Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series Diecast Model

Grumman TBM-3E (TBF) Avenger - VT-10, USS Intrepid, U.S. Navy, April 1945

1:72 Scale.  Length: 6.75".  Wingspan: 9”

US Navy Squadron VT-10 made three combat cruises during World War II. They were assigned to the USS Intrepid from February 1945 until October 1945. On April 7, 1945 VT-10 took part in the massive assault against the IJN Battleship Yamato and an armada of support ships. There were 180 fighters, 75 bombers and 131 torpedo aircraft involved in the attacks.

From the time of the first attack at 12:37 until finally sinking at 14:23 the Yamato was struck by at least eleven torpedoes and perhaps two more as well as by eight bombs. Of the 2,332 crew aboard the Yamato, 2,055 were lost. VT-10 lost two aircraft. During WWII VT-10 is credited with sinking or damaging 300,000 tons of Japanese shipping at a cost of 30 aircraft and 27 crewman


The TBF/ TBM Avenger was a torpedo bomber used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. It was developed by Grumman to replace the Douglas TBD Devastator. First flown on August 7, 1941, the Avenger entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. It was the first aircraft to feature a new wing-folding mechanism, created by Grumman to maximize storage space on an aircraft carrier.

The Avenger had a three man crew: pilot, turret gunner and radioman/bombardier/ventral gunner and was armed with several machine guns for defense. Its large bomb bay could carry one Mark 13 torpedo, a single 2,000 pound (907 kg) bomb, or up to four 500 pound (227 kg) bombs. With a 30,000 ft. (10,000 m) ceiling and a range of 1,000 mi (1,610 km) the Avenger was better than any previous American torpedo bomber.

By 1943 Grumman began to slowly phase out production of the Avenger in order to produce the F6F Hellcat fighter. The Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors took over manufacturing the aircraft, designated TBM. Of the 9,836 TBF/TBM Avengers built, GM made 7,546 of them.


Hobby Master offers a wide selection of quality, pre-assembled, diecast model airplanes. Each model is crafted to a high level of accuracy using specifications of the original aircraft. They are constructed with precision-made diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a TBM Avenger by Hobby Master features: