Matchbox 1/72 SBC-4 Helldiver

MATCHBOX 1:72 CURTISS SBC-4 HELLDIVER

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 21 October 2001 (#24)

Aircraft:
The Helldiver started life as a parasol wing monoplane that was found to be unsuitable for the dive bombing role. After the addition of another pair of wings and much development the SBC-4 became the last combat biplane for the US Navy. One hundred and twenty four were ordered and delivered in March 1939. A French order was never delivered due to the collapse of that country but five were diverted to the RAF. Called Cleveland 1s the RAF didn’t seem to know what to do with them and they landed up as instructional airframes and never saw action. The SBC-4 was powered by a Wright Cyclone R1820-22 engine and had a span of 34’and a length of 28’1 ½” (or 27’6”depending on who you believe!) and was armed with two .30 cal machine guns.

The Kit/Construction Notes:
Matchbox Kit #PK35 - 1/72
It is strange that two major model companies (Matchbox and Heller) should produce a model of such an obscure and long forgotten aircraft in the same year ( 1980 ) . They did and both kits are good. The Matchbox kit comes in their usual two coloured plastic. The parts are crisp and detail satisfactory. The cockpit detail is adequate for the little that can be seen once the canopy is in place. A dashboard, seats, gun and two crew members are supplied. The slot for the hook needs reaming out a little. The upper foreword fuselage traps the carbine struts and assures that the position and angles are spot on. The cowling and engine can be left until much later in the construction. The lower wings are a bit vague and sloppy in their fit and so should be left to dry well before continuing. I found it more convenient to add part No.10 (the fuselage below the wheel well) and leave the undercarriage off until after painting. This makes the masking off ( with damp tissue paper) of the wheel bay easier. Matchbox have made the addition of the upper wing so easy thanks to the assembly system. It simply drops into place on the carbine struts and when dry the two main struts “click”into place. The only additions that I made were a simple joystick ( which really can’t be seen) and ariel posts on the top of the rudder and wing tips. Rigging and aerials are simple enough as can be seen from the box art.

Versions & Decals:
The decal option is for a bare metal aircraft based on the USS Enterprise and a dark green/ dark earth over trainer yellow Cleveland 1 from 24 Sqn. RAF which is the same aircraft in the Heller decal option ( the other being a French machine) although Heller think that the underside of the RAF machine is grey rather than yellow. The decals are a bit strange. They give the blue fuselage stripes with the white cheat lines but only give the white cheat line (for the lower edge) but not the blue cowling stripe on the USN machine. The instructions say paint this (and then add the cheat line decal ) French Blue ( Humbrol 14 / Testors 2715 ) as well as all the tail surfaces. I presume that the fuselage stripes are the same colour but the decals are a more faded colour so I painted them along with all the other trim in Testors True Blue 2030 / FS15102 which is a pre war USN colour similar to French Blue. As was the USN custom, the top surface of the top wing was yellow, Matchbox say Humbrol 69 but Humbrol 188 Chrome Yellow is more authentic. Humbrol 188 being discontinued I used Testors 1707 ( not 1790 as the Humbrol colour chart recommends as that is Chrome Silver!) The result is an ungainly, nose heavy looking but colourful machine.

Reference:
There is good reference drawings and comparisons between the Heller and Matchbox kits in Scale Models International of Jan. 1981, and a history and colour side drawing in the Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft V6 p.1260.

Related Reviews:-

Revell 1/48 SB2C-4 Helldiver

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