Yellow Hammer Decals

1/32 SBD-1/2/3 Dauntless decal sheet

Product # YHD32018 for $16.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on May 9 2007

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Yellow Hammer Decals includes markings for seven different Navy and Marine 1/32 SBD-1/2/3 Dauntless's from 1941-1943.  

The first aircraft is a SBD-3 flown flown by LTJG Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa with VS-5 from the USS Yorktown during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8th 1942.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is Blue Gray on the tops and sides and Light Gray on the underside and red and white horizontal stripes on the rudder.  The number for this aircraft is black 10.  

The second aircraft is a SBD-2 flown by CDR Howard Young, Commander of the Enterprise Air Group at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7 1941.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is Blue Gray on the tops and sides and Light Gray on the underside.  On the sides of the rear fuselage are the words "Commander of the Enterprise Air Group".  In late Sept 1941 CDR Howard Young flew Lord Louis Mountbatten over Pearl Harbor during war games simulating a bombing attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Pacific Fleet.  On Dec 7 Young flew from the Enterprise to land at Ford Island during the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec 7 1941 receiving fire from both sides with 5 of his aircraft being shot down.

Click on images below to see larger images

           

The third aircraft is a SBD-3 flown by LTJG William E. Hall VS-2, USS Lexington at the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8th 1942.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is Blue Gray on the tops and sides and Light Gray on the underside and red and white horizontal stripes on the rudder and a red and white prop spinner.  The number for this aircraft is white S-8.  LTJG William E. Hall received a Medal of Honor for his actions in this aircraft.  

The fourth aircraft is a SBD-3 from the USS Ranger during Operation Torch in November 1942.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is Blue Gray on the tops and sides and Light Gray on the underside.  The number for this aircraft is black 41-S-16.  There are Black Magic  painting masks included for masking and painting the yellow surround on the fuselage and wings around the national insignia.  A "top hat" artwork decal is also included for possible inclusion on the right side of the canopy frame.

The fifth aircraft is a SBD-3 with VS-3 from NAS Oakland.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is an experimental camouflage scheme from September 30th 1941 and includes Green on the tops and sides and Light Gray on the underside.  The number for this aircraft is white 2-S-9.  

The sixth aircraft is a SBD-2 WMSB-232 from Ewa Mooring Mast Field on the Territory of Hawaii on Dec 7 1941.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall light Gray.  The number for this aircraft is white 2-B-6.  

 

The seventh aircraft is a SBD-1 WMSB-232 from Ewa Mooring Mast Field on the Territory of Hawaii on Dec 7 1941.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall light Gray.  The number for this aircraft is white 2-MB-2.  Although this aircraft never got airborne during the Dec 7 1941 attack, the rear gunners were manned by MTSgt Emil S. Peters.  Pvt William C. Turner repeatedly ran to fetch ammunition for the guns and he eventually suffered wounds for his actions and passed away a  few days later.  TSgt William C. Turnage ran to take his pales to supply the ammunition.  A photo after the attack shows this aircraft with many Japanese bullet holes. 

The instructions are clear and include 3 views of each aircraft and an extra 2 pages of text instructions with a small bit of info about six of the planes as well as helpful tips for decal application and line drawings showing stencil placement.  The decals are beautifully printed on 3 decal sheets.  One complete set of stencils is included along with a tail hook stripe decal and prop tip stripes in decal form.

You also get painting masks for painting the yellow border on the 4th aircraft mentioned above.

A very nice decal sheet that captures this often forgotten aircraft that turned the tide of the War in the Pacific.  

I would like to thank Yellow Hammer Decals for providing me with this review sample.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford