SBD-3 Dauntless 1:33 scale

[Kilroy1988]

Really wonderful and inspirational. I'm gearing up to finish my first build of a 1/33 scale aircraft and made a right mess of it and will carefully look through this and several other threads before I start my second one! Looking forward to the finished product. Cheers!

-Gregory

[Erik Zwaan]

Thanks a lot Doug, CIUTTSO, Tom and Gregory! Indeed, the dive flaps are the feature of this model, and I'd say the climax of the build.

Well, the final details are in place now and after almost 11 months of very many enjoyable moments I'm happy to say that the job's done. Time flies, can't believe I started this model early March 2022 already and this morning I applied the final touch-ups and matt varnish to the machine gun. I hope that the varnish will protect the model from those white spots that can suddenly appear (as they did on the cowling a few nights ago....), and which ruin the paper and print. No idea where they come from, as it happened to other models before, and they are the nightmare of this builder.

Highlighted the navigation lights on the wings, fuselage and tail section, as well as the three lights at lower side of the fuselage, of which I couldn't trace back their function. Signaling lights to communicate with the aircraft carrier perhaps?

Also finalized the aerial and pitot tube. The rectangular openings underneath the machine gun were exhaust ducts for empty bullet casings. Also a picture of the left wing landing light.

Preparation of the gun visor was the final challenge. I experimented with EZ line and a small acetate circle but couldn't get the frame painted on it neatly so I finally resorted to two small concentric circles made of very thin metal, glued tiny strips of paper on them and then painted in metal color. Not perfect but acceptable.

A picture gallery will follow but here already two pictures of the end result. It's simply a great model of a beautiful plane appealing to the imagination, and a machine that has fascinated me ever since my early teenage years.

To any builder who wants to take up the challenge, I would just say "Go For It".

Last but not least, thank you all very much for following this thread! It has been my pleasure .

Cheers,
Erik

[abhovi]

You're a master Erik!

[Michael Mash]

Beautiful work Erik.
Looks like this one required about eleven months of hard work.
My opinion: Build logs like this one are better the longer they last.
Cheers!
Mike

[Burning Beard]

That is an incredible build, with incredible detail.

[YOAVHOZMI]

Erik, what else can be said? What other compliments can we come up with?

The model just looks great.
A work for the glory of the paper model builders.

YOAV

[smithdr]

Lovely, Erik! I really like the gunners spot, navigation lights and those flaps. Masterful job. Thanks for the ride.

Dan

[Isaac]

Erik

Congratulations on a fantastic build.

if you want to continue this theme, consider a Curtis Helldiver!


Isaac

[Kilroy1988]

What a stunning result. Thanks again for sharing. Cheers!

-Gregory

[rifleman]

WOW outstanding build well done