Warbird Dauntless Well Underway

[K5054NZ]

Outstanding progress has been made on Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless Bu.No.136723, the former US Navy machine recovered from Tadji, Papua New Guinea in 2003. Undergoing an intensive restoration to fly at Ardmore, Auckland with Southern Spitfire Limited, the machine is now structurally complete and with the majority of systems in place.

Zac Yates, proprietor of SSL, says that all that remains is to fit out the cockpit (including two, blank-firing .50cal machine guns for the rear position), attach the control surfaces and the engine. The R1820 radial is, however, proving to be a problem, due to the loss of the intended replacement, lost in an air crash en route from the USA. The SSL team has been scouring the planet for serviceable examples and intend to purchase two (if you know of any for disposal please get in touch with the team via email at spitfire_bm144@hotmail.com).

In the meantime, the Dauntless has been set aside and the SSL engineering team focussed their attention on the former Air New Zealand BAC Lightning C.Mk.53 ZK-NZI for Thunder City, and yet ANOTHER Spitfire (this time a Mk.XVIII) for an anonymous overseas operator. The Dauntless, for which the highly appropriate registration ZK-SBD has been reserved, will fly in 25 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, colours upon completion.

[John Howling Mouse]

Well, that's just sort of perfect now, isn't it?  Kinda makes me wonder if a "derelict/restoration aircraft diorama Group Build" might be in order.  Would be fun to weather something that way.... hmmmm...

[K5054NZ]

  I have a gorgeous Hasegawa A6Mwhatever to be done as a restoration in progress. AND I still have that Revell Mustang you sent me, Baz....AND I have plans for a replica Spitfire underconstruction....just need a fuse and empennage.

I for one have loved seeing in-progress machines in the flesh, and to see it done in plastic is not only a great insight for those not involved but, I think, great fun to do as well.

[The Rat]

Oooh, I recognize that one, it's the old Hawk model. Built one of those over 40 years ago  , still got a few bits from it in the spares bin!

[PanzerWulff]

Just 1 question What scale? I might have a couple of engines in 1/72 (I would have to check the scrapyard though)
"Panzer"

[The Rat]

Just 1 question What scale? I might have a couple of engines in 1/72 (I would have to check the scrapyard though)
"Panzer"

It's a 1/72 alright!

[K5054NZ]

Certainly is! Gold star for Dave! 

Thanks Chris! I'd be very much obliged, but really only need the one. I was going to use one of the TWO engines that came with the Zeke, but they just look too small for the old Slow But Deadly. And a look at Wikipedia confirmed my suspicions: the R1820 fitted to the Dauntless is a single-row, nine-cylinder radial.

[Jetfixer]

Good looking Dauntless, nice one.
Doing a derilict aircraft or resto G/B sounds cool. I'd like to do one of the 1/1 scale aircraft I'm working on. these include 2X jet Provosts, a Meteor and hopefully soon my Auster MK6. 

Greg