Hasegawa 1/48 SBD-3
It's been so long ago that I built this kit I can only be sure that it was before Y2K. As punishment for my sins I decided that I would see if I could add enough detail to a Hasegawa SBD to match the out of the box detail of an Accurate Miniatures Dauntless.
There's a lot of resin, photo etch, and scratch built detail but I can't remember everything I did to it over the course of about a year. I do remember all the paint is Polly Scale and the decals are from a couple of things I had on hand.
Just a little of the detail in the cockpit. I am pretty proud of that "whiskey compass" mounted in the windscreen.
The "best" part, CDR Dick Best's autograph, which Tom Cleaver obtained for me as a favor to some guy in Indiana that he didn't know from Adam. Thanks again Tom.
Craig Abrahamson said on June 7, 2017
WOW...a "keeper" for sure - wonderful model to cherish.
AL HOFFMAN said on June 8, 2017
Worth the wait
Gary Brantley said on June 8, 2017
Nice work on that old bird Rick! And what an honor to have that autograph. There aren't many like that I bet. 🙂
Rick Wilkes said on June 8, 2017
Thanks guys. This is one of my kits that's never sat on a contest table. No award is worth having somebody walk off with it because of the autograph.
Gary Brantley said on June 8, 2017
"No award is worth having somebody walk off with it because of the autograph."
I hear you! I'd feel the same. 🙂
Tom Cleaver said on June 8, 2017
Eh, I'd have done it if you were some bozo in Wisconsin, too. 🙂
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on June 8, 2017
No cheese for you, fella!
Rick Wilkes said on June 8, 2017
Tom, to loosely quote the Firesign Theater, I think we may all be Bozo's on this bus. lol
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on June 8, 2017
Rick, gotta ask- did you drill out them #%^@! dive brakes? I remember when I got mine, I opened the box in great anticipation, and then... Several off center drillings and Army curses later, I called it a day.
Great work on this, shame Hasegawa dogged it.
Gary Brantley said on June 8, 2017
Bernie, count me a fellow "driller", lol. Tedious? Oh yeah...:)
Rick Wilkes said on June 8, 2017
Tried to drill them, did it enough times to the Monogram Dauntless, but the trailing edge split on the third or forth hole.
I used some very nice thick brass flaps, can't remember the brand but they were detailed on both sides, and had parts to install the complete rib detail on the inner surface. I think by the time I got to installing them I was running out of steam and just showed them closed.
Greg Kittinger said on June 8, 2017
Very cool! And a great-looking Dauntless.
Robert Royes said on June 8, 2017
Beautiful build.!
Chuck A. Villanueva said on June 8, 2017
That signature on the Dauntless would be more priceless to me than the signed autograph baseball I have from LA Dodger great Sandy Koufax.
Rick Wilkes said on June 8, 2017
I understand what you're saying Chuck. I caught the very tail end of Sandy's career, but I was a little leaguer. Now if I'd just kept that Lew Alcindor rookie card...lol
Louis Gardner said on June 8, 2017
I'm glad to see that you posted this one up Rick.
Your SBD really looks great. The dive brakes and flaps details really captured the look of the Dauntless well.
You're a very lucky man to have this one autographed. I don't blame you one bit for not wanting to display this one at a show. It could grow legs really quick. And you could never replace it.
I think that it belongs in a museum for several reasons. First is the autograph. Second is the quality of the workmanship. It looks that good !
Thanks again for sharing this one with us my friend.
Rick Wilkes said on June 8, 2017
Thanks Louis, and thank you for sponsoring this Group Build. I really enjoyed participating.
Louis Gardner said on June 10, 2017
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. That was the primary goal of the build... to have fun. Thanks again buddy for your help with my SBD.