Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA2215SB2-C Helldiver White 62, VB-18, USS Intrepid, 1944
General BackgroundThe SB2C was designed to replace the SBD Dauntless. When the Helldivers were first delivered they were so poorly manufactured that some broke in half on landing and wings fell apart in a dive. Some countries cancelled orders and the USAAF never used the 900 they received. Eventually after over 800 modifications and technical changes the Helldiver went on to become one of the most effective dive-bombers of WWII. Most people referred to the plane as “The Big Tail Beast” or just “The Beast”.The AircraftOn October 24, 1944 a fleet of 29 Japanese warships heading toward Leyte Gulf were detected by the US Navy. The USN launched air-strike after air-strike in an attempt to stop the fleet. One of the first groups sent was VB-18 with 12 SB2C-3s from the USS Intrepid along with her Avengers and Hellcats. It took six strikes throughout the day to sink the battleship Musashi, one cruiser and damage many other ships. When the day ended VB-18 had lost five of their twelve SB2C-3s.
Hobby Master HA2215, SB2-C Helldiver White 62, VB-18, USS Intrepid, 1944, 1:72
General data
Crew: 2 X 1 pilot, 1 radio operator/gunner
Dimensions
Length: 36 ft 7 in (11.18 m)
Wingspan: 49 ft 7 in (15.16 m)
Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Weights
Empty: 1,057 lb (7535 kg)
Max takeoff: 16,616 lb (7,537 kg)
Performance
Engine: 1× Wright R-2600 Cyclone radial engine, 1,900 hp (1,417 kW)
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)
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
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.
