Academy 1/48 Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless - InBox Review

[Dave Ward]

The SBD was the premier USN dive bomber in the Pacific War counting six aircraft carriers in it's victims. It was introduced in early 1941, just in time for the US involvement in WWII. Nicknamed 'Slow But Deadly' it was due to be replaced by the SB2C Helldiver, but problems with this unpopular aircraft delayed the retirement of the SBD, used by the USN & USMC, it was also used by the USAAC as the A-5 Banshee,
This model is from the Accurate Miniatures moulds of 1997. It has been reboxed, not only by Academy, but Italeri, Eduard & Revell. It must have been a revelation at that time, and it still is a very well detailed model

Rather nice boxart Academy also do two other boxings - Pearl Harbor & Battle of Midway................

Sprue shots



Masks, PE, Decals & Transparencies - Closed & open canopy options................

Instructions A4 B&W fanfold - look neat & clear............

Three Decal options, 2 USN & ! USMC

All 3 in the mid-war coloue scheme of Dark Sea Blue/Intermediate Blue/White
Detail shots to follow

[Dave Ward]

A few detail shots

The moulds are over 20 years old & have stood up well - pretty crisp & some very nice detail ( like the brake lines on the u/c legs ). There will be some clean up needed, and there are some ejector pin marks. The perforated dive brakes are good, but you can replace them with Eduard PE if you are a masochist!
This is a detailed model - not too many parts, not over-engineered and would be OK for a beginner. The only other modern 1/48 SBD model is from Hasegawa in multiple boxings ( and expensive! ).
Availability? yes! John has the Academy model on sale at around £25 at the moment!
Dave

[adt70hk]

Dave,

Thanks yet again for a great review..... Something else to think about.... Just wish I had room in the stash!!!

Again, thank you very much.

Andrew

[Tim Marlow]

Another good review of a nice looking bird. Not sure I’d want to replace the dive brakes unless I was showing them open and wanted scale thickness. The plastic nicely represents the punch effect of the originals. Etched metal will be too flat to show this.

[yak face]

Great review dave , the accurate miniatures kits still stand up today , in all their reboxings. Cheers tony

[Nicko]

That looks a really nice kit! Thanks Dave.

Nick