Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver 'The Final Version'
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Kit Review
This kit combines all the plastic parts from the Academy SB2C-4 kit released in 2004 with new parts produced by Special Hobby to depict the -5 version.
Inside the stout box you will find all the sprues of the Academy kit (one clear and two light grey-coloured) along with new sprues in clear and dark grey-coloured plastic, a bunch of resin components and a small fret of photo-etched brass. The new and revised grey parts comprise the bomb bay sides and doors, bomb bay interior bulkhead, bomb crutches, bomb bay door hydraulic jacks, propeller blades. The resin parts offer new instrument panel and side consoles, main and tail wheels, radar pod, drop tanks, pylons and eight HVAR rockets. The kit builds up as per the Academy original, you just have the revised bulkheads in the bomb bay, etched seat belts, instrument panel and side consoles in the cockpit, new etched sights and armoured shield for the rear gun, new resin main wheels with either spoked (resin) or plain disc (etched) hubs then all the various pods, tanks and rockets to hang under the wings depending on the colour option you choose (these options per colour scheme are clearly shown in a diagram in the last stage of the instructions).
Markings
The kit offers four decal options:
• BuNo.89357, 3.F-16 of Flottille 3.F, Aéronavale, French Indochina, 1954
• 'White 215' of VB-9 on USS Lexington (CV-16), US Navy, Pacific Ocean, August/September 1945
• S/No.MM.80036, Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force), 1950-55, used as a target tug
• 'White 9', S/No.3329, No.336 Squadron, Hellenic Air Force, Karissa, 1949
The decal sheet is superbly printed and comes with a full set of airframe stencils, walkway markings, rudder markings (French option), but lacks the stripes of the Italian target tug, although these are probably best painted on considering the dark blue overall scheme.
Conclusion
An excellent update to the -4 kit to allow this last version to be built, plus it also adds a lot of details that were missing from the base kit to start with (or just makes them better in etched). The use of resin and etched probably raise this outside the scope of the modeller with limited experience with these mediums, but for everyone else it is well worth adding to your collection. Our thanks to Special Hobby for the review sample, visit www.cmkkits.com or www.specialhobby.eu for more details. UK modellers can obtain this kit Hannants here.
This kit combines all the plastic parts from the Academy SB2C-4 kit released in 2004 with new parts produced by Special Hobby to depict the -5 version.
Inside the stout box you will find all the sprues of the Academy kit (one clear and two light grey-coloured) along with new sprues in clear and dark grey-coloured plastic, a bunch of resin components and a small fret of photo-etched brass. The new and revised grey parts comprise the bomb bay sides and doors, bomb bay interior bulkhead, bomb crutches, bomb bay door hydraulic jacks, propeller blades. The resin parts offer new instrument panel and side consoles, main and tail wheels, radar pod, drop tanks, pylons and eight HVAR rockets. The kit builds up as per the Academy original, you just have the revised bulkheads in the bomb bay, etched seat belts, instrument panel and side consoles in the cockpit, new etched sights and armoured shield for the rear gun, new resin main wheels with either spoked (resin) or plain disc (etched) hubs then all the various pods, tanks and rockets to hang under the wings depending on the colour option you choose (these options per colour scheme are clearly shown in a diagram in the last stage of the instructions).
Markings
The kit offers four decal options:
• BuNo.89357, 3.F-16 of Flottille 3.F, Aéronavale, French Indochina, 1954
• 'White 215' of VB-9 on USS Lexington (CV-16), US Navy, Pacific Ocean, August/September 1945
• S/No.MM.80036, Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force), 1950-55, used as a target tug
• 'White 9', S/No.3329, No.336 Squadron, Hellenic Air Force, Karissa, 1949
The decal sheet is superbly printed and comes with a full set of airframe stencils, walkway markings, rudder markings (French option), but lacks the stripes of the Italian target tug, although these are probably best painted on considering the dark blue overall scheme.
Conclusion
An excellent update to the -4 kit to allow this last version to be built, plus it also adds a lot of details that were missing from the base kit to start with (or just makes them better in etched). The use of resin and etched probably raise this outside the scope of the modeller with limited experience with these mediums, but for everyone else it is well worth adding to your collection. Our thanks to Special Hobby for the review sample, visit www.cmkkits.com or www.specialhobby.eu for more details. UK modellers can obtain this kit Hannants here.
