Walk Around TBF/TBM Avenger By Lou Drendel Squadron/Signal Publications ©2001 80 pages, Softbound ISBN 0-89747-424-4

Reviewed By Michael Benolkin

This latest release covers the Grumman Avenger family in fantastic detail. From the original TBF-1, through co-production of the Avenger between Grumman (TBF) and Eastern Aircraft (TBM), to the final anti-submarine TBM-3W (hunter) and TBM-3S (killer) versions. Its eighty pages are crammed full of B&W and color photographs, color and B&W scrap drawings, line drawings, and color profiles. Aside from the introduction, there is no narrative text about the Avenger, this detail is left to the companion title "TBF/TBM Avenger in Action". Instead, the space is used to provide in-depth captions for each of the enclosed photos, providing very useful information.

This title would have been very handy for the release of the Accurate Miniatures TBF and TBM Avenger series, but fortunately they've re-released their Avengers and now there is a great modeling guide to help you through the build. This title is a must-have for the historian, aviation enthusiast and modeler alike.

My sincere thanks to Squadron/Signal Publications for this review sample!