1:48 SB2C Helldiver Folding Wing Set (Revell/Accurate/Pro modeller)

The Beast on the carrier deck

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver took the place of the slower Dauntless in 1943 and remained the last dive bomber the US Navy sent into combat. Because of its initially fickle behavior in flight and an endless list of modifications it earned the nickname Beast among its crews. Even so, it was this machine that bore the main weight of the strikes against the Japanese fleet in the Philippine Sea and at Leyte. So that as many machines as possible would fit into the hangar, the wings folded hydraulically upward right behind the landing gear bays and in this position the tips almost touched.

What the accessory changes

Castings divided at the hinge take the place of the original one-piece wing ends. Inside the break appears what is visible on photographs of the real subject: ribs, hydraulic lines and linkages. A model with folded surfaces takes up roughly half the width on the shelf and looks like a machine caught between two launches, not like an exhibit in flying pose. At the same time it opens up a view of details that would otherwise stay hidden forever inside the fuselage, where nobody in front of the finished display case would ever see them.

Building advice

The material is harder and heavier than polystyrene, so the joint has to fit: level the mating surfaces on fine abrasive paper laid on a flat board and keep testing dry. It is bonded with super glue; on larger parts it pays to drill a hole and reinforce the joint with a piece of brass wire, because glue alone will not carry the weight of the folded surface in the long run. The kit in 1:48 scale is offered by Revell, Accurate Miniatures and Pro Modeller and is obtained separately.