Academy Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless - 1:48 scale model

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas", but also known as "Slow But Deadly") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944. The SBD is best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

After a friendly fire incident aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, the insignia were directed to be as large as possible on all surfaces, but after the Battle of Coral Sea in early May of 1942, the colorful markings were recognized as needing to be changed. So, the red dot in the star and striped tail rudder were removed and the insignia size reduced.

This Academy kit #12335 is a re-release of kit #12296 for 2020.

This was a great build that presented several challenges, which I always welcome. Now it joins my last build on the shelf - The Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat and the Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless, both in the U.S. Navy's pre-May, 1942 livery.

Build gallery on imgur: https://imgur.com/a/jyIpn7x
Completed gallery on imgur: https://imgur.com/gallery/WPqDlgL
Open box review of this kit: https://youtu.be/9hc-x3_0cDc
Douglas Dauntless at work: https://youtu.be/PL0M487vjts

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