1/200 Naval Aircraft

Merit is a Trumpeter company and Trumpeter lists 1/200 Dauntlesses, along with all the other aircraft included with their 1/200 ship kits, available as separate items in their catalog.  I assume that these would be molded in clear plastic as the ones in the ship kits are, but I have not been able to find anyone that is actually selling them. You might search some of the Asian on-line hobby outlets.

They also list a 1/200 Enterprise as an upcoming release so you might want to wait and see what that looks like.  Of course with Thrumpeter you never know, the release date may be in weeks, months, years or never.

Some of Trumpeters aircraft sets in 1/350 come in combo sprees of black,gray and clear.

Personally I don’t find the clear that useful, and I do think that it’s brittle and more difficult to glue together.

I’d take what you can find.

I'd second waiting to see if the Enterprise is released.  Hornet was a half sister to Yorktown and Enterprise, at least as far as the island structure was concerned.  You're going to have a lot of scratching on your hands to get an accurate island for Enterprise.

That is, if the Hornet kit is accurate.

Don't remember if the SBD's were replaced with SB2C's, or when exactly, prior to her being converted to night ops late in the war, when her complement was just 'Cats and Avengers. (all radar equipped)

Thanks for the input everyone.  I’m thinking that as soon as I order the Hornet kit, Enterprise will be issued.

Your right - there will be a significant amount of scratch building necessary based on my comparison of the two ships.  There is a $400 island available from Shapeways for 1:200 Entrrprise but that is pricey.

I picked up a set of 1/200 SBD -3s from Merit.  They are painted grey with some decals, clear canopy and panel lines.  Overall, a good starting point but they need work to get them acceptable.

If the island is complete, and in the frosted extreme detail, might be worth it, as it's a focal point. 

I got some 1/72 and 1/144 guns in that frosted extreme detail, 4"/50's and 20mm's.  Beautiful pieces and ready to paint.

It is in the frosted detail so it is definitely an option.  I’m lucky to have a full blown model hobby shop nearby whose owner communicates with the manufacturer so I’m going to check with him on the Enterprise before I proceed 

Spoke to the hobby shop guy today - he’s been hearing the same rumors about Trumpetor or Merit issuing a 1/200 Enterprise but there is no definitive release date or an indication that it will be released. He has also been trying to get additional Hornet kits, which are good sellers for him, but has been unsuccessfuL Sounds like everyone is frustrated.