Classic Airframes Curtiss SBC-4 Helldiver, Samoa, 1942
Hi everyone!
This is my Classic Airframes 1/48 Curtiss SBC-4 Helldiver, VMO-151, as it stood in Samoa island, 1942.
The Curtiss SBC Helldiver was a two-seat scout bomber and dive bomber built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.
It was the last military biplane procured by the United States Navy. Delivered in 1937, it became obsolete even before World War II and was kept well away from combat with Axis fighters.
The SBC was an all-metal, two-seat scout-bomber biplane with “I”-type interplane struts. It was the last combat biplane the Navy purchased and the last combat biplane manufactured in the United States.
The two crewmen, pilot and radio operator/gunner, were housed in tandem cockpits enclosed by a sliding canopy and the turtledeck behind the rear cockpit could be folded down to allow the gunner to use his machine gun.
The wings, rudder, elevators and flaps were fabric covered. The main landing gear retracted into wheel wells in the fuselage just forward of the lower wing and the tail wheel retracted into the fuselage.
Production variants were the SBC-3 and SBC-4, their main difference being a more powerful engine at the -4,and, as consequence, heavier armament and increased payload.
In total, 257 SBCs were built, their primary users being the US Navy and Marine Corps, Royal Air Force and French Navy.
The CA kit is your typical old school short run kit, consisting of low pressure styrene, beautiful resin and PE parts.
Old school means test three times, fit once, but, with patience, a nice fit can be achieved.
The scheme refers to a plane as it stood in Samoa, 1942; by that time the red circles from the insignia had been removed.
Should you wish to read the full build review, please do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/usn/bombers/pensbc.htm
Happy Modeling!
Morne Meyer said on February 28, 2021
WOW. First time I have seen this old Curtiss in 1/48. As a child I bulit the 1/72 Matchbox Helldiver with yellow wings. Your model is spectacular Spiros. Well done. Thanks for posting this one!
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 28, 2021
Thanks Morne @mornem!
The “sister” kit of it (very difficult to find any of them now…) is the yellow wings version!
Tom Bebout said on February 28, 2021
Well done buddy I’ve never seen this one done let alone know anything about it. Curtiss building dive bombers, now who would have thunk it.
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 28, 2021
Thanks Tom @tom-bebout!
Ahhhh, Curtiss!
James Kelley said on February 28, 2021
Wow! You definitely created a silk purse from that pig’s ear. Craptastic Airframes kits were the worst.
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 28, 2021
Thanks James @jkelleycrna!
It took a lot of sanding’n’filling’n’fitting’n’repeating for sure!
Tom Cleaver said on February 28, 2021
@fiveten – nice work! My memory is that this was one of the most difficult Classic Airframes kits, and you have gotten more out of it than was in the box, that’s for sure.
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 28, 2021
Thanks Tom @tcinla!
Your excellent build of the yellow wing version same kit, posted in MM, was my inspiration to build it when I luckily found one, back in 2004…
Tom Cleaver said on February 28, 2021
So, my “map to the minefield” worked, eh, @fiveten! 🙂
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 28, 2021
It surely did, @tcinla!!!
Jim Harley said on March 1, 2021
Great build! This looks like a heck of a challenge. Very clean And well executed. Love the rigging!
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Jim @jimh!
Haslam Yeoman said on March 1, 2021
Inspirational build Spiros. I think the people at Classic Airframes would think this was built from someone else’s kit.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Haslam @Haslam55!
Robert Royes said on March 1, 2021
Looks great, Spiros!
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Robert @roofrat!
dale travis said on March 1, 2021
Great work on a real dog!
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Dale @dtravis!
John Healy said on March 1, 2021
Wow! That took pure tenacity to build that thing. That’s one of only two kits that I put back in the box and never seriously considered building again. The other was the Modelcraft F-82. Great job, Spiros.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks John @j-healy!
Jay Mitchell said on March 1, 2021
The old Helldiver certainly is a classic airframe, as is this kit. An expertly build model, not a kit for the easily discouraged!! Good Job, Spiros !!
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Jay @ssgt!
Amari Luu said on March 1, 2021
Looks great!
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Amari @themturtles!
Robert Knaack said on March 1, 2021
@fiveten Spiros, you know I love dive bombers, especially the ones with two wings! This is a fantastic-looking build, even not knowing that the kit was a difficult one. I wonder if you or anyone else knows, did the SBC have split dive flaps on the lower wings? I saw one model done that way, but haven’t found any references to back it up.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Robert @robgenev665!
Yes, seems that the SBC had split dive flaps on the lower wings!
Here’s a pic I found from the amazing World War Phots website, depicting XSBC-4 BuNo 0582 with dive flaps out:
( Image attribution : https://www.worldwarphotos.info/ )
Robert Knaack said on March 2, 2021
@fiveten That’s a great reference photo, Spiros, thanks for sharing!
John vd Biggelaar said on March 1, 2021
Very nicely done my friend @fiveten.
For sure I’m going to read the arctivle on MM since I’m interested to see how you did the rigging of the wings. I will definitely need some hints for my next build.
Compliments on this old beauty.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks my friend @johnb!
Rigging was done by predrilling holes before attaching the wings together, then stretched sprue inserted there, with a smear of glue.
If the holes are a tad on the deep side, and the stretched sprue cut just smaller, it “clicks” into the holes; then a tiny smear of glue (with a needle or so), then, if there’s any sagging upon curing, tightening with my wife’s hairdryer.
If you decide to go for stretched sprue, you might choose a silver or black sprue, depending on your riggings color, so you will not have to paint it!
Drawback of stretched sprue is that it easilly breaks upon the slightest mishandling…
Your skills are perfect to present an amazing rigging result!
Adrian Starling said on March 1, 2021
Spiros, this is an amazing build. Very interesting aircraft and you captured it beautifully! Well done sir.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks Adrian @adrianstarling!
George Williams said on March 1, 2021
What a result, Spiros, definitely liked. Unfortunately modeling madness is not available here in China for some reason…………. still you’ve done a great job on what is obviously a difficult kit, and your photographs really set it off.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks George @chinesegeorge!
Eric Berg said on March 1, 2021
Again, looks even better upon second viewing with the additional photos. One thing for sure, as you said, when building these old school low injection kits: “test fit three times and glue once.”
Glad you succeeded in putting it together instead of throwing it against a wall in frustration. Or were you tempted?
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 1, 2021
Thanks my friend @eb801!!
I was at time tempted for sure!!!
Thank goodness my El Cheapo attitude/habit of a lifetime prevented me from doing so…
Manuel Magrinho said on March 2, 2021
nice one @fiveten ! you did something beautiful out of that ancient kit
Congrats my friend!
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 3, 2021
Thanks, my friend @magrus!
I just love to put together “not often seen built” kits!
Manuel Magrinho said on March 3, 2021
Yes, I’ve seeing that 🙂 keep up the good work
stay safe
M
DIONYSIOS MOYKRIOTIS said on April 9, 2021
Wonderful job my friend!!!!!!
Υπέροχο!!!!
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 9, 2021
Ευχαριστώ φιλαράκο μου @dennis35gr!