1:72 SB2C-4 - interior 3D decals for Academy/Special Hobby kit

A dive bomber with a hard reputation

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver entered service with the US Navy as a replacement for the proven Dauntless, and from the start it had a reputation among crews as an unfriendly machine. It was heavy, unpleasant at low speeds, and its introduction was dogged by endless modifications. The SB2C-4 version of 1944 received perforated dive brakes and underwing pylons for rockets and bombs, which turned it into a genuine strike aircraft. It was in this form that the Helldiver took part in the great battles of the closing stages of the Pacific war.

Where hand work gets stuck the most

The two-seat cockpit of the Helldiver shows along its whole length under the long canopy, including the rear gunner's station with its flexible weapon. Painting both stations with a brush means working with shades that blend together quickly at such a small size, and above all picking out dozens of tiny instruments. The worst part is usually highlighting the edges and bezels, because every inaccuracy is immediately visible under a transparent part. A printed sheet supplies this detail ready made and in consistent quality.

• Color printing with relief for both crew stations
• The flexible film settles onto the curved fuselage sidewalls
• Seat belts are included, with no metal to bend
• Intended for the version with underwing pylons
• Applied with water onto a smooth painted surface

It is worth test-fitting the parts dry first, because every kit manufacturer divides the interior differently. The aircraft model and the paints are not included.