This was a project that I started back in the mid 90’s when my skills were not quite up to my ambition. I started it before the Hasegawa and Accurate Miniatures SBD kits were first issued, but I wanted to improve and accurize the old Monogram kit, which is essentially a SBD-4. I took many components for the cockpit from a trashed Monogram TBD kit, such as the pilots and gunners seats, the propeller, and the pilots bomb telescopic bomb sight. I modified other kit parts, and scratch built other details, as well as adding some salvaged .50 cal.s for the cowl guns and a few items from a Hasegawa A-24 kit. This project went in fits and starts off and on over the years, but I decided to knuckle down and finish it up after this New Years. My markings intent varied over that time as well, until a few weeks ago when I decided to go with the markings for Scouting 41 (VS-41) during Operation Torch in November of 1942. VS-41 flew a mix of SBD-3s and SBD-4s during Torch, but I was able to locate a photo confirming that 41-S-17 was a SBD-3 at that time.
41-S-17 is in the background on this photo. And on to my completed build…
This is an excellent example of the truth that the builder’s skill is more important than the quality of the kit. An expertly built and painted old Matchbox kit will look better than a sloppy Eduard wonderkit.
Excellent build of a trusty dusty old kit Carlos. I built this kit a couple of times myself back in the day. Your perseverance certainly paid off - she looks the biz!
The wait and capabilities were more an accident of circumstances than any design. One of those happy accidents that sometimes occurs in this hobby.
I agree 100% on the modeler vs the kit. I’ve seen a build of the old Hawk Lysander that was a top award winner at IPMS Nationals a few years back. That certainly was the modeler and not the kit. And no I’m not putting myself in the same league as that guy. We were just members of the same Chapter. He shows up to a contest and your odds of winning in any category he entered just dropped
I had seen a similar project done with this kit in the display case of a shop I used to frequent. It’s all that guys fault! This one sure turned out better than the last one that I built back 50+ years ago…
Nice! Funny how such a simple thing as drilling out those holes makes a difference in our modeling self esteem and improving the look of a kit.
