1/72 Academy Curtiss SB2C-4

 Helldiver

by Josip Žagar

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Greetings to all modelers!!!

My name is Josip. I'm 30 years old and live in Slovenia (a tiny young republic cornered between Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy) and since this is my first ARC contribution let me write a bit more than you are used to.  I've been building plastic model kits since I was 12 and after visiting this wonderful site for several years I finally decided to contribute to it with some of my work. It would also be fair to mention that my modelling skills got a tremendous boost after discovering quality modelling websites (like ARC) on the internet. I prefer to build my kits in 1:72 scale but have also been known to venture in 1:48 and 1:35. I like building WW2 airplanes but if a certain kit of a jet, a ship or an armored vehicle crosses my path I'll build it as well. I prefer to build mainly OOB and will only resort to scratchbuilding when in dire need. So far I haven't used any aftermarket accesories (besides spare box parts or decals) for any of my builds but enough about me and more about  this model:

The kit:

This Academy kit has been widely available for almost 2 years but people don't seem to like it for I've only seen it built once on a German modelling website. Some modelers have claimed that it is a scaled down version of a Promodeler 1:48 kit and since Academy like to base their molds on Heller or Hasegawa that might not be far from truth. It certainly is a formidable kit for this scale. I used to think of it as a little jewel (much like with their P-38J) but with a few serious flaws. Bomb bay which is the main attraction of this kit comes with a great interior detail but can only be built in the open position which is a shame since you can't load it with bombs because they won't fit inside (the interior gets too narrow after you insert the doors). Academy only provides you with two bombs for the bomb bay but doesn't include any extra bombs or drop tanks for the wing racks. You also get so far unpreceeded level of detail in this scale in both cockpits with side panels, wires, radios and hand cranks which all look great when carefully painted but these become allmost invisible once you include the rear gunner's seat and machine gun ring. The clear parts are great and can be set in the open or closed position. There is also a clear pilot's gunsight which looks great despite being very small. Dive brakes in the closed position are finely simulated with tiny holes of various sizes in several rows but are best replaced with aftermarket metal brakes set in open position. Upper air scoop on the engine cowling front comes without a characteristic grill and is only simulated as a shallow dent!?! All parts are bagged  and packed in a sturdy box. Decal options are for 3 aircraft. For more info there are several reviews available on the internet.

The build:

It started with a cockpit which is a bit more detailed than the 1:48 kit! No hassles there. I only included seat belts made from Scotch tape. Bomb bay serves as a cockpit floor and was completed at the same time. R-2600 engine could be a bit more detailed but because it is tightly cowled and hidden behind a lovely 4 bladed prop with spinner it is O.K. as it is. Undercarriage and wheel wells are finely represented with great detail and have exposed 20mm cannon barrels (like in FW-190A). Fit of the main parts was generaly good  but some carefully puttying will be required at the wings to fuselage fit. Also I should mention that a fair amount of superglue was used on main parts and undercarriage legs because the finished model is unusually heavy and ordinary glue just wouldn't do. Besides drilling some lightening holes on MG ring, seatbelts, scratchbuilding scoop grill and fixing MG barrels form spare box the model is completely OOB.

Painting:

To my eyes Helldiver looks best in mid war 3 colour US Navy camo and my model was finished in accordance with markings for a 2nd Yorktown Helldiver in late 1944 (also used in support of Iwo Jima landing). The model was airbrushed with UHU tac being used as a demarcation line.  Apart from Modelmaster Bluegrey all other colours and interior green were handmixed by me from Revell and Modelmaster enamels. Upper blue colour was enhanced with apropriate dark blue pastel on a cotton stick. Wear & tear were simulated with a sharpened pencil and dry pastels (burnt umber & black) and I wasn't shy because I wanted to represent a well used warplane from a crowded carrier deck. Instead of bothering with numerous tiny stencils I chose to simulate them with a fine brush dipped in white or black. 

Academy decals are still lagging far behind in quality compared to other manufacturers. I restricted myself in using them only when necessary (unit numbers and unit badges). National insignia decals proved to be inflexible, wrong in colour, shiny and wouldn't stick on the fuselage sides without wrinkling because then sides are curved. They were promptly replaced with some Revell spares. Erdal glanzer (German Future) was used to seal the model and Modelmaster flat laquer was airbrushed in the end. Dive brakes were carefully painted with red water colour. All canopies were hand painted and overpaint was scraped away with a sharpened toothpick. My favourite way of doing it;-) 

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

And there you have it! A well built and painted model of the last true dive bomber. The Beast looks best to me in 3 colour cammo and with all doors and canopies opened. I consider it to be my best build so far and intend to compete with it on a local contest level in 1:72 OOB category. The model was photographed on my balcony in strong sunlight, ( I know, I know) on a large sheet of light blue paper. Sony DSC-100 digital camera was used for all the pics and Photoshop for resizing and sharpening. I hope this article will be of some help to anybody building this kit.

Josip

Photos and text © by Josip Žagar