Yellow Hammer Decals

1/32 SBD-3/4 Dauntless decal sheet

Product # YHD32017 for $14.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on May 8 2007

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Yellow Hammer Decals includes markings for six different 1/32 SBD-3/4 Dauntless's, some with noseart.  

The first aircraft is a SBD-4 flown with VMSB-233 in Guadalcanal in the spring of 1943.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is Blue Gray on the tops and sides and Light Gray on the underside.  The nose art is a flying white goose with the word "SISTER" below the artwork.  The number for this aircraft is white 16.  

The second aircraft is a SBD-3 flown by CDR Harry "Don" Felt, Commander of the Saratoga Air Group during the Guadalcanal Campaign in August 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 white 0.  There is a kill flag under the windscreen for a hit CDR Harry "Don" Felt scored on the Ryujo.

The third aircraft is a SBD-3 flown by ENS Leif W. Larsen VS-5 from the USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway June 4-7 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 17.  

The fourth aircraft is a SBD-3 flown by LT Richard H. Best with VB-6 from the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Midway on June 4th 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 B1.  LT Richard H. Best is famous for sinking the Japanese carrier Akagi.

The fifth aircraft is a SBD-4 flown by Maj Frank E. Hollar VMSB-144, Commander Munda, Solomon Islands in November 1943.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is Blue Gray on the tops and sides and Light Gray on the underside.    The "artwork" is text that reads "PUSH PUSH".  The number for this aircraft is white 119.  

The sixth aircraft is a SBD-3 flown by LCDR C. Wade McClusky, Commander of the Enterprise Air Group during the Battle of Midway on June 4th 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 GC.  

Click on images below to see larger images

       

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

 

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