SBD-5 Dauntless NZ5057 - 1/48 scale

[dewobz]

NZ5057 SBD-5 5553 Bu36925. Taken over as new aircraft February-March 1944. BOC with No.25 Servicing Unit on 24 February 1944. Ferried to Bougainville for use with No.25 Squadron, arriving at Piva on 23 March 1944. Named "HOWA-BAHT-THAT-HIC thing! Returned to US Marine Corps at Russell on 20 May 1944. (adf.serials) The personal mount of S/L T J McLean de Lange, C/0 of 25 Squadron (source .
Accurate Miniatures (exceptional) 1/48 kitset, Color of Eagles, Humbrol, Tamiya & MisterKit paints, Ventura & AeroMaster decals.
I had to restrain myself with weathering this one as our SBD-5s were apparently returned to the USMC in "as new" condition after 25 Squadron's single tour.
Full build on www.kiwimodeller.com in RNZAF 75th Anniversary GB with more pictures in the Build Gallery of that forum.
Plaudits for Accurate Miniatures for building kitsets like this, TBF/M Avenger, B-25 Mitchell etc with such incredible longevity that they are being re-released by other manufacturers even today!
Cheers,
Wally.

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[paulashman]

Neat looking model! A quick question: are those bars by the bomb the actual release mechanism for the bomb? Looks bizarre!

[Dave Homewood]

Nice work Wally.

[dewobz]

Paulashman, Yes, the main or centreline bomb - 500 or 1000lbs - was released from a trapeze which swung down. I'm unsure whether this was to more safely &/or accurately release the bomb or whether it was simply a dated method of bomb release? The Dauntless was a pre-war design from around 1936 I think. (Though we can thank our lucky stars she existed. Dauntless sank more shipping than any other dive bomber in WW2 apparently). There may be a Dauntless expert on here who can clarify or elaborate or correct?
Cheers, Wally.

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[sparrow]

Stunning! Great work with the weathering.

[Bruce]

the centreline bomb trapeze was to ensure the bomb cleared the prop when released in a near vertical dive... would be pretty embarrassing to destroy your prop exactly when you want to pull out over a hostile target! The Stuka had a similar arrangement.

[planecrazy]

Some of the japanese dive bombers also had this for bomb release,
loverly model by the way, well done!

[flyjoe180]

Awesome work, fantastic weathering effects.