Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2208 SB2C-4 Helldiver VB-3, USS Yorktown “White 114”, late 1944

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 rather poor handling characteristics. Even with new variants and upgrades the Helldiver 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.

VB-3 is considered by many to be the premier Navy attack squadron of WWII. It was established in 1934 and chose a leaping or diving panther as its emblem. The Black Panthers were involved in the sinking of Japanese warships at Midway and Guadalcanal. Flying their Helldivers VB-3 took part in attacks on the Japanese in the Philippines, Formosa and the home islands. The USS Yorktown CV-10 originally was named USS Bon Homme Richard but was renamed to honor the USS Yorktown CV-5 that was sunk on June 7,1942.

Specifications for the Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver First flight - 18/12/1940 Crew - 2 X Pilot and Radio Operator/Gunner

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.