David R Lentz, Columbus, Ohio, USA (Saturday, 13 July, 2024; happy birthday, Mother!) Mr. Fearon, I appreciate you for your report. This looks to have been an ambitious project for a small firm to have attempted. Whilst I have considerable interest-U.S. Navy combat aircraft, especially carrier-based, are a high priority; Tamiya’s 1:32-scale kits of the Chance Vought F4U Corsair USN/USMC Fighter series certainly come immediately to mind-this kit has too many problems and difficulties with essential structures and key components that in the aggregate place it rather beyond my capacity (or, at least, my patience) to build. Thank you kindly, sir, for the warning. Maybe they can rework the kit to correct their mistakes, and in a year or so they could issue an appreciably improved kit of 1) the Curtis SB2C-5 Helldiver USN/USMC Dive Bomber, as well as 2) a separate kit building as the Curtis A-25 Shrike USAAF Dive Bomber. This latter iteration also would include alternate parts and call-outs in the instructions booklet that would enable one to build a correct Curtis SB2C-4 Helldiver model, if one wished. The company’s senior management might consider offering those who already had bought the earlier kit that demonstrably failed to assemble adequately a discount on this next release as a demonstration of good faith. As you have seen this SB2C-4 Helldiver kit, and I have a hunch of your appreciably greater expertise and experience in model-building-already have we viewers of your video seen indications that you know not only what the flaws are, but you have the skill to delineate how the company’s kit designers might correct them-I propose that you 1) tell them of my idea (namely, a follow-up kit of an SB2C-5 Helldiver, and a new one of a Curtis A-25 Shrike USAAF Dive Bomber, both with corrections, improvements, instructions notices, etc., that would enable a fairly capable model-builder to build a reasonably accurate SB2C-4 replica), and 2) your recommendations for the corrections you deem necessary. Or if not you, someone whose skills you know.
Hello David Many thanks for taking the time to write your comments and for their positive nature. Have you seen my video on the Trumpeter 1/32 Devastator? A MUCH easier build than the Helldiver, despite one or two mistakes/issues. Best regards Peter F
Bravo! Well done! Like Nigel, I also have HPH extras and Resin2detail sets as well. Your video is great and points out pitfalls I was unaware of. I also have the D3A1 with extras and I'm looking forward to building them both.
Hi Michael Many thanks for your kind comments. The kit was a challenging build but the finished model seems to have generated a lot of positive interest. I gave serious thought to the D3A1, another of my favourite aircraft, if only to see if it was any easier to build. Do let me know how you get on with yours. Best of luck with both projects! Best regards Peter F
That is a beautiful build. About as gracefull an aircraft can look from top or bottom view. My dad flew them from CV 18 Wasp in WW2. Even got to crash one into the water on takeoff! Also was on his way to bomb Japan mid August 1945 when his flight was orderd to jettison thier bombs and return because Japan had surrendered. I have always loved the Helldiver. Suggest you maybe lift it with a hand or two so your viewers can be amazed at the scale. Keep having fun with the awesome work!
Thank you! I too have always liked the Helldiver. A better aircraft than it's often given credit for, especially after the -3 had sorted out most of the earlier problems. By coincidence, my dad also spent a lot of WW2 flying over water. In his case, it was flying ASW Wellingtons with RAF Coastal Command looking for U-boats. He never saw one. Best regards Peter F
Thanks for watching and feeding back. The model was hard work but the video has proved very popular. I hope to do the Infinity 'Kate' once I've sourced a sample. It would make an interesting comparison...!
Not entirely surprising that the SBD was kitted before the SOB Second Class. It was the superior aircraft. One carrier skipper had to be ordered to acept the Helldiver aboard his ship.
An imposing aircraft to be sure. I recall this was originally offered as a resin kit. She was hated for over speeding while diving and not allowing enough time for aligning the drop. Also the pull out was considered hair raising. Her good qualities were high cruise speed and distance. Although the SBD was no slouch or short legged.
