PIPboy Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Hey all, My brother recently gave me this old Monogram Dauntless kit. The decals became useless over time so I have to buy new ones. I want something more unique than the usual US Navy scheme so I looked up French decals for it. The problem is that the French used SBD5s and I think this kit is an earlier model. I don't really know the Dauntless but judging by the pictures I've seen it's an SBD3(?). Can someone suggest me a good website/book/any other resource which shows all the differences between the Dauntless models? So far I looked at googled pictures but their quality is usually so poor that I can't use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 you want to read this http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Profiles/Detail-Scale/48-Douglas-SBD OOP, but scanned. the series are very good. All are scanned in link. I'm not sure what exact sub-type the old Monogram kit is, but a lot of BSBD-3 schemes are pretty generic, eg Though plenty of fun to be had with the paint fading (note no bare metal) To be honest, the kit is from the era between toy and model, if you want a decent SBD,get an Accurate Minatures (reboxed by Italeri and Eduard) but it can be done up http://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/usn/fogelsbd.htm https://www.agapemodels.com/2008/01/21/kit-build-report-revells-monograms-148-sbd-dauntless/ HTH T 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIPboy Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 Thank you, I would give you two likes if I could! Yeah, the kit is pretty crude. However, I want to experiment with scratch building so I think it will be a perfect fit. I knew the articles you linked about the kit and they gave me some confidence too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 The French used both the SBD and the A-24 (USAAF land version) here's an A-24 build http://imodeler.com/2013/01/armee-de-lair-a-24b-148-accurate-miniatures-sbd-5-kit/ technically I don't think these are D-Day stripes, but ID stripes used by the Free French, see http://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/dewoitine-d520-fighters-of-french.html both the Italeri http://shop.italeri.com/Products/6348-2673-sbd-5-dauntless.aspx and Eduard http://www.hyperscale.com/2016/reviews/kits/eduard1165reviewbg_1.htm boxings had French options. I suggest joining Hyperscale ,as they have a large US membership, and asking in their Plane Trading section if someone has some leftover French decals for sale ( though some kind person will probably just send you them) , someone will have as their are multiple options in both boxings. Hyerpscale is often a better place for questions on US types than here as well. In the Detail and Scale link the main difference between a -3 and -5 are on pages 12 and 15, cowl flap, carb intake and prop it seems. So, looking at the pics, the Monogram is a -3. (and If I'm wrong, I just ha a quick look at the linked scans, by being wrong someone will come along and correct me ) cheers T 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 PIPboy, Not my scale, but I built the old Monogram kit when I was in my teens, and while it doesn't have the detail and scribing of the state of the art Accurate Miniatures kit, it can be made into a nice model with some work, scratchbuilding, and aftermarket bits- biq question being how much money do you want to throw at it? However, you don't improve your modeling skills if you don't try, and if you want to go that route, I found a link to a website that I think would be useful for anybody wanting to do the Monogram kit as an SBD-3 or SBD-5. I hope this helps and good luck on your project. (The Monogram TBF and SBD were the very first 1/48 scale airplanes I ever built and I was amazed by the details and operating features they had- they were ahead of their time in so many ways!) Ah, the heady aroma of Revell S cement and Testors 'Namel! Mike https://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?370606-SBD-Dauntless-(US-Navy-dive-bomber 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIPboy Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 Troy Smith, Thank you again for the tip! I'll definitely check hyperscale. Mike, Amazing thread, thank you! I want to try scratch building at least in the cockpit. I'm not so sure about converting to SBD5 anymore. According to the resources the two of you posted in this thread I would have to change the panel lines of the kit at least around the nose. Now the problem is that the kit has raised panel lines and I'm not sure I could replace them if they get lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Hello, PIPboy New Zealand did use SBD-3 and SBD-4 models as trainers, although it was SBD-5 version only that fought over Rabaul. Take a look at following links: http://www.thescale.info/news/publish/Dauntless-RNZAF-1.shtml http://www.thescale.info/news/publish/Dauntless-RNZAF-2.shtml http://www.adf-serials.com.au/nz-serials/nzdauntless.htm All SBD-3 machines were war-weary aircraft, borrowed from USMC during mid-1943 with survivors being returned to Marines by early 1944. Not many SBD-3s had been used outside USN and USMC and that makes Kiwi SBD-3s slightly less ordinary. Cheers Jure 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIPboy Posted May 18, 2017 Author Share Posted May 18, 2017 Jure, Thanks, that is a great idea! To be honest I am (was?) thinking about buying the French decals because of the green color scheme Troy linked. However, your suggestion might prove to be the middle ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 How about a Mexican Dauntless? Check Aztec decals webpage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don McIntyre Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 (edited) Both the Italeri and Eduard kits use the Accurate Miniatures molds. Edited May 19, 2017 by Don McIntyre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIPboy Posted May 18, 2017 Author Share Posted May 18, 2017 Hey everyone, I kept digging as well and found this link, I think it's pretty useful: https://airplanes3d.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/differences-between-dauntless-versions-sbd-5-and-sbd-6/ Antoine, Thanks for the suggestion. I considered the Mexican scheme but I usually prefer to build the airplanes of nations in war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Hello, PIPboy Very useful link, thanks. Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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