Profile Photo

  • 85 articles
  • 83,863 karma
  • 435 friends

Revell (Matchbox) 1/32 SBD-5 Dauntless

Hi everyone!


This is my () , finished as a U.S. Marines bird.
"Scout Bomber " () Dauntless was the US Navy's main carrier-based scout/dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944. It was also flown by the United States Marine Corps, both from land air bases and aircraft carriers. A land-based variant, having the arresting hook deleted, was purpose-built for the USAAF, as the A-24 Banshee.

With its good handling and maneuverability, potent bomb load, great diving characteristics, good defensive armament and general ruggedness, it is of no surprise that the SBD was considered a very good naval scout plane and dive bomber.

Its shorter range though, compared to the IJN planes, was a disadvantage for going against the IJN.

Having been designed back in 1935 and consequently considered somehow obsolete at the beginning of WWII, destined to be scrapped, it interestingly persisted and remained in service only because its successor(s) development was problematic!

Its most important version was the SBD-5, with 2965 built, featuring a more powerful R-1820 engine, increased ammunition and radar equipment capability.

This fine plane is perhaps best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Its nickname "Slow But Deadly" was earned during this period.


This is the third (and so far the last) edition of the venerable 1977 Matchbox kit. Whereas general shape looks good, the kit is definitely on the simplistic-towards-toy-ish side regarding details, offering lots of room for improvement (or you can go and buy the excellent Trumpeter kit).
The top color is intermediate blue, which was misinterpreted from a net seasonal color pic (which was probably "filtered", you can find the same pic with different color tones...). The correct color should be gull gray, oh well, at least the blue looks nice! πŸ™‚
Should you wish to read the full review, you may do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/usn/bombers/pensbd.htm

My thanks to Tom Cleaver @tcinla for providing the correct info regarding SBD's range.
Happy modeling!
||||| 11 Click Here to Like This |||||

84 more from this author »

34 responses

  1. Profile Photo

    David Butler said on March 22, 2022

    Fabulous result! Unique scheme and great finish

  2. Profile Photo

    Lis said on March 22, 2022

    Great Work! Very fine painting!

  3. Profile Photo

    Walt B said on March 22, 2022

    Great build Spiros, @fiveten, what a great and different scheme. I have never seen that one. Very interesting and fun looking build. I like the Dauntless' lines, I think it is a pleasant looking plane, and probably the best of the three, Dauntless, Vindicator and Devestator. (Although I do like the other two also) Nice work.

  4. Profile Photo

    neil foster said on March 22, 2022

    Love it Spiros ! , always fun to take on one of these ancient kits and turn out something impressive like this.

  5. Profile Photo

    John vd Biggelaar said on March 22, 2022

    Excellent build of this Dauntless, spiros @fiveten
    This scheme is indeed a very good choice.
    You definitely got the best out of this oldie.

  6. Profile Photo

    gary sausmikat said on March 22, 2022

    Very classic look, Spiros. Well done. @fiveten

  7. Profile Photo

    Robert Knaack said on March 22, 2022

    I'd love to build this plane in 1/32nd, but just don't have the room for it. Looks really good, Spiros. Is this the Atlantic paint scheme?

  8. Profile Photo

    Eric Berg said on March 22, 2022

    Fine looking Dauntless, Spiros @fiveten. An oldie but certainly doesn’t look moldy! (groan...)

  9. Profile Photo

    Bernard Bedeur said on March 23, 2022

    Nice ! with an unique scheme. Love the Dauntless.

  10. Profile Photo

    Bob Torres said on March 23, 2022

    Great looking Dauntless Spiros looks nice in this scheme. Also, an impressive looking build.

  11. Profile Photo

    Yann Bertholet said on March 23, 2022

    Excellent Job on this Dauntless Spiros @fiveten. I love the paint scheme! Thanks for posting.

  12. Profile Photo

    Paul E. Owens said on March 23, 2022

    Very nice Spiros !

  13. Profile Photo

    Greg Kittinger said on March 23, 2022

    Nice result on an old and simple kit - well done again!

  14. Profile Photo

    Gary Brantley said on March 23, 2022

    @fiveten, Now, that is cool! I love it Spiros, very unusual scheme! πŸ‘

  15. Profile Photo

    Robert Royes said on March 23, 2022

    Nicely done, another blast from the past, Spiros. I remember when this kit was first released. Being reviewed in Scale Modeler magazine.@fiveten.

  16. Profile Photo

    George Schembri said on March 23, 2022

    Now that's a big kit, and then some. Looks like that old Matchbox mold holds up very well.
    Nice work Spiros.

  17. Profile Photo

    John Healy said on March 24, 2022

    Nice work, Spiros. Interesting scheme on what looks like a fun model.

Leave a Reply
Explore other articles
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt - Monogram 1/48
  • Andrew H
Supra leftovers
  • Matija Skobe

This site and web app uses cookies.
More information about this and other usage of our services can be found in: