1/48 Accurate Miniatures Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless

Gallery Article by Eric Hargett on Feb 16 2015

 

      

My kit represents SBD-3 Dauntless B-2 (#4662) of VB-3, USS Yorktown (CV-5), flown by Lt. Paul Holmberg and radio/gunner George LaPlant at the Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. 

 

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Aftermarket items used with this kit include the SBD-3/4/5 Montex Mini Mask (SM48061) and Edward’s SBD-3 Dauntless cockpit photoetch set (#49237). A word of caution that the Edward photoetch was made for the 1/48 Hasegawa kit though with some careful filing, bending and frequent dry-fitting, the photoetch can be used with the Accurate Miniatures kit. The nose gun cover (part A6) and intermediate cowl (parts B17R and B17L) included with this kit are actually molded for the SBD-5 and consequently creates an engine cowl that is 5 mm too long for the SBD-3. Removing approximately 5 mm from the mid-section of the intermediate cowl along with shortening the nose gun cover followed by glue, filler and sanding will correct the problem. Reference photos were key to correcting this mistake.

Paints used for the exterior were base colors, tints and shades of flat gull grey, blue-grey and gunship grey. Weathering was performed with oils via pin filters and color modulation followed by various oil pastels. The kit was sealed with a 60:40 mix of clear flat:thinner over the entire model.

Enjoy!

Eric Hargett

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Photos and text © by Eric Hargett