Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA0166
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
NZ5060, RNZAF, Piva, April 1944

Die-cast metal.
Fully assembled.
Superb detailing in 1/72scale.
Pre-painted with pad applied markings.
Weapons are not permanently attached.
Display stand included.
Option to display model with wheels up or down.
Minimum use of plastic.
Very collectable

SBD-5 Specifications

Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company

Crew: 2 (pilot, observer/gunner)

Dimensions
Length: 33’ 1”   (10.0m)
Height: 13’ 7”   (4.1m)
Wingspan: 41’ 6”   (12.6m)
Wing area: 325.0 sq. ft.   (30.0 sq. m)

Weights
Empty weight: 6,404 lb   (2,905 kg)
Gross weight: 10, 676 lb   (4,853 kg

Performance
Powerplant: 1 X Wright R-1820-60 1,200 hp
Range: 1,115 miles   (1,795 km)
Cruising speed: 185 mph   (298 km/h)   (161 kt)
Maximum speed: 255 mph   (410 km/h)   (221 kt)
Climb rate: 1,700 ft/min   (518 m/min)
Ceiling: 25,530 ft   (7,780 m)

Armament
2 X 0.50 inch MGs in upper nose
2 X 0.30 inch movable MGs rearward firing from rear cockpit
up to 2,250 lb of bombs – 1 X 1,600 lb or 1,000 center-line bomb – 2 X 325 lb under wing

During February and March 1944 the RNZAF received 18 ex-USMC SBD-5’s. One of
the aircraft c/n 3863 Bu.No28516 became NZ5060 and was assigned to No. 25
Squadron. The aircraft arrived at Piva Airstrip on Bougainville on March 23rd 1944 and
flew its first mission on March 24th. NZ5060 was crewed by Flying Officer Leslie
McLellan-Symonds and Flight Sergeant R.F. Bailey. The main targets for No. 25 were
other parts of Bougainville and Rabaul. The normal tour of duty in the Piva area was six
weeks but No. 25 Squadron did eight. The crews flew an average of 95 hours and
completed 29 of 32 planned strikes. The RNZAF began to receive F4U-1 Corsairs and
after only 4 months of service the SBD-5’s were returned to the USMC on May 20, 1944.

General information about the SBD-5
The SBD-5 Dauntless was the best variant built with 2,965 aircraft being built. Even with
its upgrades there was one major stumbling block for this plane and that was its lack of
folding wings. As the USN built more and more carriers for their offensive against Japan
this problem became even larger. So after the invasion of the Marianna’s the USN SBDs
were assigned to secondary land based operations where they spent the rest of WWII.

THE DIVE BRAKES ARE
PERMANENTLY IN THE
OPEN POSITION

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