Yellow-Wings Decals 1/32 SBD-2 Dauntless #2106 Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | April 2006 | Manufacturer | Yellow-Wings Decals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | SBD-2 Dauntless #2106 | Scale | 1/32 |
| Set Number | 32001 | Pros | Markings for BuNo 2106 at five different points in time |
| Cons | Skill Level | Basic | |
| MSRP (USD) | $12.95 |
First Look
Yellow-Wings Decals has ventured into a new arena - 1/32 scale, and just in time for the upcoming Trumpeter 1/32 SBD Dauntless! In this release, subtitled 'Special Survivor Series #1 - Midway Madness', Yellow-Wings Decals has focused on only one aircraft, bureau number 2106. This aircraft has a rather unique history as it survived Pearl Harbor while it was at sea with the USS Lexington, then survived the Battle of Midway while ashore with the US Marines.
This set of decals provides markings for five snapshots in time:
- Early 1941, 2-B-2, VB-2, USS Lexington, pre-camo colors
- Jul-Oct 1941, 2-B-2, VB-2, USS Lexington, light gray camo
- Late 1941-early 1942, 2-B-2, VB-2, USS Lexington, blue-gray over gray camo
- Mid 1942, 6, VMSB-241, Battle of Midway, updated blue-gray over gray camo (no red markings)
- May-Jun 1943, B-7, CQTU, NAS Glenview
The set also includes several pages of profiles and documentation to help you replicate the correct colors in the right places to render an accurate model.
Ironically, while 2106 was was shot up during combat at Midway, it survived and returned stateside only to be lost in Lake Michigan during carrier qualifications. It rested on the bottom of that lake for over 50 years before being recovered, restored, and put on display at the Naval Aviation Museum at Pennsacola.
Yellow-Wings Decals can be purchased directly from their website at www.yellow-wingsdecals.com.
My sincere thanks to Yellow-Wings Decals for this review sample!