SBD Dauntless

Airframes · Apr 12, 2009

Chris, I've got some specs showing the differnces, SBD1 to SBD5. They were mainly to do with fuel tanks, armour and the standardisation of twin .30 cal rear MG's., although there were some engine differences. I'll check it all out and post something later, with pics if possible, probably about mid-day eastern time, as it's 03.10 hrs here. Can't sleep, got a streaming bl**dy cold!!

evangilder · Apr 12, 2009

Great, Chris! I was hoping these might help.

Njaco · Apr 12, 2009

Really appreciate that Eric, you don't know how much, as often there aren't any underside shots to go by.

Terry, I've narrowed it down to an SBD-2 from the Hornet. Or maybe Lt. Cmdr Richard Best as it was his last flight and he was in on the attack on the first 3 flat tops. Definately not an SBD-4 or -5 as they were not at Midway. I think I have most of what I need except for a clear shot of the rear gun arrangement. Need to scratch build that.

EDIT: I meant Enterprise. Found some good sites. While the one is for CFS it has some good markings with a good explanation

Air Groups on CV-6 USS Enterprise

and

Richard Halsey Best, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

R Leonard · Apr 12, 2009

GrauGeist said:
How about the SBD that Lt. Stanley W. ""Swede" Vejtasa flew?
Pretty sure he was with VS-5 while flying the Dauntless...

Neither, Stanley Vejtasa, nor VS-5, were at Midway.

Airframes · Apr 13, 2009

Hi Chris, I'm still up and about - can't sleep due to streaming eyes and sneezing like a demented sneezing thing!
Anyway, I've checked my refs, and didn't have what I thought I had! It's all later period stuff. I can post some info on specs, but there's more concise info, with pics, and colour walk around pics. at the sites shown below.
The first one is a preserved RNZAF SBD-2, with specs, and some good colour detail shots.
The second is the recovery from Lake Michigan of BuNo 2106, now in the Pensacola Museum, and shows the rear gun mounting.
The final one is from Cyber Model, and has a colour walk around with some excellent detail shots that should be useful (real, not model!)

The sites are:-
Kiwi Aircraft Images : Douglas SBD Dauntless
http://hsfeatures.com/features04marinesat midwaypart1
www.cybermodel.com/aircraft/sbd
On the latter, you should see, on the top left of the page - SBD, Photo Walk Around.
Click on that, and there's a load of good shots.
Hope this helps mate.

GrauGeist · Apr 13, 2009

R Leonard said:
Neither, Stanley Vejtasa, nor VS-5, were at Midway.

I looked back through all those posts thinking I mixed something up somewhere, and I'll be damned if I can see where I suggested Swede was at Midway...

I know a few posts later I posted info about the SBD-2 Dauntless BuNo 2106 which was both at Pearl Harbor on 7 December and then flew from Midway atoll during the battle of Midway...

Did I miss something?

Ivan1GFP · Apr 13, 2009

I believe EVanGilder's photos are of a SBD-5, and the markings are definitely post Midway.

I believe the best way to identify the differences between the models is at the Carburetor scoop and the rear gunner's armament. The trunk on the -1 is more curved at the top. I forget what the -2 looked like. The -3 had a flat top carb scoop and twin guns aft IIRC. The -5 has no carb scoop and no spinner. I did quite a lot of reading on the subject a couple years ago when selecting a model to build for Combat Flight Simulator. I settled on the -3 as the best subject for my purposes.

- Ivan.

R Leonard · Apr 13, 2009

GrauGeist said:
I looked back through all those posts thinking I mixed something up somewhere, and I'll be damned if I can see where I suggested Swede was at Midway...
I know a few posts later I posted info about the SBD-2 Dauntless BuNo 2106 which was both at Pearl Harbor on 7 December and then flew from Midway atoll during the battle of Midway...
Did I miss something?

The original post/poster specifically identified the Battle of Midway for his SBD project.

You came right back in the second message in the thread with a Vejtasa and VS-5 recommendation.

I am simply pointing out that neither were at the Battle of Midway, thus they did not fall into the category which the original poster raised and, perhaps, clarifying a statement that could have led the unwary to erroneous conclusions.

Sorry if you find reason to feel defensive at clarification.

For the sake of clarity, LTJG Vejtasa was reporting to VF(R)-10 at North Island NAS on 4 June 1942; VS-5 was at Kaneohe NAS preparing to go aboard USS Saratoga when she arrived from the San Diego.

Regards

Njaco · Apr 14, 2009

Guys, that may have been my mistake not clarifing what I was looking for. I wanted info on SBD's and as this thread went along I realized I wanted to do something around Midway as my model with have to be an early SBD.

Thanks everyone for the info. Checking pics now.

Ivan, you're correct and I think I can get away with a SBD-2 from an SBD-1. That and the rear gun arrangements are the only external differences I could see.

EDIT: Terry, I can get the Kiwi link up but the others say page not found.

GrauGeist · Apr 14, 2009

Well NJ, you're going to have a heck of an assist on the details from Eric's photos...that's a great shot of the underside weathering he posted!

And R Leonard, no probs here...I've been buried in projects/deadlines/etc lately, and you had me wondering if I had mixed up my info!

I've been known to do that on occasion...

R Leonard · Apr 14, 2009

Oh yeah, me too, all the time!

Airframes · Apr 14, 2009

Chris, leave it with me. I'll see if I can download the relevant pics, and post them if possible.

Airframes · Apr 14, 2009

Hmm! I had similar problems this time! Sending you a PM Chris!

D.James · Apr 14, 2009

Dunno if these'll help with your gun build or not...
Last six were drawn by me for my 3d TBD build. The TBD's (some or all, depending on who's source ya read) were battlefield modified with SBD spares just prior to Midway.
(accuracy is not so great on my drawings, but may help when scaling down. you can download 3d model of them here.)

R Leonard · Apr 15, 2009

Very nice.

Regards,

Rich

Njaco · Apr 15, 2009

THANKS JAMES!!!! Thats what I need, exactly!

Airframes · Apr 15, 2009

Great work James.

D.James · Apr 19, 2009

Just stumbled accross this one today.. Nice COLOR shot of a '43 insgnia SBD's rear guns being loaded by an armourer.

Geedee · Apr 19, 2009

Heres a couple of cockpit / general shots of the CAF's Dauntless for you. I dont suppose there was that much difference between the marks, internally. Interesting to note the clear view panel in the floor

Amsel · Apr 19, 2009

Nice drawings and photos guys. I am seriously thinking of building a 1/48 model now of this bird.

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