Revell 1/48 SBD Dauntless – WWII Carrier Dive Bomber Model Kit

Bring the legendary "Slow But Deadly" carrier aircraft to life with this authentic quarter-scale tribute to World War II naval aviation history.

 

The Douglas SBD Dauntless stands as the pivotal dive bomber of the Pacific Theater, delivering the decisive blows at the Battle of Midway and anchoring carrier strike groups throughout the Solomon Islands campaign. Engineered with classic Monogram lineage, this 1/48 scale kit captures the rugged silhouette and distinct operational engineering of the iconic US Navy dive bomber.

 

From its signature perforated split dive flaps to the articulated undercarriage and pivoting rear defensive gunner station, this kit provides a rewarding project for military aviation hobbyists. The assembly process offers an engaging blend of moving mechanical features and diorama-ready display options, complete with flight crew and carrier deck personnel figures.

 

Key Features & Specifications

• Operating Flight Features: Functional retractable landing gear, pivoting rear defensive machine gun, movable dive flaps, and a centerline trapeze bomb drop mechanism.
• Complete Diorama Figure Crew: Includes four detailed scale figures comprising a pilot, rear machine gunner, aircraft carrier deck handler, and Landing Signal Officer (LSO).
• Authentic Perforated Dive Brakes: Accurately rendered dive flaps engineered to be displayed in open dive or closed cruising configurations.
• Authentic Ordnance Loadout: Equipped with a centerline 1,000 lb high-explosive bomb on an operating displacement trapeze alongside underwing auxiliary bombs.
• Dual Historic Markings: Premium waterslide decals featuring US Navy aircraft from USS Wasp during the Guadalcanal invasion (August 1942) and RNZAF No. 25 Squadron based in Seagrove, New Zealand (July 1943).
• Multi-Piece Glazing: Transparent canopy sections allowing open or closed cockpit display options over detailed cockpit tubs.

What’s in the Box?

• Precision-Molded Polystyrene Sprues: 53 parts molded in crisp light gray polystyrene containing fuselage halves, wing assemblies, and crew figures.
• Clear Transparent Components: Multi-piece cockpit canopy, rear gunner windscreen, and landing light lenses.
• Waterslide Decal Sheet: Complete national insignia, squadron markings, side numbers, and cockpit instrument panel dials.
• Illustrated Assembly Instructions: Step-by-step visual diagram booklet including dual-scheme camouflage paint conversion guides.

Technical Product Details

• Manufacturer: Revell
• Product Number: 85-5249 (REV855249)
• Scale: 1:48
• Subject Type: Military Aviation / WWII Dive Bomber
• Skill Level: Level 4
• Model Dimensions: Length: 7.75 in (19.7 cm) | Wingspan: 10.00 in (25.4 cm)
• Packaging Dimensions: 11.8 in L x 7.5 in W x 1.6 in H
• Age Recommendation: 12 Years and above
• Assembly Requirements: Unassembled plastic model kit; liquid plastic cement and model paints sold separately

Tips:

• Canopy Masking & Clear Parts: Mask the greenhouse canopy frames with low-tack modeling tape before cementing, and attach all transparent components using clear PVA canopy glue to prevent fogging from standard cyanoacrylate or solvent cements.
• Pre-Painting Cockpit & Figures: Fully paint and weather the interior fuselage sidewalls, cockpit floor, and the four crew figures prior to joining the fuselage halves.
• Decal Application over Gloss: Apply a high-gloss clear coat across the airframe before applying waterslide decals to eliminate silvering around the US national insignia, finishing with a matte clear coat to replicate wartime non-specular camouflage.

Suggested Colors (Revell Paint Match)

• Light Gray (FS36440): Underside fuselage and lower wing surfaces (US Navy early-war scheme).
• Neutral Gray (FS36173): Upper fuselage camouflage and RNZAF secondary scheme.
• Intermediate Blue (FS35164): Upper fuselage side blends and RNZAF two-tone camouflage.
• Flat Black: Propeller blades, cockpit instrument panels, tires, and rear defensive machine gun.
• Yellow (FS13538): Propeller blade safety tips and Landing Signal Officer signals.

Build the decisive naval dive bomber of the Pacific Theater and add the Revell 1/48 SBD Dauntless to your scale aviation collection today.