Curtiss SB2C4 Helldiver

[825]

As my other builds are progressing I thought I’d start another. This time it’s the Helldiver originally released in 1968. Though this is 1975 boxing which I think I got second hand but I’ve no idea. 
 

 

It’s a bundle of dark blue bits of plastic with open/closed bomb bay options, parts for an SB2C4 or 5 and folding wings. The moulding seems good although there’s a little flash and it was released during the period when Airfix employed Rosie the Riveter to cover the airframe.
 

 

Clear but  thick transparencies. And an Airfix stand. 
 

 

Classic instructions and two options for finishing as a C4 or C5. 
 

 

[825]

The interior started and some paint on. There’s not much to the interior so I’ll add the crew and probably some radio equipment in the rear cockpit. The gunner was also the radioman, or was the radioman also the gunner?  The dark blue plastic is a bit of a nightmare to cover and almost every part has mould pins on needing a fair amount of cleaning up. The plastic is pretty hard needing a wee bit of heft. 
 

 

 

[AdrianMF]

Super choice! I remember building it as a kid and being disappointed with how the orange band didn't turn out opaque over the raw blue plastic even though I'd given it two whole coats!

 

Shocking! 😮

 

Looks like you are going for the other scheme though, starting early on the white...

 

Regards,

Adrian

[825]

6 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

Super choice! I remember building it as a kid and being disappointed with how the orange band didn't turn out opaque over the raw blue plastic even though I'd given it two whole coats!

 

Shocking! 😮

 

Looks like you are going for the other scheme though, starting early on the white...

 

Regards,

Adrian

I think when I made it back not long after it came out I painted it ‘Midnight Blue’ and ignored the orange band as I didn’t have any suitable paint. I do recall the number of layers of paint needed on Airfix’s black and dark blue models. Mind you my worst more recent experience was painting the white underside on a Matchbox Phantom where one of the three colours was black. I don’t know how many thin coats it took but it was a lot. 

[825]

The fuselage closed up and some cleaning up done. It took time as there was a small ridge and mismatch in parts and avoiding rubbing off the rivets was a challenge. 
 

The engine and cowling assembled. It’s amazing how a bit of dry brushing a lift even a really old basic moulding. 
 

 

[CliffB]

On 9/8/2024 at 6:16 PM, 825 said:

It’s amazing how a bit of dry brushing a lift even a really old basic moulding.

 

Like magic!  It looking good 👍

[825]

On 9/13/2024 at 5:19 PM, CliffB said:

 

Like magic!  It looking good 👍

Thanks Cliff. 
 

The wings and empanage on, took a little bit of adjustment to get everything lined up but considering the age of the kit it wasn’t too onerous. There will be a little bit of cleaning up required but hopefully should be a problem.  I don’t think much, if any filler will be needed, only some careful sanding. 
 

 

[825]

The Helldiver is progressing with the upperworks getting painted. There isn’t a readily available acrylic version of wartime non speculative or gloss Sea Blue and I don’t want to use enamels. I’ve found a compromise with Citadel paints. A base layer of Kantor Blue followed by a couple of thin coats of contrast Leviadon Blue gives a reasonable representation of the inky black blue wartime colour. I appreciate that the non speculative and gloss colours were a bit different but in 1:72 a cou0le of coats of Kleer should give sufficient contrast. 
 

 

 

Once left to dry for a while I’ll mask up to apply the Intermediate Blue. The transfers have been taped up to a south facing window to try and reduce the yellowing. Though our weather forecast is not too promising for much sun over the coming week. The canopies have been dipped in Kleer and will need masking which will take a while.