After Academy announced that this new Helldiver was going to come out - I waited for a looooong time to finally see it. I ordered one through my local hobby shop as soon as I could. It was actually completed early last year but I have just gotten around to taking pics of it. Whatta sweet kit ! The interior is very detailed with separate side panels. The underside is really detailed too. (I forgot to snap one of the bomb bay) Fit and detail were exceptional all around !
I would highly recommend this kit to anyone who likes to build detailed kits with a high parts count. It’s pretty big for a 1/72 scale single engine A/C.
ya know…that was my first detail build…the SB2C Helldiver. Not sure if it was the same kit…I think it was the 1/48 Pro Modeler…but it came with PE parts(first time seeing those…lol)
It didnt come out as clean as yours…but it was still a fun build…lol
That’s got a alot of detail for 1/72 scale. The paint work it is excellent. I’ll bet you had fun with that canopy. academy does have some nice kit’s, but I can tell you they also have some that could use a little help as well.
Thank you all for the kind comments. I’m pretty proud of it - probably my best effort yet.
I think that Academy’s Helldiver kit is the only 1/72 Helldiver that is still in production.
I have been very impressed by the last few Academy kits that I’ve built (This Helldiver, a P-47 Razorback, and a Corsair)… and yes, the price is easier on the wallet than some other mfg’s (generally less than half the price of a Hasegawa or Tamiya kit around here). About the same as a Revell or Italeri kit.
It wasn’t a particularly difficult paint job - just alot of steps. I spray the underside with rattle can white - then brush paint the rest with MM acrylics, coat with future, decal, then spray with dullcoat. The hardest part is getting the fuzzy edge with a brush, but I’m getting used to it.
Phoenix… Yes - I know some of the kits that you’re talking about. Some of their older kits are a little rough around the edges (and in the middle, and on the top and bottom). Fortunately, you can usually recognize them by the fact that they’re really cheap. I bought the Wildcat for about $4 - retail. It took more work, and a little scratch building to improve it - but it was fun.
[#ditto] on all of the above. That’s a really nice looking build [tup][tup] I too have been hooked an the academy kits. Best value for your money IHMO! Thanks for the look and I’ll definitely have to pick up a copy of that kit one day soon. Cheers.
Did you know Monogram is re-introducing their old SB2C under the “Monogram Classics” label?
They are also re-introducing their old Avenger, Bf-109E, Hawker Typhoon, as well as others, and like they used to, they are actually molding them in an accurate color other then grey so you can cut down on painting if you want.
That little gem is brush painted? Wow! Gives me hope that if I keep at it, I won’t have to spend the bucks for an airbrush as long as I stick to squinty scales. [bow]
Yep - I brush paint just about everything except white and dullcoat. Even on stuff that’s not so squinty. Use good brushes, don’t let the paint thicken up on you, be willing to apply more than one coat - and you’re there !
