Hi guys
Just getting back into modelling and am realising how out of date I am with what’s available via the net. For the FAA GB, I’m hoping to do the old Monogram 1/48 SB2C Helldiver kit from my stash (GB, stash - I’m learning the lingo pretty quick!).
While I’ve got very little experience going beyond OOB, I would like to know what is out there for this kit. As the FAA only operated 26 of these Canadian built 'divers, I think I may have to go for a generic late war FAA AM decal sheet but I’m just guessing there.
Any help and advice re building this kit would be most welcome.
Hey Andy,
Squadron.com has some resin parts (cockpit set and wheels) and photoetch kits for the SB2C. These kits are for the Pro Modeller, so I don’t know if they’ll fit the monogram kit. If you’re up for a challenge, I’m sure you can make them fit with a little work.
This link should show you the resin cockpit set http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TD49016
Or you can do what I like to do, get a bunch of refernce material and start designing my own upgrades. I designed my own ammo chutes for my F6F5 HellCat. I cut out the access hatch from the wing, calculated the size of the rectangular tube I would need, found that at towerhobbies.com, and used resin ammo belts from a tamiya .50 cal set. Used my dremel to cut out the slot in the top and then painted them up. I used square styrene rod to simulate the frame rails and drilled the holes with my pin vise.
Just let your imagination run wild. There’s very little you can’t build without some time and forethought.
-Fred
Wow, Fred, that’s some great scratchbuilding! I don’t think I’ll be going that hard core so soon after getting back into modelling. I reckon it’ll be hard enough to keep the glue off my fingers! However, I am planning on a bit of extra detailing because the cockpit area is relatively big and open, IIRC.
Checked my books last night and I’ve got one black and white pic of an FAA Helldiver and it isn’t a great pic. Does anyone know if Osprey’s “Helldiver Units of World War 2” has some pics of Royal Navy Big Tailed Beasts (particularly a colour profile!)?
Hey Andy,
If it makes you feel any better, that Hellcat was my first model in over 17 years. Don’t be afraid to jump in with both feet. Absolute worst case scenario, you have to pick up another HellDiver. Best case scenario, you’ve got a model that you can really be proud of because of all the custom work you did.
-Fred
The AM parts will work if the Helldiver is the second release of the kit. Monogram has two releases of this bird. The first one was first done in the late sixties and had working features such as folding wings, operating landing gear and dive flaps and the famous dropping bomb. It also had very basic details. The second release has none of the operating features and was released as the Pro Modeler it aslo has better details. The molds for the H2 were leased by Accurate Miniatures and is currently being issued bu them.
If you do in fact have the one that is currently re-issued by Acc Min… I am about half way through the same kit and will eventually get back to it.
A couple of things to look out for. The lining up of the rear cockpit side is a bit tricky and needed some test fitting, adjusting and care lining things up. Since you have to install the rear radio gear before you close the fuselage you will never be able to fix the seam in the bulkhead behind it. It needs to be cut off and re-attached later. And if you want to do the bomb bay closed, I had a serious gap that had to be fixed. But overall fiot is pretty good and the level of detail is nice.
Oh yeah, and don’t forget to sand off the (bonehead) manufacturers name molded in raised relief on the “outside” of the horizontal stabs
Some pics can be seen HERE.
Andy, I built this old Helldiver (kit 0069) a few years ago. I really never finished it as far as weathering. It is kinda crude but such as it is, I have attached pictures for encouragement. This is the kit with the embrodered arm patch inside. Greg
Wow, great work, Marc and Greg. If I can get mine looking half as good, I’ll be over the moon. I’m not sure what kit I’ve got but the retractable undercarriage and dropping bomb don’t sound like my version but I think wing folding is possible. I’ll have to dig it out of the stash and have a good look, methinks.
I’ve started a Helldiver folder on my computer with everyone’s advice.