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2013, 10:33:23 AM »

Scott, give your dad a real huge THANKS for all of us for his service. What a generation of heroes he belongs to. They kept our great country great, it may be our turn soon.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2013, 11:24:41 AM »

Quote from: Dennis Holler on November 05, 2013, 10:27:25 AM

That looks nice, I was real interested in bidding on it cept it's about a 3 hour drive for me

Dennis,

It was a 300 mile 4-1/2 hour drive each way for me. I made a short weekend out of it, went over Sunday morning and then came back Monday after visiting the Harley-Davidson Museum. Still, it all took a lot less time and money than it would have taken to build it!

It's a good thing I'm not addicted to this stuff...

Jim Scott · « **Reply #16 on:** November 05, 2013, 11:53:04 AM »

I had a chance to see the Avenger when I picked up the Sterling Spitfire the seller also had for sale. The build on the Avenger is immaculate, and, as Wayne said, the only damage I saw is to the covering on the wing bottom. It was also the first time I had ever seen a professional cover and finish job with silkspan. How I wish I could build like that. The plane was an absolute bargain.

The seller told me he used to fly c/l with his dad, and that he got back into it fairly recently. He bought some built planes to fly, but his dad got sick and passed away, ending his reentry into the hobby. He only lives a few miles from me.

Jim

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #17 on:** November 05, 2013, 12:54:26 PM »

What wing does the Avenger model use?

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2013, 02:06:42 PM »

Steve I mentioned in the previous thread this was in my 'C' series. That meant it was the 3rd variation of my Music wing airfoil which was a fattened up airfoil meant to carry more weight. The A wing had a different tip foil to delay stall, and the D is ........ Well it's just my own concoction anyway. Still working off some version of Music wing today.

Dave

Yes I know if you aren't familiar with the Music that doesn't mean much. The Sukhoi is a smaller Music without sheeting and cap strips. Only Vegas is actually the C wing it occurs to me. Desperado is more like the A wing with the tip high point back a little making more gentle stall characteristics and better wind stability at the cost of pure lift performance and weight carrying ability.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2013, 03:27:26 PM »

Hey Dave;
I remember you having a Hellcat either here at our contest in St. Louis, or at the Topeka event one year. Not sure how long ago that was. May have been a profile??? A mind is a terrible thing to waist!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Randy Powell · « **Reply #20 on:** November 05, 2013, 03:29:24 PM »

Now that's very cool. And shinny.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #21 on:** November 05, 2013, 03:44:10 PM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on November 05, 2013, 03:27:26 PM

Hey Dave;
I remember you having a Hellcat either here at our contest in St. Louis, or at the Topeka event one year. Not sure how long ago that was. May have been a profile??? A mind is a terrible thing to waist!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Dan I had a profile Hellcat and Dauntless. I brought the Dauntless to St. Louis once and won Open at Topeka with the Hellcat one year. They are based on the Sukhoi with different outlines. Found those profile Hellcat plans todayyyyy.......

?

Dave

wwwarbird · « **Reply #22 on:** November 05, 2013, 04:45:31 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on November 05, 2013, 03:29:24 PM

Now that's very cool. And shinny.

Duplicating the "shiny" to blend the finish might end up being the toughest part of the repair work. This thing appears to have been rubbed out to the max and I've never messed around with any of that. I always just spray it, let it dry, and call it good.

MarcusCordeiro · « **Reply #23 on:** November 05, 2013, 06:56:32 PM »

That ship does look great!!!

Marcus