The unfinished model....

[BarryW]

I have come to a grinding halt with the Trumpeter 1/32 Avenger due to a missing turret transparency.

I fulfilled the rather onerous requirements laid down by Trumpy's UK importer for a part back in early April. I have chased them a couple of times and the last time getting information out of the person was like pulling teeth. My impression is that they have no interest at all in providing a service.

What a contrast to the superb service provided by Airfix in a similar situation. Shame on Trumpeter and Pocketbond.

Anyway - I will be surprised if I get a part and I do not fancy spending £70 on another kit to get one so the model is shelved....

My advice if you buy anyTrumpy kit is to check the parts immediately you get it and do not leave it in your stash for a couple of years as I did to make sure you have your consumer rights intact. If a part is missing take it up straight away and suggest they send you a part taken from a kit in stock or you will return the kit for a refund (no point in the extra postage costs of sending full kits back and forth...)

Anyway - here is a pic of how I left the model....

I am going now to do a quick(ish) 1/48 Spitfire build as I want a small Spitty on my new office shelf. I might then, for a change, build a tank...... before getting on with the next 32 cale aircraft or the 24 scale Tiffy....

This is the first unfinished kit I have had....[ATTACH]85664.IPB[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

Have a similar problem at this moment....

I'm glad to know no haven't anykind of trouble with Airfix....

[Ian M]

Which version is this Barry, If its one that the FAA used, I might be tempted to get one. (and check to see if the canopy is in the box).

Ian M

[BarryW]

No, its not the FAA version. if I remember correctly that one had 'blisters' on the lower rear fuselage. Trumpy do two versions of the Avenger and both would need conversion work. It is a good kit though even if it has too much p.e. for my taste and you do need to strengthen a lot of joints with strips of plastic card as it is otherswise rather flimsy.

[Guest]

Very sad after all that work Barry. Must state that I would be hopping mad.

Very nice model as well.

On Airfix yes they are good at sending replacements. On the Merlin 1/48 I moaned a number of times about the Merlin every bit of the transparencies had a fault. They sent 9 replacement sprues in the end and said pick the best of this lot. Nice gesture. Only problem they were all faulty as well.

Laurie

[eddiesolo]

That is disgraceful, and on a expensive kit. Bad show Trumpeter, it is sites like this that will show how customer service is on companies. If their products and service start to fall then this site and others will be the place that shows this, many modellers may well keep away.

Shame as it is a beautiful looking model.

Si

[flyjoe180]

Well, the Avenger looks very good Barry, despite the missing turret.

Had another look for the turrets but to no avail. However there are some cheaper priced kits on Ebay from 35 pounds up if you do a search (still a lot of money for a turret):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trumpeter-1-32-02234-TBM-3-Avenger-Aircraft-/231101500203?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item35ceb90b2b

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trumpeter-1-32-02234-TBM-3-Avenger-Aircraft-/231101500203?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item35ceb90b2b

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trumpeter-1-32-02233-TBF-1C-Avenger-/231154215805?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item35d1dd6b7d

I'm not sure whether it's possible but if you had the masks for the turret, you could vacform a ball and use the masks for scale?

A much cheaper option I can think of is to get hold of a cheap Guillows TBF which is approximately 1/30 scale, and flog the ball turret from that. It may be cruder than the nice kit one but it could be a start and made to look okay with masking and tape frames.

[BarryW]

Thanks for that Joe. When I did an eBay search the postage was about another £20. I decided to spend my budget (and a bit more..) on getting the new Airfix Tiffy instead, then if, a big if, I eventually get the turret through from Pocketbond I will finish the Avenger.

[flyjoe180]

Well I really hope you do get the missing part. A quick Google search for Trumpeter missing parts reveals they aren't the most customer support focussed company out there.