Gifts and toys for men from 3 to 103 years old!

1:72 SB2C-5 Helldiver “The Final Version”

The final production version of the famous Helldiver dive bomber was the SB2C-5 which was able to carry much more fuel, featured a paddle-bladed propeller without a spinner, enlarged bomb bay, sliding front cockpit canopy hood with simplified framing, and other improvements. By standard, it was also fitted with the AN/APS-4 radar set. Being delivered to a few US Navy units, the SB2C-5 version took part in the closing fightings of the war. For a short while after the war, the type became a standard dive bomber of the US Navy until being discarded from the front line service. Within the military aid program, the SB2C-5 Helldiver was also delivered to Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Thailand. The Italian Helldivers were the longest-serving ones, flying until 1959. Greece successfully used her machines to battle the communist insurgents during the Greek Civil War. France´s machines were operated not only in domestic waters but also, and one may say most importantly in the then French Indo-China where they saw action against the Viet-Minh and got themselves famous in 1954 for taking part in the heroic, albeit unsuccessful operation to liberate seized Dien Bien Phu.

The Academy's highly attractive SB2C-4 kit which serves as a basis for our Dash 5 reboxing has benefited from the addition of new injected parts portraying the different bomb bay, propeller, and clear canopy. The kit also comprises 3D-designed resin underwing armament including napalm tanks, AN/APS-4 radar, and undercarriage wheels with nice tire tread and separate hub covers. The decal sheet offers the following options - a late war US Navy machine, a Dien Bien Phu machine of the French Aeronavale, a Greece's Helldiver, and also one Italian machine in dark blue overall with yellow trimmings. The kit has been prepared in a limited edition.