Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72Air Power Series HA2206 SB2C-4E Helldiver Black 47, ASW aircraft VS-31 “Topcats” NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey

1/72 scale pre-finished.

Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic.

Professionally painted.

All markings pad applied for superb results.

Interchangeable canopies.

Crew figures.

Comes with display stand.

Landing gear can be displayed up or down.

Comes with missiles.

Photo-etched dive brakes.

Extremely sought after by collectors.

The SB2C Helldiver was commonly referred to as “The Beast” because of its size and never received the credit and respect it deserved. The most produced variant was the “4” with the SB2C-4E equipped with an AN/APS-4 radar pod mounted under the starboard wing for air search. It flew faster and further than the Avenger, except for range it beat the SBD in every category. Its cruising speed was only 2 mph slower than the famous Hellcat.

Originally designated Scouting Squadron 31 they served meritoriously in the North Atlantic from 1942 until the end of WWII in 1945. Then the squadron was decommissioned until April 1948 they were re-established at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey as Composite Squadron, VC-31. In 1949 they were re-designated the Atlantic Fleet’s first VS Squadron, VS-31. VS-31 was an Air Anti-Submarine Squadron and took the name “Topcats”. Shortly after this they were moved to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island.

Specifications for the Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldiver First flight - 18/12/1940 Crew - 2 X Pilot and Radio Operator/Gunner Special Equipment - 1 X AN/APS-4 radar housed in a pod under the right wing.

Dimensions Length - 36.7ft (11.18m) Wingspan - 49.7ft (15.16m) Height - 13.2ft (4.01m)

Performance Engine - 1 X Wright R-2600-2- Cyclone / 1900hp (1,417kW) Speed - Cruise / 158mph (254km/h) (137kts) Maximum Speed - 295mph (475km/h) (256kts) Rate Of Climb - 1,800ft/min (548m/min) Service Ceiling - 29,100ft (8,869m) Range - 1,165miles (1,876km)

Weight Empty - 1,057lbs (7535kg) Maximum Take Off - 16,616lbs (7,537kg)

Armament 2 X 20mm fixed wing cannon or 4 X 0.50 caliber fixed wing machine guns 2 X 0.30 caliber rear cockpit machine guns or 1 X 0.50 caliber flexible rear cockpit machine gun Bomb Load- 1 X torpedo or 1,000 pounds of bombs in the bay or 4 X depth charges Also capable of carry an additional 1,000 pounds of bombs or 8 X 5inch rockets under the wings.