Aircraft:
Born from a 1938 project, the SB2C was proposed to be a scout, dive bomber, supposed to replace the SBD Dauntless. The prototype made her maiden flight in 1940, but due to teething problems, arrival in front units began only in December 1942. Even then, aerodynamic troubles were not yet solved, and the plane was not supposed to dive if not having bombs or rockets hanging from the wing pylons. It was to be the USN last operational dive bomber. The main user of the plane post war is the French Navy (Aéronavale), which received a total of 110 SB2C-5 between 1949 and 1955. The type saw active operational duty during the Indochina war.

The kit :
This one is the Revell offer. However, it is the same as the Promodeler one, since these two companies are now one. The previous offer were, in 1/72 scale, from Matchbox, and , in 1/48, Monogram. This Revell offering is totally new tooling, with high level of details and accuracy, plus finely engraved panel lines. The kit provides a photo-etched fret to realise the perforated diving flaps, engine wires and belt buckles.

The decal sheet offers 3 options :
1 USN plane, aboard USS Essex, painted Sea Blue/Intermediate Blue/White.
2 overall Sea Blue Gloss planes, one from French Navy in Indochina and another from Italian Navy.

These two options are supposed to be –5 types. Unfortunately, the kit is a –4 example, and heavy modifications are required to obtain the -5 type : bomb bay lengthening, cockpit layout changes (reversing from the totally haphazard ergonomics to console type encountered on planes like Corsair or Bearcat), and a totally frameless canopy for the pilot. As the kit offers the opportunity to display the bomb bay in the open position, shape of doors are to be amended, and the propeller should be of the broad blades type. I therefore suggest the two decal options go in the surplus box (plus, the blue of the french markings is far too light and should be darker).

Otherwise, the decals look fine, with carrier film excess, but a good register. Of interest is that complete stencilling is provided.

There are several aftermarket offers, ranging from the KMC complete cockpit updating (for –4) and wingfold conversion, to Aeromaster decal sheets. A nice source of documentation is the Squadron Detail & Scale book, covering the type.

The instruction book (you need to call it that, as it is a four A3 double sided booklet) is sometimes hazy about the placement of parts (especially for the gunner / radio compartment), but on the whole, is sufficient enough for even an absolute beginner. Painting instructions are given in the Revell range, but the US Navy Pacific scheme is sufficiently spread to allow quick conversion in the existing paint ranges.

Construction :
As usual, it begins with the cockpit, where the floor is the back of the bomb bay. The whole lot, plus sides of the fuselage are sprayed with aeromaster acrylics US Interior green. The pilot seat has the harness engraved on it. As I wanted to use the photo-etched buckles, it was then sanded flat, and the seat sides were cut and replaced with 2 pieces of brass wire. The harness was made from Tamiya masking tape, painted beige color.

Different boxes and instrument panels were painted black. A general drybrush in light grey allowed the details to be raised. Throttle knobs and other items were picked out in red and yellow. The pilot headrest was painted black, although a brown shade was also seen. The positionning of the floor of the gunner compartment is a bit vague. It is better to place the rear part first, and then the floor. The guns were painted Testors Metallic Black. The .30 guns assembly, with axle, shield and firing handles are painted light grey. The firing handles have a wooden part, which was rendered painting it Dark Earth. The gunner’s seat and gun assembly is put aside to be added after painting job is completed. The bomb bay is fairly detailed and just need a gentle dry brush in Aluminium to have its details raised. Some Sienna oil paint pigments are brushed in, to add an operational aspect.

Before closing the fuselage halves, the carburettor additional intake is thinned by sanding the inside and outside of it. A grid is supposed to be affixed here, but I must admit I forgot it!  The fuselage is then closed.

The wings are added next. The fit is generally good, with very little putty needed. A good number of blank fittings were needed to achieve that result. The external parts of the dive brakes are provided on the photoetched fret. As I elected to present the landing flaps in the down position, I had to cut the plastic inner structure on the diving brakes. At first this seems to be a smart move. I then realised that the holes in those parts were just engraved, not drilled. I therefore suggest that this operation is reserved to the happy owner of an electric minidriller, as I stopped counting around 120 holes. My wife just cursed me, since the noise of the minidriller reminded her of some painful experiences with the dentist! Anyway, the effect achieved is nice. The flaps and the inner structures were primed in white. After the red was sprayed and masked. Tail horizontal surfaces were then added and all the glazing were masked (long!), and on to the paint shop.

Painting :
The decoration is the plane aboord USS Essex, carrying the classic 3 tones Pacific scheme. The instruction sheet shows the Intermediate Blue bending front of the leading edge and after rear edge of the wing. A pic I have of an USS Essex SB2 shows that shade covering the whole midldle 1/3^rd of the fuselage. A preshadowing in black was made and White was sprayed first, in 3 fine separates layers. Then came the Intermediate Blue, and Sea Blue. The pic I have of the plane shows it to be very weathered. The undersurface white and Intermediate Blue panel lines were oversprayed with some Tamiya X-19 Smoke, and a brown juice added. Some inner part of the white panels were sprayed with a veil of white in which a drop of yellow was added. Some of the Sea Blue panels were oversprayed with a veil of Sienna Brown, some other ligthly sanded with 2000 abrasive paper. This late operation has to be done after 3 full days of paint drying to avoid damage. The parts supposed to be the fabric covered flaps, were sprayed in their specific hue, lightened with white.

After doing all this, I realised that the Revell decals, representing the white marking of the tail and wing were not very dense, so I decided to have them painted. The decal sheet was used as a template to make paper masks, where its edges were outlined with Tamiya masking tape. The white was then sprayed in a thin layer, to enhance the weathering effect. A coat of gloss varnish sealed the lot.

Decalling :
The kit decal sheet has a lot of stencilling, that needs trimming of the excess carrier film. It is long and tedious but is worth the value. US Stars and Bars came from the surplus box, other markings like codes are those of the kit. After overnight drying, gloss varnish was again sprayed to assure that no silvering might occur and then the matt varnish was sprayed to complete the weathering. All paints used were from the Aeromaster acrylics range.

Conclusion : 
The landing gear is added, the brakes fluid circuit also being added. The wheel legs and hubs receive a small amount of Sienna pigments and the aerial, made of etched sprue are added. Some isolators are made, using a drop of Kristal Clear, painted white when dry.

Definitely the kit you’ll enjoy, even straight from the box, and the one the ultimate « detailer » will love. And that plane has a terrible look. Make at least one, and prepare to make room on the shelves, this one is large.