I am approaching the point of the build where I will be attaching the dive flaps to the Helldiver. There is a problem though…the kit wings have wing flaps molded in as can be seen here:
The ProModeler kit comes with awesome dive flaps:
So in the instructions everything attaches together-- they suggest for additional detail to drill the holes out in the wing flaps-- and a few steps later, the PE dive flaps are glued on top of them closed. Therein lies the problem…
As far as I can tell by the Detail and Scale book, when the flaps are open-- they appear as just the top half and the bottom half. If it’s anything like the Dauntless-- the bottom dive flap doubles as the landing flaps. It appears also that PM hasn’t made accomodations for leaving them open.
So question is-- do I slice off the kit flaps and just use PE?? It’s just not too clear…
This exact subject was discussed in a review of the kit done by FSM a couple of years ago.
The reviewer, left the plastic flap pieces on the wing and attached the PE flaps in the open position. He found out AFTER he had finished the model that the styrene pieces should have been cut free from the wing halves and glued to the PE flaps, if they were to be positioned in the open position. Does that make sense?
You know-- it does make sense Randie-- I have the Detail and Scale book- and one of the pics does show the flaps open- but one has kind of a step to it-- having this cut free and attached makes perfect sense-- so I guess i still have to drill out all those holes [;)]
wayne-- great pic-- it’s one of the best I have seen in regards to the wing folding-- if I decide to fold them- I will be using this shot- thanks!
Glad to be of assistance, Mike.
And, while we are on the subject of the Helldiver? Does anyone know if the U.S.A.A.F. used it? I know they used the Avenger, designated as the A-24.
It was designated as the A-25. The USAAF thought they needed dive bombers at the beginning of World War II. After all, the Ju-87 had been the scourge of the battle field in the first year of the war. The Germans got the idea for the Stuka from the US Navy, so the Army went to them for dive bombers.
The A-24 Dauntless saw some action in New Guinea early in the war, but the B-25 and A-20 was much better suited for the kind of role the USAAF was performing and the Dauntlesses were retired. The Army had acquired some Helldivers to replace the Dauntlesses. When it became aparent they didn’t need dive bombers, the Marines ended up with most of the A-25s.
For some reason the Air Force continued using a few Dauntlesses past 1948 when the A designation was eliminated and the A-24s became F-24s.
Thanks, Bill. I have Mr. Baugher’s site in my favorite places. It is very informative.
Now, Mike. While doing a “GOOGLE” for the A-25 Shrike (apparently, this is what the Army called the Helldiver), I came across this article that may shed some light on the your dive brakes/flaps dilemma. http://www.internetmodeler.com/awn/98-february/helldiver_upd.htm
It tells the proper way to model the dive brakes/flaps for the ProModeller kit. It also stated that when landing, the lower part was all that was deployed. The uppers were deployed only during a dive.
I hope this is helpful.
Hey Mike!
I did another check through and found Part 1 to the above article that I posted on the Helldiver build.
I’ve put them both in my favorites for future reference.
Might be able to use them with the AccMin re-release of the Helldiver and my P-M kit. http://www.internetmodeler.com/awn/97-december/sb2c.htm
