Flat colors and a subtle weathering
effect make the model look well-used,
which I like.
effect make the model look well-used,
which I like.
Hobby Master continues to pump out models that have been mostly overlooked by everyone else in 1:72. This TBM Avenger is only the second in
the scale (IXO released the first) and it's by far the best so far. Well, let me back up a second -- Corgi has just released its Predator Series
Avenger, which is based on HM's mold, which is why I still give HM the "props".
This one depicts a livery flown by none other than former President George Bush Sr., and its one folks have been clamoring for. The tri-colored
paint scheme is very nice, though the secondary blue looks a bit too muted -- pics and profiles I've seen of the real deal show a brighter shade of
blue. (Of course, the irony is that in the first pic above, this blue is a bit too saturated, and thus too bright, which is a by product of the flash. I'm
working on this.)
Assembly was mostly very smooth: The main gear fits snuggly in both the up and down positions, and this bird is very stable on its feet. The
retracted tail wheel was a bit tough to fit flush, and I didn't want to jam it in there for fear of not being able to get it out again. The open bomb bay
doors attached easily, no glue is required, as did the optional torpedo or bombs (four of 'em). The closed bomb bay part fits nice and tight.
The rockets, on the other hand, were a bit of a pain. The fit into the underside of the wings via two prongs on each rocket, a small one in front
with a slight larger one in the back. This larger prong did not want to fit flush on all but one of the eight rockets. I had to gently scrape the silver
paint off of each of these prongs to get the rockets to fit right. This is not a big deal really, but I did break off the fins of one of the rockets trying to
force it into place BEFORE scraping the paint off. And I really, really hate busting any part of a new model. So just be gentile with yours and you'll
be fine!
the scale (IXO released the first) and it's by far the best so far. Well, let me back up a second -- Corgi has just released its Predator Series
Avenger, which is based on HM's mold, which is why I still give HM the "props".
This one depicts a livery flown by none other than former President George Bush Sr., and its one folks have been clamoring for. The tri-colored
paint scheme is very nice, though the secondary blue looks a bit too muted -- pics and profiles I've seen of the real deal show a brighter shade of
blue. (Of course, the irony is that in the first pic above, this blue is a bit too saturated, and thus too bright, which is a by product of the flash. I'm
working on this.)
Assembly was mostly very smooth: The main gear fits snuggly in both the up and down positions, and this bird is very stable on its feet. The
retracted tail wheel was a bit tough to fit flush, and I didn't want to jam it in there for fear of not being able to get it out again. The open bomb bay
doors attached easily, no glue is required, as did the optional torpedo or bombs (four of 'em). The closed bomb bay part fits nice and tight.
The rockets, on the other hand, were a bit of a pain. The fit into the underside of the wings via two prongs on each rocket, a small one in front
with a slight larger one in the back. This larger prong did not want to fit flush on all but one of the eight rockets. I had to gently scrape the silver
paint off of each of these prongs to get the rockets to fit right. This is not a big deal really, but I did break off the fins of one of the rockets trying to
force it into place BEFORE scraping the paint off. And I really, really hate busting any part of a new model. So just be gentile with yours and you'll
be fine!
Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series
HA1201: TBM-1C Avenger, USS San Jacinto, George Bush Sr. Released: March, 2007
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The .50 cal guns in the wings are painted on, unfortunately. An info card is included with the model, which is a first for Hobby Master. (Word on the
street is this card will go away with future releases and the info will be included on the box instead.)
There are no moving control surfaces, no pilot figure, no open canopy option, which are all bummers. I certainly didn't expect moving control
surfaces, or folding wings, but it would be a good idea for HM to include pilot figures as SOP for its models. It's starting to charge as much as the
"big boys" and has gone the extra mile with ordnance, so this oversight is glaring. (I just don't like displaying models "in flight" without pilots.)
Twin radio antennas are included under the wings, and HM throws an extra radio mast in as well (inserts into the cockpit, also with a bit of
shaving) just in case you drop one into the plush carpet and never see it again.
The gun turret does not rotate, nor does the gun elevate -- again, these features would have been really, really cool (at least to me). And
apparently, the middle seat should not be included in this TBM variant (for more, see www.hobbymastercollector.com)
street is this card will go away with future releases and the info will be included on the box instead.)
There are no moving control surfaces, no pilot figure, no open canopy option, which are all bummers. I certainly didn't expect moving control
surfaces, or folding wings, but it would be a good idea for HM to include pilot figures as SOP for its models. It's starting to charge as much as the
"big boys" and has gone the extra mile with ordnance, so this oversight is glaring. (I just don't like displaying models "in flight" without pilots.)
Twin radio antennas are included under the wings, and HM throws an extra radio mast in as well (inserts into the cockpit, also with a bit of
shaving) just in case you drop one into the plush carpet and never see it again.
The gun turret does not rotate, nor does the gun elevate -- again, these features would have been really, really cool (at least to me). And
apparently, the middle seat should not be included in this TBM variant (for more, see www.hobbymastercollector.com)
What HM does, that Corgi and Dragon do not, is weather its models. The underside of the model has
a very faint rust effect, which I like very much. And the overall model is treated with a black wash that
gives it a grimy, well-used look -- which just about every real photo of this aircraft I've seen resembles.
Unfortunately, this also means you get black panel lines, which while much subtler than we see with FOV
or IXO is still too heavy. Thankfully the paint scheme makes it so the lines are not as pronounced as
they might be otherwise. I really wish that HM would try a gray wash instead of black to make the effect
even more subtle.
An in-flight display stand is included, and it's made of the same flimsy plastic as previous HM stands --
but hey, at least you get one right? The stand does allow you to display the model with its bomb bay
doors open, however.
I don't have too much to say about the packaging, it's pretty standard fare -- it closely mirrors that you
get with Dragon's jets. The ordnance is housed in a plastic sleeve inserted into the box flap, and the
model is in the main box inside a clear plastic shell with a cover. Again, the inclusion of the info card is a
great, if short-lived, addition -- serializing the cards would be even better. (I would prefer this to putting
the info on the box, even if it means the model costs a little extra.)
If you're into metal content, you'll be happy with this model -- it's quite heavy with very little plastic in
its composition. The paint and tampo-printed graphics application are first-rate. The graphics are very
crisp, and there is little evidence of paint over-spray or production blemishes. And the windows in the
dorsal section of the model are clear plastic, too, rather than painted on, which is another quality touch.
Hobby Master continues to evolve it seems with each new release. This is a very solid model that I
think will please most collectors. If you don't like to fiddle with your models at all, you should probably
stay away from this one, however.
a very faint rust effect, which I like very much. And the overall model is treated with a black wash that
gives it a grimy, well-used look -- which just about every real photo of this aircraft I've seen resembles.
Unfortunately, this also means you get black panel lines, which while much subtler than we see with FOV
or IXO is still too heavy. Thankfully the paint scheme makes it so the lines are not as pronounced as
they might be otherwise. I really wish that HM would try a gray wash instead of black to make the effect
even more subtle.
An in-flight display stand is included, and it's made of the same flimsy plastic as previous HM stands --
but hey, at least you get one right? The stand does allow you to display the model with its bomb bay
doors open, however.
I don't have too much to say about the packaging, it's pretty standard fare -- it closely mirrors that you
get with Dragon's jets. The ordnance is housed in a plastic sleeve inserted into the box flap, and the
model is in the main box inside a clear plastic shell with a cover. Again, the inclusion of the info card is a
great, if short-lived, addition -- serializing the cards would be even better. (I would prefer this to putting
the info on the box, even if it means the model costs a little extra.)
If you're into metal content, you'll be happy with this model -- it's quite heavy with very little plastic in
its composition. The paint and tampo-printed graphics application are first-rate. The graphics are very
crisp, and there is little evidence of paint over-spray or production blemishes. And the windows in the
dorsal section of the model are clear plastic, too, rather than painted on, which is another quality touch.
Hobby Master continues to evolve it seems with each new release. This is a very solid model that I
think will please most collectors. If you don't like to fiddle with your models at all, you should probably
stay away from this one, however.
