The Little World

I already own two Curtiss SB2C models – one a US Navy version and one a USAAF A25 Shrike. They were respectively a Sword and a Dragon kit. Both characteristic of their countries of origin – the Czech one a challenge of approximation and the Hong Kong one a masterpiece of precision. But two were not emough.

Because I had seen an internet picture of the prototype SB2C being rolled out of a Burbank hangar just before the US war involvement – still in yellow and silver. Interestingly, the roll-out is being observed by two uniformed Army guards with rifles slung from their right shoulders.

The prototype has slight differences from the production models – but I have a set of colour pictures and I think the details can be altered. All it needs is a Helldiver kit cheap enough to act as a guinea pig.

This is where the 1973 Matchbox kit comes in. I got an unbuilt example in a baggie from a stash sale for $ 20. The decals are toast, but unnecessary anyway – the early service meatball stars are going to come from the decal vault anyway. And there were no unit markings on the prototype.

As far as the kit goes, it goes well. Good sprue trees – no flash – three colours, and the silver of the landing gear is very helpful. The canopy sections look excellent and will paint up well. More bombs and tanks for the spares department. I will end up doing a scale model of a bomb dump one day…