Background

The SB2C-4 Helldiver was produced in greater quantities than any other Helldiver variant and it was the last mass produced version that served during the war. The differences between 'C-4 and 'C-3 were the spinner, two remaining windows at the forward end of the fixed cabin were deleted and four rocket launchers were added under each wing.Aditional armor plates were added.

Here's a fun fact that I found on wikipedia while browsing the web : "The U.S. Navy would not accept the SB2C until 880 modifications“

The Kit

The SB2C-4 Helldiver kit, a new offering from Cyber-hobby.com is a much-welcomed improvement over the existing Helldiver kits, with more detail and better (or can I say more interesting) decal options.

The model came in a nice glossy box with Mr. Auletta's wonderful box-art that shows the Helldiver flying over a Japanese vessel with few other navy planes in the background. One side shows the painting options and the other side shows CAD drawings of kits details.

A total of 133 parts ( 12 photo-etched parts) are spread on 5 sprues of grey plastic and one clear sprue.

Parts are nicely moulded with precisely engraved panel lines and rivet detail, and the surface is very smooth.

Engine assembly is very simple with only 6 parts to put together, but when assembled it looks very nice and realistic.

Interior assembly (when assembled you get the whole interior structure cockpit bomb bay) is a little bit more complicated, with more then 30 plastic parts and 4 photo-etched parts included. The finished section will look awsome - there is just so much detail for this small scale. I have found two cons here, one is mentioned in the instructions part (No color indications for parts) and the thick photo-etched set (which is good for the flaps) which you should put over a heat source and then in a cold glass of water to soften it and make them easier to comfort the seats curves.

Rest of the assembly (mostly exterior details and wheel bays) seems simple but with nice details. Most of the parts are positionable (wheel legs,rudders,elevator,ailerons,tail hook and canopy pieces).

Instructions & Decals

The instruction manual is printed on 6 pages with black & white diagrams and colour schemes for painting and decal application.

Assembly diagrams and drawing are very clear and easily understandable, colour matches for Mr.Hobby and Model Master paints are provided (the problem is there are no colour matches in the assembly, only on the last 3 schemes for exterior painting, so you have to check with your references for engine, interor, bomb and wheel bay colours.

Decal options cover 3 aircraft, all from 1945 (2 in overall Sea Blue and one in Sea Blue / Intermediate Blue / Insignia White scheme). The options are :

- VB-80, CV-19 U.S.S Hancock, 1945. (Overall sea blue)
- VB-87, CV-14 Ticonderoga. 1945. (Overall sea blue)
- VB-3, CVA-10 U.S.S Yorktown, 1945. (Sea blue/intermediate blue/insignia white scheme)

References

Title: SB2C Helldiver in Detail & scale
Author: Bert Kinzey
Publisher: Squadron / Signal Publications
ISBN: 1888974044
Title: SB2C Helldiver in action
Author: Robert Stern
Publisher: Squadron / Signal Publications
ISBN: 0-89747-128-8

Wikipedia :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SB2C_Helldiver

As far as i know there are no aftermarket parts for this model yet.

Conclusion

This new model from Cyber-hobby is amazing, with all that details and options, even though I found two flaws, all together I give it 9.5/10. I am yet to see check the test fit and do a build, but I will make a thread where you will be able to follow me through making this model, I absolutely recommend this model. (wouldn't recommend it for a first model though, because of it's interior assembly and photo-etched parts).

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.