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80285 - Heller 1:72 Curtiss SBC-4 Helldiver 


Model Information

  • Length: 116mm
  • Wingspan: 114mm
  • No. of Parts: 39


First flown in December 1935, the Curtiss XSBC-2 Helldiver was developed from a 1932 parasol monoplane fighter design to meet a U.S. Navy divebomber requirement. It has the distinction of being the last combat biplane produced for the U.S. Navy. A total of 82 SBC-3 Helldivers, fitted with the 750 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Jr. were delivered to the U.S. Navy from July 1937.

Carrying a 226.8 kg (500 Ib) bomb under the fuselage, the type was armed with two 7.62 mm (.30 in) machine guns, one fixed forward firing and one on a flexible mounting in the rear cockpit. The 83rd aircraft, re-engined with a more powerful Wright Cyclone engine, was re-designated the SBC-4 Helldiver. Deliveries of 124 aircraft, with the same armament but capable of carrying a 453.6 kg (1 ,000 Ib) bomb, began in March 1939, 50 SBC-4s ordered by France were delivered from U.S. Navy squadrons. Painted in French colours, 44 were shipped from Canada in June 1940, but after the fall of France were diverted to Martinique where they rotted away. Five aircraft shipped to England were allocated RAF serial numbers AS467-471 and given the name Cleveland I. AS468 and another were briefly used by No.24 Squadron at Hendon, where AS468 was destroyed by bombing; the remaining aircraft were allocated to ground training.

The SBC-4 was powered by a 950 hp Wright R-1820-34 Cyclone giving a maximum speed of 381 km/h (237 mph). Range with a 453.6 kg (1 ,000 Ib) bomb was 1,054 km (655 miles). Service ceiling: 8,138 m (26,700 ft). Wingspan: 10.36 m (34 ft). length: 8.4 m (27 ft 6 in). Height: 3.14 m (10ft 3 3/4 in).


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