Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series Die-cast Model

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver – White 62, VB-18, USS Intrepid, U.S. Navy, October 1944

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


Limited production of approximately 400 models worldwide

On October 24 1944 one of a fleet of 29 Japanese ships steaming toward Leyte Gulf was the huge battleship Musashi. The plan was to destroy U.S. ships that were there supporting troops that had landed ashore. Once detected; the USN launched air-strike after air-strike in an attempt to stop the fleet. One of the first groups launched was VB-18 from the USS Intrepid who sent 12 SB2C-3s with Avengers and Hellcats. It took 6 strikes throughout the day and a combination of bombs and torpedoes to sink the Musashi. This was one of the most ever sustained air attacks on a ship at sea. At the end of the day the Japanese had lost one battleship, one cruiser and many other damaged ships. VB-18 had lost 5 of their 12 SB2C-3s.

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 sometimes 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 U.S. Navy until 1947 and with U.S. Navy Reserve units until 1950.


Hobby Master is a manufacturer of high quality, pre-built, diecast models. Each model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft or vehicle. They are made with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a SB2C Helldiver features: