1/48 Accurate Miniatures SBD-3 Dauntless VB-6 "Richard Best"

I thought I would share my latest project, another Accurate Miniatures SBD-3 Dauntless. The subject is “B-1” piloted by VB-6 Richard Best off the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Midway. On June 4th 1942, Best flew this machine and gave the Japanese Carrier Akagi it’s death blow by dropping a bomb that pierced it’s upper deck. It’s widely regarded that he helped sink the Hiryu later in the day as well. Like Lofton Henderson’s VMSB-241 Dauntless from the battle I built last year, it’s my pleasure to pay homage to these heros any chance I get.

Reference the kit, I once again got one with the wrong front end parts, so I had to buy a donor kit off ebay. These aren’t exactly cheap either. It’s becoming glaringly obvious why AM went out of business, poor quality control, but it’s still the best SBD in 1/48 scale. I muddled through and got it done. Other than PE belts and resin guns. The rear double gun was from the spare box-from the Great Wall Devastator I think), it’s pretty much out of the box. All markings (except B-1) were painted on with Montex masks.

I continue to experiment with weathering techniques. First with paint fading and then AK enamel washes and streaking. These Enterprise SBD-3 machines were reportedly fairly new, about a month old, so I didn’t go crazy. I probably weathered it too much but I’m happy with it.

A few in progress pics. This is AK Real Colors idea of interior green. I’m not a fan. I think it’s too lime green.

I decided to just paint the engine as is without replacing the wires for a change. The wire are a bit out of scale, but I’m actually pleased with it.

I guess you can’t see too much anyways…

Some exhaust staining…

I actually have to build another on of these down the road. Who would have thought Midway SBDs were so popular. I need a break from this kit for now though.

Mate, you’ve done it again. What a little ripper. Great weathering, certainly not overdone.

I need to decide if I will continue building my TBF or start another project… decisions, decisions.

Thanks Damian. Definitely finish the TBD. Awesome macine.

Well done !!

It looks every bit as good as the last one you did; and that was great! I agree with Damouav, good weathering. What did you use for the flight deck?

I believe Best is credited for downing 2 carriers in one day. That my fellow modelers is a real hero.

Excellent work. The thing is just awesome. I have a Wildcat next up. I hope I can get it reasonably close to your wonderful effort.

Awesome, makes me want to watch Midway.Wait I did just watch it.A lot better looking then their CG stuff.

You do know that Academy has repopped these several years ago, so it might be easier to find another one and might be cheaper under the Academy label.

Thank You…

Thanks Ship. The deck is Eureka XXL resin I painted. They’re readily available on eBay. I think they’re the best out there.

Thanks. Indeed, first the Akagi then the Hiryu later in the day. Best was a real man. Good luck on your Wildcat.

Thanks. I actually liked the new one. It was part of my inspiration for building Best’s machine. I’m still partial to the original though.

I do, at the time I couldn’t find one south of $50 dollars though. I ended up finding a SDB2 and 5 packed together without the box and decals for $50 on eBay. Like two for the price of one.

It sure is too bad that you had so many issues on the front end, but she looks beautiful on the backend!

Thanks Chad. I just won’t get that particular boxing again.

Glorious. Perfect weathering. Congrats!

Thanks Hoss

Beautiful build. Very impressive.

Another win Joe. I do like the treatment on the paint. For a PTO bird…and a new one…definitely not overdone. =D

Regarding your feelings about the AK paint…I’ve recently seen a lot from some of the modelers here with AK true colors line of paints and from you as well. I understand there was a good deal of variation in the standard for a particular color paint due to the carriers and binding agents that were available during wartime production. Also, our cameras and lighting can make a color look a bit different as well when filming…sooo…would you say this is an honest color represented by your picture. When I was looking back at a good reference for Int Green during my Shomo mustang build, I found one in the ANA 611 which looks pretty spot on with what you have here. I mixed it up accordingly:

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

This looks pretty close to what I see in the pictures above. Is the picture doing it justice or did AK swing and miss? Even so, I imagine we all have a bias to what we want in a color when putting these together. =] Either way I think it worked out perfect Joe. You crush cockpits!

Thanks Britt. Yeah, I think AK swung and missed on the interior green. I like your interpretation better. Where can I get that app? If I could use Tamiya paints exclusively I would.