In memoriam Vought Vindicator ‒ aka Vibrator aka Wind Indicator

[Toryu]

 

The Vought SB2U received its official name rather late in its career (by 1941) but all the more quickly was it replaced by disparaging sobriquets - rather injudiciously. The Vindicator was an advanced design in its time, and most naval aviators that flew it on carrier operations commented approvingly. "It felt and acted like a stable, firm bombing and gunnery platform - we were happy flying it in competition with any of the equally current types." (Boone T. Guyton, VB-2).

 

 

This Marine Corps SB2U-3 of VMSB-131, which I built as my contribution to the 'Bomber/Strike/Ground Attack GB', was photographed at MCAS Quantico, VA in October 1941. Scout Bombing One Thirty-One turned in their last Vindicators in September 1942 when they became the first Marine squadron to be equipped with the TBF Avenger.

 

For the groupbuild I used an Accurate Miniatures SB2U-2, bought many years ago with no specific concept in mind, which I scratch-converted to the Marine version and enhanced with parts from a HiPM kit plus aftermarket items (engine, cockpit, canopy, machine gun). The build was very enjoyable and can be studied in detail here.

 

Proceeding in service, 131-S-18, registered as BuNo 2056, departed from VMSB-131 in April 1942 to join VMSB-242 at Midway where it was absorbed into VMSB-241. Amazingly, it survived the Battle of Midway and was transferred to the Naval Air Operational Training Command (NAOTC) at NAS Jacksonville, FL. There it spun in and crashed on 30 October 1942 - its terminal dive, so to speak. This glorious plane will now live on in my model.

 

Michael

 

 

 

SUMMARY OF REFERENCES

THE ANNALS OF SUGAR BAKER TWO UNCLE, AIR ENTHUSIAST NO.8, LONDON, 1978

NAVY AIR COLORS VOL.1, DOLL / JACKSON / RILEY, CARROLLTON, 1983

THE OFFICIAL MONOGRAM US NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIRCRAFT COLOR GUIDE VOL.2, JOHN M. ELLIOT, STURBRIDGE, 1989

SB2U VINDICATOR, AIRCRAFT IN ACTION NO.122, TOM DOLL, CARROLLTON, 1992

US NAVY AIRCRAFT CAMOUFLAGE & MARKINGS 1940-1945, THOMAS E. DOLL, CARROLLTON, 2003

SB2U VINDICATOR, AIRCRAFT PICTORIAL 2, DANA BELL, TUCSON, 2009

VOUGHT SB2U VINDICATOR, NAVAL FIGHTERS NUMBER 106, STEVE GINTER / JOE WEATHERS, SIMI VALLEY, 2018

 

 

 

 

[Zigomar]

Excellent, what else!

 

[Roger Holden]

Another nice result Michael. I like your thorough approach to studying your subject, which matches my own. Unfortunately there are no short-cuts to building accurate models.

[russ c]

Excellent Vindicator there Michael, really nice work

[Pete Robin]

Beautifully built and presented.

Regards

Pete

[Toryu]

Renewed interest in Accurate Miniatures' Vindicator, documented in a couple of recent posts, prompts me to present my model again. The associated WIP answers many questions about the convertibility of the early into a late version and the few errors inherent in the AM/Academy kit. I hope that my findings will be helpful for the interested modeller.