Great Wall Hobby 1/48
VT-8 AT Midway 1942 Douglas TBD-1 'Devastator'
LCDR John C.Waldron
INTRO
The Douglas TBD Devastator was a torpedo bomber of the United States Navy, ordered in 1934, first flying in 1935 and entering service in 1937. At that point, it was the most advanced aircraft flying for the USN and possibly for any navy in the world. However, the fast pace of aircraft development caught up with it, and by the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the TBD was already outdated. It performed well in some early battles, but in the Battle of Midway the Devastators launched against the Japanese fleet were almost totally wiped out. The type was immediately withdrawn from front line service, replaced by the Grumman TBF Avenger. To be honest, the TBF was not all that successful in the beginning. This was mostly due to the rather ineffective US torpedo. All known extant TBDs are in the ocean; none survived past 1944 on dry land.
MODEL
The kit is moded in light gray styrene and presented on five parts trees plus one tree of clear parts and two frets of photo-etched details.
Some of the features/options in this kit:
- Three very detailed cockpits
- Seat belts/shoulder harnesses provided as photo-etched parts
- Radio equipment nicely done
- Detailed bombardier/torpedoman positions
- .50 caliber rear gun ring installation
- Canopies can be positioned open or closed
- One-piece canopy provided for completely closed option
- Observation/aiming doors are positionable
- Detailed Twin Wasp engine
- Choice of open or closed cowl flaps
- Wings can be posed folded or extended
- Flaps can be posed extended or closed
- Ventral belly pan options for plain torpedo cradle
- Centerline torpedo armament
- Canopy paint masks are included
Decals cover:
- Douglas TBD-1 Devastator
US Navy (1775-Now)
VT-8 8-T-14 (George Gay)
MIDWAY, USS Hornet | June 1942 - Douglas TBD-1 Devastator
US Navy (1775-Now)
VT-8 T-16 (LCDR John C.Waldron)
MIDWAY, USS Hornet | June 1942
Aircraft Reviews:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/usn/lyletbd.htm
CONCLUSION
With its high level of detail, state-of-the-art surface textures and refreshingly modest parts count, this looks like an eminently buildable model. Considering the large number of colourful schemes, you might even want to build more than one!
Highly Recommended.
