What can I say - the SBC-4 simply looks like a classic to me! I ordered a kit from an internet hobby shop and the only one available was a Heller 1/72 kit. I would have really preferred a higher grade 1/48 scale, but I figure I’ll find one eventually.
Can anyone throw me a few tips on this A/C or on this particular kit? I want to try to get a bit of research and prep work done before the package arrives so that I can hit the ground running.
Thanks in advance.
i’m not sure on his but didn’t monogram have a 1/48th kit of this?
sorry i can’t be of more help.
Greg
Perhaps the Monogram kit you are thinking of was the Navy Grumman F3F-3, which has a similar profile to the Curtiss SBC-4. Alas, the Monogram kit has been discontinued.
There were a few Classic Airframes 1/48 kits, but it appears they have been discontinued as well. I’ll be keeping an eye out for them as I scour the local shops - somebody is bound to have on on the shelf.
Revellogram ProModeler kit #85-5935. SB2C-4 Helldiver in 1/48 scale.
I believe this might be the one you are thinking of. But, not the right Helldiver.
Randie [C):-)]
Sorry I can’t help you with the 1/72 Heller kit, but if you can find one of the Classic Air Frames releases in 1/48, go for it. Classic released the SBC-3 and SBC-4 several years ago. They were limited run kits that required quite a bit of work but built up into very nice models. You may find one at a show or on eBay if youre lucky.
All I can say is that I built the kit made by Revell Germany (great company), and if they are at all similar, it should be a breeze. Nice little model when it’s done[:)]
These are 20 year old notes on the Heller SBC-4 biplane Helldiver. The best single reference is probably still Squadron’s SBC Helldiver in action no. 151.
The kit has raised panel lines. The engine shows a concern for completeness and the landing gear looks very good. The canopy is one piece and rather thick. The markings on the kit I had were for the British Cleveland and the French order, with the Brits only getting five which they used for maintenance training and the French never flying theirs. The Matchbox SBC-4 comes with Cleveland (same serial number in fact) and markings for the Air Group Commander of the USS Enterprise, which are way cool. If you do a US Navy aircraft, the tailhook point which sticks out from behind the bump behind the tail wheel should be reinstated.
You can add detail to taste - the prominent elevator horns on the upper surface of the horizontal tail are inadequately represented. The right hand aileron trim tab push-pull tube and the wing tip lights are missing and the left hand aileron trim tab push-pull tube is mislocated. You could also close out the fuselage in front of and behind the wheel wells. No flexible .303 is provided for the rear seat, which you might want to turn around and move a little aft, since the rear seat man rode facing forward for takeoff and landing. (He also had a set of controls.) The propeller blade roots should be rounder in cross section and you could add counterweights to the hub. You really should slant the top portion of the leading edge of the vertical fin back a little more than the lower part and make it straighter.
There are some options based on the aircraft you choose to represent - the telescopic sight and bomb crutch don’t appear on every aircraft.
For a biplane, the fit and assembly wasn’t all that difficult.
ah the bi-plane Helldiver, me dumb. forgot about that. plus usn designations are in the most part a mystery to me. sorry bout that.
Greg