Rod Bettencourt Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 The Douglas TBD-1 Devastator was the US Navy’s premier torpedo bomber when hostilities broke out on December 7th 1941. Six months later it was completely obsolete and removed from combat operations. The subject of my build is from the USS Yorktown VT-3 aircraft (0303) crewed by Harry Corl and ARM3 Lloyd Childers. One the morning of the 4th at approximately 1200hrs Petty Officer Childers spotted smoke 25 miles away to the starboard. Machinist/pilot Harry Corl was able to get the squadron skipper Lt Cdr Massey attention. The skipper made a course correction to head for the nearest carrier (Hiryu). It was reported that at this time the squadron was jumped by approximately 30 Zeros. VT-3 was lucky enough to have 4 F4F Wildcats with them to help fend off the attackers. After what I could only imagine as an agonizing 20-minute slow approach, they were able to release 5 torpedoes. Corl and Childers 0303 had been badly shot up on the approach and the only way to keep airborne was to jettison their torpedo. The following is from Machinist WO/Pilot Harry Corl Mission report date 6-15-42: The free gun had jammed during the fight. Childers, Arm3, my gunner used .45 automatic during the 10 minutes of the attack. Childers was hit in the right ankle causing a compound fracture of the same. He received two hits in his left leg above the knee no broken bones in that leg. I arrived at the Yorktown at 1425 circled it twice and saw that there was no chance of getting aboard. (Yorktown was bombed by Hiryu Vals) So I proceeded over the Enterprise. I attempted to land aboard, but discovered I did not have enough tab control on the elevator to keep the nose up. I landed in the water head and to the starboard of the carrier alongside the destroyer USS Monaghan. The time of the landing was 1510. Ensign Harry Corl was KIA(VT-3 TBF-1) 25 August 1942. Lloyd Childers survived the war and became a Marine Aviator and retired as a Lt Col. This is the Trumpeter 1/32 TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 USS Yorktown on June 4th 1942 Midway. I added Air Scale products such as the Photo Etch, propeller set, wheels and the single .30cal machine gun. I highly recommend their products. I did bits of scratch building such as adding cockpit wiring, relief tube, two internal windscreen braces (removed the molded on external windscreen braces), wingfold braces and leather pad for the bombardier under the pilots area. I used AK real color for the light grey bottom Model master Blue/grey for the top and AK for the interior green for the crew areas. I have seen some debate on-line about this, what color? But for me seeing the pics of sunken TBD’s aircraft from the discovery of the USS Lexington at the battle of Coral Sea. Interior green is also stated in TBD’s Devastators in action book(The Old One). Another debate is whether what squadrons carried the twin .30’s. It is very obvious that VT-8 for sure had them and I have seen some documentation that VT-6 (USS Enterprise) may have also had them. After many hours of research, I came to the conclusion that VT-3 only had the single.30. I came to this by listening to several recorded interviews With Mr. Lloyd Childers. And in the end, there is just no conclusive proof they carried the twins. I also used Hawaiian Air Depot masks for the A/C numbers and the insignias. I had previously bought the Gold Medal decal but figured painting over the corrugation would be far easier then decals. But I am glad I purchased it because they come with aircraft data. If anyone has seen what Trumpeter did with their data decals….well. Rod 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinM Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Rod I knew you did it to me AGAIN!? Am I looking at a real plane or a model!!! Sir you do some seriously fantastic/realistic work and the background really throws in that monkey wrench. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landlubber Mike Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Wow, at first I thought I was looking at the real thing! Nice job!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belugawhaleman Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Very nice! Great photos! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smitty44 Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Now that's what I'm talking about! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smitty44 Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Is that the kit torpedo? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted January 6 Administrators Share Posted January 6 That’s GORGEOUS! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill_S Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 VERY nicely done! I'll be referencing this build if/when I get around to building mine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 What an excellent build. Thanks for the backstory as well. Mostly when it comes to the Devastator and the Battle of Midway, you just hear they were all lambs for the slaughter. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Very impressive work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerWomble Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Utterly Awesome . No other words to describe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Bettencourt Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 On 1/5/2024 at 6:56 PM, smitty44 said: Is that the kit torpedo? Yes it is. Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Bettencourt Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 21 hours ago, PanzerWomble said: Utterly Awesome . No other words to describe Thank you very much! It is appreciated. Rod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 Enough pics of the real thing! Now show us your model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 First completed Trumpeter Devastator I see. And rhe result is top notch 👍 ! Mine will be yellow-winged, but i’d be happy if it turned half as good. Hubert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drdave Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 That’s really excellent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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