The SBC Helldiver was a two-seat scout bomber and dive bomber and the last military biplane to be procured by the US Navy. First deliveries were made to VS-5 operating from the USS Yorktown in July 1937. The Helldiver subsequently served on all of the US Navy fleet carriers in those critical last years leading up to Pearl Harbor, being replaced by the SBC-4 on the Lexington in 1939 and eventually, the Douglas SBD dive bomber series on the rest starting in early 1941. Only 83 SBC-3s were built and, while the they wouldn't have a long service life, they made a lasting contribution by serving as the model that was used to develop of the dive bombing techniques and to hone aircrew skills that would prove so crucial to winning the war in the Pacific.

Although photography of these little gems is a challenge for our equipment and limited skills, we hope that we've been able to show the well proportioned model including the detailed canopy, engine cowling, wings, tail assembly and especially the landing gear!

While the surfaces are not perfectly smooth (3D printing is done in layers), the plastic used can be sanded and painted much the same way you would handle resin or styrene. The models may still have some powder and oil-like agent on them that needs to be removed by washing in warm water with a drop of detergent in it.

NOTE: We currently maintain limited inventories of most items, but some items may be "printed on demand", which usually requires 10-15 business days from order to shipment.