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1/48 Accurate Miniatures SB2C-1C Helldiver VB-17 (Finished)

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  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
1/48 Accurate Miniatures SB2C-1C Helldiver VB-17 (Finished)
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 16, 2020 4:53 AM

I figured I'd share my latest endeavor, the 1/48 SB2C-1C in the Accurate Miniatures boxing of the Pro-Modeler kit.  Truthfully I don't know too much about it other than it was a pig and it was dubbed a funny nickname by the pilots........"Son of a b#$tch second class".......lol.  All you need to know I suppose. 

The person I'm building it for provided the kit and a ton of aftermarket stuff was included inside the box. I'm guessing he wanted to build it himself at one point.  He told me to pick and choose what I wanted to use.  I started with the pit which was average, but I suppose ok for 1997.  I used the color Eduard PE for the instrument panel.  I did improve the pilot seat by thinning it a bit and adding the braces with styrene rod. I also scraped off the molded on seatbelts and replaced them with PE.

I found the fit surprisingly nice.  No issues at the wingroot. The one issue I had was the windscreen which was badly deformed. 

 

 

In no time I was painting the tri-colored scheme.  After painting on the star and bars with spare Montex masks, I used AK Real Colors.  These were then faded and weathered a bit.

 

The kit came with a PE fret that included the flaps.  I decided I would keep the top closed and drop the lowers. 

Soon I'll work on the engine. 

 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, November 16, 2020 6:00 AM

Oh man that is looking so sweet! I have this one in the stash so I will be peeking for inspiration. The paint fading looksYes  

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 16, 2020 7:02 AM

plasticjunkie

Oh man that is looking so sweet! I have this one in the stash so I will be peeking for inspiration. The paint fading looksYes  

 

Thanks PJ

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2015
  • From: the redlands Fl
Posted by crown r n7 on Monday, November 16, 2020 7:16 AM

Yes it does !!

 

 

 Nick.

  • Member since
    July 2019
Posted by Hoss WA on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 8:25 PM

Looking amazing as usual. Marvellous fading and shading. Haven't seen a Helldiver project in a while. Nice.  

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 5:45 AM
Watching this. Gotta see what you can do with your skillset

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:55 AM

Hey!

 That's the same boidy I built.I didn't weather mine though. I just want a pristine version of a S)* of a%^$() -2nd Class !

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 8:42 AM

Excellent weathering LD.  

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    November 2020
Posted by s.t.u.a.r.t on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:07 PM
That's some awesome work - beautiful finish and what a great subject!

Stuart Templeton

I may not be good but I'm slow - Old School Hairy Stick User

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:35 PM

crown r n7

Yes it does !!

 

Not sure what that means, but thanks for topping by Nick...

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:35 PM

Hoss WA

Looking amazing as usual. Marvellous fading and shading. Haven't seen a Helldiver project in a while. Nice.  

 

Thanks Hoss

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:36 PM

Tanker-Builder

Hey!

 That's the same boidy I built.I didn't weather mine though. I just want a pristine version of a S)* of a%^$() -2nd Class !

 

Thanks Tanker

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:37 PM

Mopar Madness

Excellent weathering LD.  

 

Thanks Chad

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:38 PM

s.t.u.a.r.t
That's some awesome work - beautiful finish and what a great subject!
 

Thanks Stuart

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 30, 2020 4:30 AM

Gonna go ahead and deem this turkey finished.  To recap, it's the Accurate Miniatures boxing of the Pro Modeler kit in the early SB2C-1C form from VB-17.  I thought it was a decent kit detail wise and the main frame fit pretty well.  I did have issues with deformed clear parts particularly the windscreen.  I had to make due as these are very pricey kits and there's zero chance I would ever use vaccuform. I hate that stuff. 

Reference the Accurate Miniatures boxing, welp, all I know is that the more AM kits I build, the more I understand why they probably went under (fondly recalling my Dauntless issues with mixed dash 3 and 5 front ends).  With this particular kit, their instruction book is comical at best. It's very poorly drawn and I pretty much had to guess where things go.  Furthermore, AM provides kit specific decals, but tell you to buy the stenciling decals separately.....wtf? So they can provide decals for writing on the bombs, but not these?  They give you wing pylons but no bombs?  Perhaps -1C variants did no have wing bombs.  I had little interest in researching this.  In my opinion overall, these kits are (and probably originally were) too expensive for them to cut such corners. Needless to say, their kits can be a frustrating experience, at least for me.  Perhaps the Pro Modeler version would have been the better option?

Anyways, I decided to forego finding a stencil sheet and make due. The aftermarket I added were some PE in the cockpit and I used most of the PE fret that came with the kit, probably left over from it's Pro Modeler days. It has -1C flaps, an engine wiring harness, and some other stuff.  I decided to only drop the lower flaps, as I had a spare PE set that had the inner surface detail.  I hate large photo etch too, as it's a pain to work with. Perhaps I'm just a lazy modeler..........lol.  Paint is AK Real Colors and their weathering enamels.  All markings are painted on with the use of spare Montex masks.  

As I said before, not unlike it's pilots, I'm not really a Helldiver fan.  With that said, correct or not, I'm fairly happy with how it turned out.  

   

I thought The bomb writing decals were a nice touch.  I wish more companies would include these. 


 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2020
Posted by Xraylizard on Monday, November 30, 2020 7:10 AM

Looks great !

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Monday, November 30, 2020 7:56 AM

If the real SB2 were as good as your Model, it would no have been a pig! Really nice job Lawdog.

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep and research

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8 Prep and research

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 30, 2020 3:51 PM

Xraylizard

Looks great !

 

Thank you 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 30, 2020 3:52 PM

Shipwreck

If the real SB2 were as good as your Model, it would no have been a pig! Really nice job Lawdog.

 

Ha! Thank you

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Monday, November 30, 2020 4:04 PM

Well done, Joe.  Just by weight of numbers, the statistics for the SB2C reveal a pretty good war record.  Still not loved by the crews.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Monday, November 30, 2020 4:05 PM

Turned out great.  I built that one a while ago - the promoder boxing - and was pretty pleased with the kit.  She is a big plane for sure. Really not a well liked airplane.  Government contracting at its worst I suppose. 

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • From: Maryland
Posted by wpwar11 on Monday, November 30, 2020 4:22 PM

I always like your builds.  I've been on here for about a year and have seen a half dozen or so.  I believe they have all been WW2 subjects.  Have you ever built a modern jet?

Also, I recently posted something wanting to use Montex mask.  Someone replied how you like to use them.  Where can I go to purchase?

Thanks for posting.  It's awesome.

Paul

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 30, 2020 4:51 PM

 

jeaton01

Well done, Joe.  Just by weight of numbers, the statistics for the SB2C reveal a pretty good war record.  Still not loved by the crews.

 

Thanks. I remember reading in my brief research that it was responsible for over 300 Japanese ships being destroyed, not too shabby. It was reportedly not a bad as the pilots said and not as good as Curtiss said it was going to be....it fell somewhere in the middle perhaps...

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 30, 2020 4:52 PM

keavdog

Turned out great.  I built that one a while ago - the promoder boxing - and was pretty pleased with the kit.  She is a big plane for sure. Really not a well liked airplane.  Government contracting at its worst I suppose. 

 

Thanks. I suppose I would have been happier with that boxing. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, November 30, 2020 4:57 PM

wpwar11

I always like your builds.  I've been on here for about a year and have seen a half dozen or so.  I believe they have all been WW2 subjects.  Have you ever built a modern jet?

Also, I recently posted something wanting to use Montex mask.  Someone replied how you like to use them.  Where can I go to purchase?

Thanks for posting.  It's awesome.

Paul

 

Thanks Paul. Aside of a few subjects, I'm not big on modern stuff. The most recent thing I've built was the F-86. I am however intrigued by the Tamiya Skyraider and the F-14. Maybe someday. 

I get my Montex, as well as most of my modeling supplies, off ebay. A company called "Victory Models Production" carries them. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Monday, November 30, 2020 5:03 PM

My gosh LD, these are looking so good it's getting ridiculous!  The lower fuselage is just breathtaking. 

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Posted by banthafodder on Monday, November 30, 2020 6:10 PM

That looks great, I love the detail in the cockpit and the weathering of the exterior.  It might not have been the most well-liked aircraft, but your rendition looks amazing.  You mentioned issues with the Dauntless, I think I may have run into the same problem, no matter how hard I tried, I could not get the cowling to fit onto it, and I wound up setting the kit aside.  I lost the arrestor hook somewhere too lol.  How did you wind up resolving that issue?  I do like the detail of the AM kit, it's a shame about the cowling, if I could figure out how to fix it, I would probably finish the build, albeit with a missing arrestor hook.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Monday, November 30, 2020 6:37 PM

You did great, Joe.

Chad darned near stole my line. I was going to say the undercarriage looks so good, you might consider displaying this one upside down!

(I don't mean that to take away from the rest of it)

  • Member since
    July 2019
Posted by Hoss WA on Monday, November 30, 2020 9:57 PM

Lovely finish LD. Your robust shading and variation on the wings really pops.  Congrats. 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 8:51 AM

Great work on your Beast! She sure looks like she’s been in the South Pacific for awhile, but ready to have another swing at the Rising Sun.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

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