Trumpeter 1/32 SBD-3 Dauntless - Lt Richard Best 4th June 1942

[Whitey]

After watching the new "Midway" movie last year I decided to build USN Lt Richard Best's SBD-3, that he flew twice from USS Enterprise, on 4th June 1942 to sink the IJN carriers Kaga and Hiryu.

 

 

Its a really nice kit, but I didn't particularly like the clear fuselage. Nothing wrong with it but just hard to see if seams are covered until undercoat applied. Painted with a combination of SMS, MRP and Mr Hobby acrylic laquers and then weathered with oils and hard pastells.

 

Yahu instrument panel, EZE line antenna, MasterCasters wheels and Master gun barrels.

 

 

Some light fading on the upper surfaces, but these aircraft were new when they boarded Enterprise immediately before the Battle of Midway so not too much to do.

 

 

My model depicts what the aircraft may have looked like after returning from the first attack and ready for the second sortie. The rear guns would have been stowed but I wanted to be able to see them.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy.

[Uncarina]

Really nice work! I like it a lot.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Rod Bettencourt]

Looks great! Fun build right.

 

Rod

[MikeMaben]

That looks great Pete  

[dennismcc]

Great looking build, looks just right to me.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[themongoose]

That’s some exceptionally nice work on the exhaust staining behind the Cowell and up onto the wings love it

Edited October 16, 2021 by themongoose

[LSP_Ray]

Great job! Weathering is very nicely done!

May I post it on the website?

FYI: If you can find someone parting out a SBD-5 on eBay, the -5 fuselage parts are identical to the -3 parts and then you don't have to deal with the clear plastic (except for the cowl which is clear in all their SBD kits).  

[Whitey]

Hi Ray, yeah go for it. Thanks for the info re the clear fuselage parts. Not too much of an issue though. 

 

cheers,

Peter

[Flight Line Media]

Nice results! Awesome work, Peter!

[Thomas Lund]

Lovely work !!! Just got my hands on that kit, so now I'm contemplating how to build it (markings that is)

[ringleheim]

This is really nice looking.  I'm curious as to what paint you used for your "interior green" in the cockpit.

 

Awesome Dauntless!

 

 

[Miloslav1956]

  

[James Rademaker]

Very nice job on your SBD. It’s nice to see a particular aircraft that played such a huge part of our history. 
Jim

[aircommando130]

Awesome job! I have an SBD to build also off the USS Enterprise.

The Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal did turn the tide of the war

in the Pacific. Now you need a A6M2 to go with it.

 

Cheers...Ron 

[Violator1991]

Splendid. Such a beautiful plane and great build.