Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver
“The Final Version”

Special Hobby, 1/72

Reviewed by Graham Carter

  Special Hobby's 1/48 scale Model 339-23 Buffalo will be available online from Squadron 

This kit, released a couple of months ago, enables the last version to be modelled at last in the “One True Scale”. Previous Helldiver kits have been earlier versions from Airfix ( typically rivet-heavy), Matchbox ( typically multi-coloured) and two quite nice ones from Sword and Academy, the former being a nice short-run kit but getting hard to find now. The Academy kit is very nice, however, and forms the basis for this Special Hobby kit through some shared arrangement.

The dash-5 Helldiver finally fixed up the short-comings associated with the earlier versions of “the Beast” and featured a new propeller, extended bomb-bay, reduced-framed pilot canopy, an airborne radar and provision for a greater range of weaponry, all of which are provided in this new kit as extras.

In the box you get the entire Academy Dash-2 Helldiver with a dark grey sprue containing the prop, new longer bomb slings, and bomb-bay doors, a bag of resin rockets, rails, radar pod and wheels, a new clear pilot canopy part, PE (wheel centres and seat-belts) and a lovely decal sheet for four aircraft from around the world.

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Thumbnail panels:

The Academy sprues (name still on the sprues) are beautifully clean , moulded in pale grey, and the instructions show what needs to be done to the fuselage halves for the new bomb-bay, although I would use the new parts as a guide rather than just measuring the cuts.

There is no provision for wing-folding and if you want the dive-brake perforations to be open, then start drilling!!( I estimate there are over 800 x 0.3mm holes to be done but memory tells me there are PE replacements available from the usual sources).

From all reports the original kit went together very well and so should this one.

Marking Options

Decals are for four aircraft, all in USN dark blue: a French Aero Navale and USN example, as well as an interesting Greek Air Force example.

The final one is most attractive, being an Italian Aeronautica Militare one modified to a Target Tug with the removal of weaponry and adorned with an appealing bright yellow cowling and sunburst pattern under wings and fuselage - very yummy!

Modellers will have to mask and paint these themselves, or else use cut-out yellow decal film.

Well done to Special Hobby for enabling 1/72 scale modellers to expand our collection of Helldiver options with just a bit of plastic surgery.

Thanks to MPM / Special Hobby for the review sample.

MPM kits are available worldwide through hobby retailers worldwide and at Squadron.com

Review and Images Copyright © 2018 by Graham Carter
Page Created 1 January, 2018
Last updated 1 January, 2018

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