Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/32 PREMIUM COLLECTION Air Power Series HA0203 Douglas SBD-3 “Dauntless” BuNo4687, USS Enterprise (CV-6), 4 June 1942 “Battle of Midway”

Premium Collection 1/32 Scale airplanes Limited Edition only 900 world-wide Features Movable rear gun Working dive brakes, rudder & ailerons Engine cowling can be removed Optional transparent engine cowling provided Rotating metal propeller Sliding canopy Retractable undercarriage Rolling wheels Movable centerline bomb rack Bombs under each wing Realistic looking crew L - 12.4 in (315mm) W - 15.75 in (400mm) H - 4.8 in (122mm) Weight - 1.98 lb (900g)

Designed as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, various versions of the Dauntless served workhorse of the US Navy in the Pacific. The Dauntless dive-bomber was the only plane to fight in every major Pacific engagement. The SBD-3, sarcastically nicknamed “Speedy Three”, entered service in March 1941 with production ending in July 1944, by which time a total of 5,936 had been built in all versions.

Aircraft BuNo. 4687 from the USS Enterprise (The Big E) (CV-6) was flown by the Lt. Richard H. Best, commanding officer of VB-6. On June 4, 1942 while flying Black B-1 from Bombing Six, Best and Murray took part in two sorties that day. The first mission took place in the morning against the IJNS Akagi and Kaga. In the afternoon they help with the sinking of IJNS Hiryu. During the operation Best inhaled caustic fumes from a faulty oxygen bottle damaging his lungs and forcing him into early retirement from active duty.

SBD-3 specifications Dimensions: Length: 32 ft., 8 in. Height: 13 ft., 7 in. Wingspan: 41ft., 6 in.

Weight: Empty: 6,345 lb. Gross: 10,400 lb.

Power Plant: One 1,000 horsepower Wright R-1820-52 engine Performance: Maximum Speed: 250 M.P.H. Maximum Range with Bomb Load: 1,345 miles Service Ceiling: 27,100 ft.

Crew: Pilot and gunner/radio operator Armament: Two fixed forward-firing .50-in. guns, Two flexible-mounted rear-firing .30-in. guns, 1,200 lb. of ordnance

MODEL COMES WITH STAND AND AN OPTIONAL TRANSPARENT COWLING