Accurate Miniatures 1/48
SBD-4 Dauntless

Background

Douglas Aircraft Company developed the SBD Dauntless in a pre-war competition for the 'next generation' carrier dive bomber. The aircraft was two-place monoplane of all-metal construction (except for the flight control surfaces) powered by the Wright R1820 radial engine. One notable feature of the SBD was that it was the last of the carrier aircraft to enter service without the ability to fold its wings for more efficient aircraft storage.

The SBD-4 was an incremental improvement over the SBD-3 which was highlighted by the replacement of the aircraft's 12 volt electrical system with a 24 volt system. This change allowed a wider range of avionics options including the installation of the ASB radar. Due to shortages of radar sets, early production SBD-4 aircraft reached the field without radars, but late production SBD-4s came with the radar pre-installed. In addition, a new propeller and fuel pumps rounded out the improvements over the SBD-3.

By the time the SBD-4s were entering service, the Navy was experiencing operational problems with the Dauntless' lack of folding wings. On the larger CV-series of aircraft carriers, there was enough deck and hangar space to store the aircraft, but they were troublesome in the narrow confines of the 'Jeep' Escort Carriers (CVE). Land-based operations were not affected by the lack of folding wings and the SBD found its way into USMC and allied air forces.

The Kit

Accurate Miniatures continues to round out the SBD Dauntless series with this installment covering the SBD-4. As with the previous releases in this series, the kit is molded in light gray styrene and its detail is still awesome to view. This kit is presented on five trees of gray parts, plus a single tree of clear parts.

Comparing this kit to the SBDs of other manufacturers, the first place you'll look is at the dive brakes. With the others, these flaps are usually solid, or in one case, represented with photoetch. While photoetch is usually a good thing, especially for the perforated details, it lacks the ability to replicate the internal structure of the flaps. This kit's dive flaps/brakes are styrene, nicely perforated, and complete with all of the internal details. These internal details are especially visible after you paint the internal surfaces red.

One of the most visible and important areas of any aircraft kit is the cockpit, and Accurate Miniatures doesn't fail here. Where the other kits benefit from an aftermarket cockpit detail set, the Accurate Miniatures kit is far more detailed than most of the aftermarket sets I've seen for the SBD.

Another nice touch with this kit is your choice of two canopies - one closed up, and one forward canopy, center canopy, gunner's canopy and rear canopy all as separate parts. With either choice, the windscreen is a separate part.

Markings

Markings are provided to replicate one of the following seven aircraft:

• SBD-4, NZ5034, 25 Sqn, RNZAF, Espiritu Santo, 1944
• SBD-4, NZ5024, 25 Sqn, RNZAF, Seagrove, 1944
• SBD-4, 22-C-13, VC-22, USN, USS Independence, 1943
• SBD-4, 13, VC-22, USN, USS Independence, 1943
• SBD-4, 22-C-14, VC-22, USN, USS Independence, 1943
• SBD-4, 14, VC-22, USN, USS Independence, 1943
• SBD-4, MAG-23, USMC, Whenaupai, 1943

It appears the illustrator was in a bit of a hurry with the decal instructions. The VC-22 example(s) above are marked as the same aircraft on the same day (14 April 1943?) with different markings, and both aircraft have all-white fuselage roundels (I don't think so Tim...). These profiles almost make these two SBDs look Japanese!

Update

In March 2007, Accurate Miniatures announced the following on their website:

During the first part of 1996, parts requests for specific components in the Accurate Miniatures SBD "Dauntless" kits caused us to study the kits that were in production. This study highlighted that specific version parts required to build a specific kit were not mated correctly in some instances. As a result, all further production was halted until the molded part trees and assembly plan could be studied and modified.

1.) Assembly plan references to existing kits may use letter and number part references. Disregard the letters and reference by part number.

2.) One main area of contention was part #83, Carburetor Air Scoop. In every version, these parts are referenced as part #83, but, they vary by version. A.) The tallest air scoop is used ONLY on SBD-1 versions. Beginning with the release of kit # 0251, this part is renumbered as #183 B.) The shorter air scoop is used on all SBD-2, SBD-3, SBD-3A, and SBD-4 versions. Future kits will reference this as part #283 C.) The part with no air scoop is specific to the SBD-5. This part will be numbered as #583.

3.) In the SBD-3A, the inclusion of the twin gun parts eliminates the early prop spinner, part #45. This part has been recut on the early prop tree and retains #45 for all future production.

4.) There are two parts #6. This is the Top Gun Cover. The shorter part is used on all versions SBD-1 through SBD-4. The longer part #6 is used ONLY on the SBD-5. Future molded trees will renumber this longer part as #506.

5.) The Outer Cowls are #4 and #5. These parts with a small notch at the top of the part are used in all SBD-1, -2, -3, -3A, and -4 versions. These part numbers will be retained.

6.) The Outer Cowl #4 and #5 molded without the small notch are used ONLY on the SBD-5. Future production will be numbered #504 and #505.

7.) The Inner Cowl #17L and #17R with the wide cowl flap details are related to parts #4 and #5. These parts are used in all SBD-1, -2, -3, -3A, and -4 versions.

8.) The Inner Cowl parts #17L and #17R with the narrow cowl flap are used ONLY on the SBD-5 version. These parts will be renumbered #517L and #517R.

9.) Finally, some kits of the SBD-3A (with twin guns) and the early Prop did not include parts #44, Gun Mount, and #46, Gun Shield (shown as "unnumbered") These parts have been relocated so that they will be molded next to the twin guns.

These changes should resolve incorrect parts in all future production SBD kits.

If you have one of the Accurate Miniatures SBD kits, you'll want to use the instructions Accurate provided above to see if you have one of the affected kits. If you have the incorrect parts sprue for the version you purchased, contact Accurate Miniaures customer service directly, information is on their website (www.accurate-miniatures.com).

Summary

As with every other release from Accurate Miniatures, this kit is a beauty straight from the box and if you have one of the correct kits, this is a straightforward build. With all of the detail in this kit, less experienced modelers should study the instructions and take their time assembling the model. The results are worth it.

My sincere thanks to Accurate Miniatures for the review sample.