The Consolidated TBY-2 began life as a Vought designed torpedo bomber in competition to the Grumman TBF Avenger. It was ordered as insurance against the TBF’s failure but since that aircraft performed well the TBY saw little use.

Vought designed a torpedo bomber to the same specifications as the Grumman Avenger and a prototype was ordered.

When the US Navy ordered 1000 of them Vought was unable to supply them and so the design was transferred to Consolidated that had spare manufacturing capacity. However the first production TBY did not fly until 20 August 1944 by which time Grumman’s TBF had been in service for a couple of years.

Eventually only 180 TBY-2s were constructed and they did not enter operational service.

This model represents a TBY-2 c.1945Wings 1/72 kit. Completed in March 1996.