Hello, I figured I would try to save others who have interest in the Accurate Miniatures SBD-3 Midway boxing unnecessary aggravation . Do not buy this boxing of this kit (pictured). This is twice now (at least for me) that it’s been missing the correct parts for the SBD-3 version. I wrongfully assumed the first time was a fluke. Once again I got a Dash 3 forward fuselage with Dash 5 top piece (See Below). I think I understand why AM went out of business now, poor quality control. Buy at your own risk!
That is interesting. I have been looking at my AM SBD-3, Battle of Coral Sea version, #3411 in a black box. It looks different; like maybe different engineering. I am sure it will be another great kit when you are done with it.
I’m relying on memory here but I remember buying that kit at HL and later word came out of the issue-AM would send the correct parts upon request but given the fact they are no longer in business doesn’t help any.
sorry for your frustrations-I wonder if any of the re-boxings have the correct parts?
here’s a link that you may have already seen
http://www.internetmodeler.com/2007/october/aviation/am_sbd3dauntless.php
One thing that AM did right is the color of the bomb in the art work.
Joe, I bought a pile of SBD parts for these kits. I have the two fuselage sprues, I believe the SBD-3 should be marked 3411-0602 and the SBD-4 is 3412-0600. What have you got? I’ve always heard there was a fit problem in the top front but I haven’t built one yet.
It may be that my SBD-3 kit has the same issue because I can’t see any difference in the forward fuselage parts between the -3 and the -4. Should there be a fuselage length difference? I wouldn’t think so.
Ironically I bought that boxing so I could finish my last Dash 3. Its the same engineering as the others. I know the early releases have less flash.
Thanks Ship, I’ll post some pics when I get going on it again.
Indeed, I bought my first one at HL too. I remember reading that last time. Thanks for finding it again.
So they were grey instead of Olive Drab. Good to know thanks…
Hello John, It’s not a “fit” problem it’s a “correct part” problem. Just avoid this boxing and you should be ok. Whomever packed these up had no idea what they were doing. Very frustrating.
Fortunately I found a 2 and 5 packaged together on ebay, so I should be able to salvage the build now.
You got a -5 cowl top. They didn’t mix and match the parts on the sprues correctly to put in the twin machine guns from the SBD-5 kit. SBD-2 and -3 are externally identical, SBD-4 only changed the prop from SBD-3. SBD-5 had the longer nose.
Shocker. Again, probably why they’re out of business.
Now I’m going to have to look through mine. I’ve got a -2,-3,-4,&,-5
They certainly had some problems; but their main problem was that their key designer went and died on them. That upheaved everything!
I have been researching this for 3 years. As an example, USN yellow wings aircraft never used OD bombs. Here you go:
Joe I just looked into mine. There was a note stating to use a different part from the instructions. I’m assuming there might have been two different boxings. Mine seems to have correct top
On the left below the guns
John, I think the wrong part problem rests with the one second from the top on the right in your photo. All of mine are luckily OK in both kits of the same boxing Joe has. It looks to me like that part is correct on your kit, it fits from the front of the cockpit on the fuselage to the front of the accessory cowl, just reaching the back of the engine cowl.
Here’s a comparison photo, the -1 thru 4 part is to the right, the -5 left. It is longer where it is on top of the accessory cowl, which is also longer on the -5. The length of the -5 part is 1.27, while the other is 1.175.
I have this kit that I have been saving until my skiils got better, its the only AM kit I have in the stash. I built the SBD5 seventeen years ago and loved it, so I got this one since I wanted an earlier model SBD. I will need to check it when I get home tonight. I hope its correct.
Looking at the picture that John provided, it seems you could possibly cut out a center section of the -5 part, re-assemble it, and make it fit.