Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series Diecast Model

Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver - “White 114”, VB-3, U.S. Navy, USS Yorktown, 1944

1:72 Scale.  Length: 6".  Wingspan: 8.25"

VB-3 is considered by many to be the premier US Navy attack squadron of WWII. Established in 1934, the "Panthers" were involved in the sinking of Japanese warships at both Midway and Guadalcanal. Flying the SB2C Helldiver, VB-3 also took part in attacks on the Japanese in the Philippines, Formosa and the home islands. The USS Yorktown (CV-10) originally was named USS Bon Homme Richard, but was renamed to honor the USS Yorktown (CV-5) that was sunk on June 7, 1942.

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive-bomber aircraft produced for the U.S. Navy during World War II. It was developed as a replacement for the SBD Dauntless. The SB2C was first flown on December 18, 1940 but, because of production delays due to design changes, it did not make its combat debut until November 11, 1943 with U.S. Navy squadron VB-17 on the USS Bunker Hill. The SB2C was commonly referred to as “The Beast”, because of its size and rather poor handling characteristics. In spite of its problems, the aircraft was flown through the last two years of the Pacific war with a fine combat record. A total of 7,140 SB2Cs were built in several variants. It remained in active service with the US Navy until 1947 and with naval reserve units until 1950.

This model of a SB2C-4 Helldiver by Hobby Master features: