Author: Stan Alexander
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/12
Page Numbers: 97,98
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Radio Control Scale

Stan Alexander [[email protected]]

Warbirds: the SBD Dauntless

For many, scale models and history are an irresistible combination. Some have a family connection with full-scale aircraft from serving in the armed forces. Others have childhood memories that still linger to spur them to build a model of an airplane they saw when they were kids. Still others have had a ride in an antique aircraft or another experience that has shaped what they are modeling at the time.

Kent Walters has built several models of the Douglas SBD Dauntless—not just any SBD, but a specific one that flew off the USS Enterprise in the Battle of Midway.

Why would a modeler pick such an obscure subject? Because it is obscure could be one reason, but before the pilot, George H. "Bo" Goldsmith, passed away, Kent was able to interview him over the course of several telephone calls and letters in 1989–1990, and obtain photos of the pilot and airplane as they were in World War II. Kent made his own scale drawings and color documentation, and it was authenticated before the construction of the model.

Kent wrote:

"I have always used the same color and marking scheme for all of my SBD-3 Douglas Dauntless model aircraft since I had found a collection of at least three photos of the particular Dauntless that was from the Battle of Midway.

"As you know, an excellent photo of it by Ben Lanterman (at the moment of a dive-bombing release during the 2005 US Scale Masters Championships near Kansas City) has since been used on the front cover of a book about the Battle of Midway titled No Right to Win by Ronald W. Russell."

Bo Goldsmith and gunner James W. Patterson Jr. flew from the USS Enterprise, Squadron Bombing Six, during the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

Goldsmith successfully dropped his bomb on the Kaga amid ships on the carrier deck.

Of the 20 bombers on the mission, Goldsmith's aircraft was one of only four or five that made it through to the carrier. Their aircraft was attacked by Zeros and suffered damage, but made it back to the Enterprise. I think this is where the SBD received its nickname—Slow But Deadly.

Kent's first model was built to a 68-inch span from a Bob Holman Complete-A-Pac kit. Kent's next model was scratch-built and weighed 25 pounds with a larger 74-inch wingspan. He likes flying slightly heavy models because they tend to handle crosswinds better with improved penetration.

Kent's current SBD features his own custom-designed retracts and is powered by a sail winch servo. The model is powered by an O.S. 1.08 engine, covered with Dan Parsons' 0.06-ounce fiberglass cloth, and painted with Aero Gloss dope matched to the correct Federal Standard (FS) paint numbers from the federal government.

Between this one and his latest SBD model, Kent has won four US Scale Masters Championships—in 1980, 1982, 1985, and 2002.

SBDs are known for their action in the Battle of Midway where they sank several Japanese carriers and other ships in 1942 and helped turn the tide of the war in the Pacific. After Midway, the SBD began taking a back seat to the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver and the Grumman Avenger.

Scale plans and kits are offered for the SBD and there are several ARFs on the market, but a few stand out.

  • Nick Ziroli Plans offers a set of SBD plans at 100 inches, including all of the fiberglass parts, canopy, and Robart retract gear.
  • Jerry Bates offers both an 85-inch span and a 100-inch-span model.

If you are interested in an ARF version of the SBD, check out Michael Ramsey’s MA review of the ESM Douglas Dauntless on page 54 of the March 2011 issue. Maybe you’ll be the next one to build a Slow But Deadly Dauntless.

The National Naval Aviation Museum

To see the SBD Dauntless and nearly all other aircraft the United States Navy has flown in the past 100 years, visit the National Naval Aviation Museum. The museum is located on the naval base in Pensacola, Florida. You will have unprecedented access to many of the historical naval aviation aircraft. Go with your camera, memory cards, and extra batteries.

The museum is the cleanest I’ve ever entered, and this says much for the volunteer staff that works there. Call ahead and try to make reservations for the restoration facility; you won’t regret it.

There are several SBDs at the museum, including one that was at the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It was later used to train new pilots on the Great Lakes, which is where it sank. As were many older Navy trainers, it was dumped over the side of a lake carrier. It was later raised and restored. Amazingly, some of these airplanes still had a charge in the batteries after 50-plus years of submersion.

There is also a research facility at the museum as well as the usual on-site gift shop. There is even a café in the museum that serves a hot lunch, with soup and other items, including Navy Bean Soup.

For some it would be a great day; others could spend the whole week there as I’ve nearly done. I advise you to avoid the weekend crowds as well as Thursdays and Fridays, which are usually field trip days for local schools.

Bookshelf

A period that has intensely interested many modelers is aviation’s Golden Age of Air Racing. The time is gauged roughly between World War I and World War II. Air racing and the aircraft—which were purposely built for racing—as well as many “sport” models of the time, were technically ahead of much of the world’s air forces and this was proven in racing.

The Granville Brothers are synonymous with air racing during this time period. The name Henry Haffke is synonymous with Gee Bee aircraft and models. Henry has done extensive research on this racing family and the airplanes they built.

His book Gee Bee: The Real Story of the Granville Brothers and Their Marvelous Airplanes is back in print. The softcover book has 160 pages and includes family photos as well as photos of the different Granville Gee Bee aircraft.

Sportster models X, C, D, E, as well as the Senior Sportsters and, of course, the most famous Gee Bee aircraft, the Model R-1 Super Sportster and R-2, are given extensive coverage. Although the photos are in black and white, the paint descriptions are given, as they are also on many of Henry’s plan sets, which are available from the AMA Plans Service.

Scale drawings are included for most of the Gee Bee aircraft in the book. There are many designs available on the market, in everything from ARFs to plans-built models. The book, offering great period photos which complete the story and documentation, is a great read. For more information, check the “Sources” listings.

There are numerous books on the used-book market and on Amazon about air racing. I recommend purchasing the paperback versions. A few of the many available include:

  • September Champions: The Story of America’s Air Racing Pioneers by Robert Hull
  • Thompson Trophy Racers: The Pilots and Planes of America’s Air Racing Glory Days 1929–49 by Roger Huntington
  • The Art Chester Story by John W. Caler with John Underwood (used only)
  • The Ford Air Tours 1925–1931 by Lesley Forden and Gregory Herrick
  • The Golden Age of Air Racing: Pre-1940 by S.H. Schmid and Truman C. Weaver (also available through the EAA)

Merry Christmas and fair skies and tailwinds. MA

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.