SB2C-4 Helldiver

The product of a long and troublesome design period, the Curtiss SB2C dive bomber entered U.S. military service in 1943 under the call-sign of Helldiver. Built to replace the aging SBD Dauntless in Navy service, the Helldiver had a troublesome start, being ill-received by its flight crews and shipboard mechanics for a variety of handling and maintenance problems, but eventually its speed, large payload, and increased range won out, and the Helldiver was used successfully in a number of Pacific battles, including the sinking of the Yamato at Okinawa.

The Helldiver is reconstructed here in a handcrafted mahogany model, painted to match the SB2C's own unique tricolor paint scheme. A high degree of quality and precision make this model a must-have for any enthusiast.