US Navy and USMC Between The Wars in 1/100

[Rata]

Thanks everyone for your kind remarks.

The glue I use is a German brand of PVA builder's glue. I hit on it by chance- my wife grabbed a couple of bottles when it was on special at our local Aldi supermarket.

I decant some into the little bottle and water it down to the consistency of runny cream. I apply to the model with a small brush. Even watered down it dries quickly enough to hold in about 20 secs. It grips metal really well- I tried to remove a wire that I wasn't happy with and ended up giving up because it was just tearing the paper around it.

I've tried a number of different PVA's and found the 'craft glue' ones are pretty much useless. The better quality builder's wood glues dry hard and strong.

[Don Boose]

Garry: "I'd really like to get hold of a model of a Berliner-Joyce OJ-2. Along with the Curtiss F8C/O2C it would be worthy addition to this thread."

Yes, indeed. As an old Baltimore Boy, I would also love to see the Martin BM-1 or 2, the stablemate of the Great Lakes BG-1, which Bruno offers in several color schemes. The BG-1 has a relationship to the BM: The Great Lakes Aircraft Company began production in the old Martin factory in Cleveland after Martin moved to Baltimore. The first Great Lakes military airplane was the Martin T4M (see Mike's build in this thread: http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/639834-post119.html), which Great Lakes produced as the TG.

Don

[Rata]

Thanks for that Don, your interest in these types is understandable! I've got both the S&P BG-1 and T4M that will be included here sometime down the track.....

Probably not news to most of you but it still impresses the heck outa me: the F8C Peter Jackson had scratch-built for his King Kong remake.

[rmks2000]

Just catching up on this thread and you are doing fantastic work.

[Rata]

Originally Posted by rmks2000

Just catching up on this thread and you are doing fantastic work.

Thanks for looking in!

[scissorsandplanes]

Wonderful build (better than mine)
much respect for the precision and smoothness.
B

[Rata]

Thanks B-man. Much respect for giving us great models to build.

[Rata]

Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless by S&P. Added some mods: wing root fairings, the airscoop on the top of cowl and tweaked the prop blades. Otherwise 'out of the box'.
Don Boose has other, more important things going on at the moment so can't post his usual description of the full size. He did however kindly take the time to prepare one earlier so I'll post it next. BTW, you'll love the story of this particular Dauntless.

[Rata]

Douglas SBD-1 BuNo 1597 (2-MB-1) [DRAFT]
Donald W. Boose, Jr
1 September 2018
Garry’s model is Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless, Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo) 1597, as it appeared in late 1940 when it was flown by Major Ira L. Kimes, squadron commander of Marine Bombing Squadron 2 (VMB-2 – The Red Devils), Second Marine Air Group (MAG 2), based at San Diego, California.
The Douglas SBD (Scout Bomber, Douglas) was a development of the Northrup BT-1. In late 1936, Northrup changed its name to Douglas and received a contract to build BT-1s for the Navy. In April 1938, an improved version of the BT-1, the XBT-2 with a 1,000 horsepower engine and a redesigned landing gear that retracted flush into the wings made its first flight. After further refinement of the canopy and fin-rudder shape, Douglas began production of the new airplane, now designated SBD-1. All SBD-1s were assigned to the Marine Corps, equipping VMB-2 in 1940 and VMB-1 in 1941. BuNo 1597 was the second SBD-1 produced. The U.S. Army took delivery of 168 SBD-3s modified to operate as land-based (rather than carrier) aircraft and designated A-24 Banshee. Some of these saw combat in the Dutch East Indies and Papua in 1942.
The Red Devils (now VMFA-232) are the oldest and most highly decorated squadron in the Marine Corps. The squadron was activated on 1 September 1925 as Division 1, Fighting Plane Squadron 3M (VF-3M) of the 2nd Marine Air Group in San Diego. On 30 June 1927, it was redesignated VF-10M. In 1927 and 1928, the squadron served in China as VMF-10, then as VMF-6. From 1930 to 1932, the Squadron, once again designated VMF-10 flew Curtiss F6C-4s, including the first airplane Garry modeled for this series. On 1 July 1933, the squadron converted to the bombing mission, was redesignated as Marine Bombing Squadron 4 (VB-4M), and equipped with Great Lakes BG-1 dive bombers. In late 1940, the squadron (then based at San Diego and assigned to the Second Marine Air Group [MAG 2]) was redesignated as Marine Bombing Squadron Two (VMB-2), turned in its Great Lakes BG-1s, and was issued SBD-1s. It was the first outfit to receive the new Dauntlesses.
In January 1941, VMB-2 was deployed with MAG 2 to Ewa Marine Corps Air Station on Oahu, Territory of Hawai'i. In March 1941, VMSB-232's*SBD-1s were repainted in overall Neutrality Gray, and 1597 had "232-MB-2" in 12-inch high letters and numerals painted on the fuselage sides. On 1 July 1941, MAG 2 was redesignated Marine Air Group Twenty One (MAG 21), and*VMB-2 was redesignated Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 232 (VMSB-232).
in August 1942, the squadron (now commanded by Major Richard C. Mangrum who, as a second lieutenant, had briefly commanded the Red Devils in September 1930) was the first Marine air unit deployed to Guadalcanal, flying off the escort carrier USS Long Island to land at Henderson Field on 20 August 1942. The Red Devils served on Guadalcanal until 13 October 1942. They were later reequipped with Grumman TBF-1 Avengers, redesignated as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 (VMTB-232), and served in the Pacific to the end of the war.
BuNo 1597 was one of the few Ewa-based SBD-1s that survived the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack. I have been unable to determine if it deployed to Guadalcanal with VMSB-232, or was left behind at Ewa. Most likely the latter, since 1597 survived until 15 March 1944, when it was stricken, probably because it was worn out.
Images:

1-4: Views of Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless BuNo 1597 in late 1940 at San Diego. Note that in the first image, the two red stripes on the port vertical stabilizer have not yet been applied. These stripes, visible in the other images, were only painted on the port side. Their purpose was to help the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) on the carrier determine if the aircraft was in the optimum nose-up attitude as it approached the flight deck.

5. Color side view by Peter Freeman, Wings of the Fleet: US Navy & Marine Corps Aviation 1919-1941, On Target Special, Ardington, Oxfordshire, UK: The Aviation Workshop Publications Ltd., 2010, p. 31. The book contains a high-quality four view of 1597.

Sources:

Aerodata International, “Douglas SBD Dauntless,” U.S. Navy Carrier Bombers of World War II, Carrollton: TX Squadron/Signal, 1987, pp. 29-45.

Joe Baugher, “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos, Second Series (0001 to 5029),” available at
US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--Second Series (0001 to 5029)

David Brazelton, The Douglas SBD Dauntless, Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications, 1967.

Eric Brown, “Viewed from the Cockpit: The Doughty Douglas,” Air International, October 1979, pp. 180-185, 196.

Thomas E. Doll, Berkley R. Jackson, and William A. Riley, Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1 1911-1945 (Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal, 1983), p. 35.

John M. Elliott, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 2, 1940-1949, Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1989, p. 87.

René J. Francillon, “Douglas SBD and A-24 Dauntless,” McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume I, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1988, pp. 254-265.

Peter Freeman, Wings of the Fleet: US Navy & Marine Corps Aviation 1919-1941, On Target Special, Ardington, Oxfordshire, UK: The Aviation Workshop Publications Ltd., 2010, p. 31.

E.R. Johnson, United States Naval Aviation 1919-1941: Aircraft, Airships and Ships Between the Wars, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2011, pp. 102-104, 108-109, 114-115.

David H. Klaus, SBD Dauntless Colors & Markings, available at World’s Best Model Airplane Decals | Cutting Edge Decals | PYN-up Decals | Yellowhammer Decals » SBD Dauntless Colors & Markings

William T. Larkins, U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959, Concord, CA: Aviation History Publications, 1959.

William J. Sambito, A History of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Washington, DC: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1978, pp. 2-3, relevant portions available at VMFA-232 History

Rob Stern, SBD Dauntless in action, Aircraft Number 64, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1984.

Gordon Swanborough and Peter M Bowers, “Douglas SBD Dauntless,” United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1968, pp. 162-164.

Barrett Tillman, SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1998.

[Texman]

Thats a great little build