Wez Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 My next entry for this GB will be the Curtiss Helldiver biplane from 1980, pictures will be posted once I've retrieved it from the Hoard. This one has been in the Hoard since 1980, the decals are shot so I bought some Starfighter decals for it, whilst I was at it I bought some Starfighter resin goodies as an incentive to get it made. Fortunately the cat's cradle rigging isn't too tricky on this, hopefully it will be a colourful addition to the GB. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 I'll be looking forward to this Wez! I've only ever built the Matchbox SBC-4, so I'll be really interested in seeing how the two compare. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 I think the Heller kit is a better representation of the aircraft but the Matchbox kit is an easier build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Always the selling point for Matchbox biplanes for me. Still have a soft spot for my first, the Siskin IIIa. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 1 minute ago, fightersweep said: Always the selling point for Matchbox biplanes for me. Still have a soft spot for my first, the Siskin IIIa. The Siskin is such a lovely kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 3 hours ago, Wez said: My next entry for this GB will be the Curtiss Helldiver biplane from 1980, pictures will be posted once I've retrieved it from the Hoard. This one has been in the Hoard since 1980, the decals are shot so I bought some Starfighter decals for it, whilst I was at it I bought some Starfighter resin goodies as an incentive to get it made. Fortunately the cat's cradle rigging isn't too tricky on this, hopefully it will be a colourful addition to the GB. So, you're going for a US Navy SBC. I've got some photos of the Cleveland being towed across the Canadian-US border before delivery. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 4 minutes ago, dogsbody said: So, you're going for a US Navy SBC. I've got some photos of the Cleveland being towed across the Canadian-US border before delivery. Chris Thanks Chris, that'll be useful for the details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Here they is: Oops! Missed one: All are from here: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/collectionsearch/Pages/collectionsearch.aspx Chris 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Nice edition Wez. Quite a strange type for both Matchbox and Heller to produce, however that trait made these two manufacturers very popular back in the day. Will be good to see this one being assembled here... all the best. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 Here's the kit along with the goodies courtesy of Starfighter Models which include a resin cockpit, short SBC-4 cowling and engine and decals... 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 27, 2020 Author Share Posted September 27, 2020 20 hours ago, dogsbody said: Here they is: Thanks Chris, duly saved! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 Great choice Wez, and not a kit ive built before in either Heller or Matchbox. Those Canadian / US customs guys were pretty strict making a plane land, searched and pushed across the border... Little chance of sneeking booze or cigarettes past these guys ! Good luck Wez cheers Pat 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 The US Neutrality Laws forbade flights over the border, hence landing and towing. The same procedure was used with the RCAF's Douglas Digbys. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aardvark Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 How was this plane painted in reality? And what is the equivalent of this paint in the world of model enamels / acrylics? B.R. Serge P.S. Article build analogue model with resin cockpit, short SBC-4 cowling and engine and decals: http://scalemodels.ru/articles/12560-Heller-1-72-SBC-4-Helldiver---poslednijj-biplan-firmy-Curtiss.html WIP topic: http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67825&highlight= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 Ah, another unconventional choice. You MUST build it in US Navy colours. That would be the only participant with golden wings and stars, I reckon. And it would please me tremendously... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 28, 2020 Author Share Posted September 28, 2020 12 hours ago, Aardvark said: How was this plane painted in reality? And what is the equivalent of this paint in the world of model enamels / acrylics? B.R. Serge P.S. Article build analogue model with resin cockpit, short SBC-4 cowling and engine and decals: http://scalemodels.ru/articles/12560-Heller-1-72-SBC-4-Helldiver---poslednijj-biplan-firmy-Curtiss.html WIP topic: http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67825&highlight= Serge, According to the Heller instructions they were painted light grey with random patches of green. Many thanks for the links. 1 hour ago, Toryu said: Ah, another unconventioanl choice. You MUST build it in US Navy colours. That would be the only participant with golden wings and stars, I reckon. And it would please me tremendously... Well colour you happy then! The Starfighter decals includes two aircraft in the Golden Wings scheme, to me the VS-2 scheme whilst they were assigned to the Lexington in 1939 is the most colourful, red cowling, aluminium dope fuselage and lower wing, lemon yellow tailplane. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 Hi, super choice! Nothing like some US Navy yellow wings with all the garish trimmings to brighten up a day! I sadly missed buying this great model at my LMS. Just as well, as I didn't know some goodies had been produced for the kit. There is always tomorrow! Have fun!!! JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 I don't really know why I bought this kit in the first place really? Curiosity value maybe? Anyway, it has languished in the Heller Hoard since I first bought it in 1980! My interest in it was rekindled partly out of wanting to do something more unusual for this GB and the fact the Starfighter Decals released some decals for USN aircraft in the very attractive Golden Wings scheme. Fuselage parts: Wings... ...and the aftermarket stuffs, all of this is produced by Starfighter... ...I haven't posted a picture of the canopy, it's there and in good condition but if anyone has the Falcon vacform replacement going spare, I'd be interested. I don't have any references to they type other than those provided by Chris @dogsbody and linked to by Serge @Aardvark earlier in the thread so hopefully I won't get too hung up on the details. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Two more references if you like buying books: https://www.amazon.com/Air-Enthusiast-Five-William-Green/dp/B001LNHR1U Contains only one USN profile (5-S-7) but offers a cutaway drawing and the full history. https://www.abebooks.com/Target-Special-Wings-Fleet-Navy-Marine/19747373029/bd Several very good profiles including a 4-aspect drawing of the very attractive 'U.S.S. Enterprise - Air Group Commander' plane. It looks expensive in my link but may be available for less somewhere else. Cheers, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Seeing my interest growing in the interwar aircraft in recent years, this one is on my definitely needs one list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Tucker Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 I've just bought the matchbox kit from a train and die-cast car shop today in Melton Mowbray for the princely sum of £5. I was really pleased that we spotted the shop. I had no idea it was there. The decals are also shot. It joins the queue in the stash.... I love seeing those photos of the planes being driven across the border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Nice! As per all the other Heller kits from the period, it's a tidy looking model straight from the box. It'll really sparkle with all those extra goodies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desk Flyer Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 On 9/27/2020 at 6:56 PM, Wez said: Here's the kit along with the goodies courtesy of Starfighter Models which include a resin cockpit, short SBC-4 cowling and engine and decals... Very interesting stuff! Will be keeping an eye on this, too! Hmmm... I wonder if the detail set would fit in the Matchbox kit... 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 On 9/27/2020 at 12:34 AM, dogsbody said: Here they is: Very cool diorama possibilities there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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