Small Scale Military Headquarters

I am sure it has been discussed ad nauseum, but I LOVE this plane! I have been at home recovering from spinal surgery, encumbered by a medieval torture device known as a hard neck brace, and I have been bored out of my mind. So I am gradually getting around to opening a few items I have had tucked away.
I LOVE THIS PLANE!
Everything is just.... right.
I wasn't going to acquire the Wildcat, but if it is as good as this I may have to.

I'm sorry to hear about your spine. But 32x is the best drug we have! I can't wait to see if I get one for my birthday or Christmas. I'd be one happy son-of-a-gun!

Yes you are so right about the BBI Dauntless. It is a beauty! I have a Wildcat coming, and I am really looking forward to that one also.

SABREFAN:

I hope you post photos of your Wildcat when it arrives.

I received my wildcat today ever bit as great as the dauntless.
rez7026 has them on evilbay for 39.99 shipped! for a limited time only
i ordered it saturday and its was here today! great dealer REZZED COLLECTIBLES

I like this model a lot. I wish BBI had chosen a Dauntless with more history (Midway, etc.), Also, I'm disappointed that it lacks some of the fine detailing such as the small maintenance lettering found on the BBI 1/32 F-4J Phantom II and BBI's 1/18 planes. On the Dauntless, there's only a "STEP" lettering on the fuselage.

Next in the series I'd like to see BBI release a 1/32 Bush TBM Avenger.

I wonder why BBI has such good pilot figures? They sure look nice. I display my planes on some shelves I made, and I take the pilots out. But I kept the pilots in the BBI Wildcat and Dauntless because they look so good.

Is is customary for the SBD Dauntless pilot to have his canopy in the open position during a dive?....(On my BBI Dauntless, I've got the canopy in the closed position, but the more photos I've seen, maybe the open position is more accurate).

I cant believe that would be correct. the glass had some bullet proof qualities and you would think for that reason it would be closed in combat?
these photos maybe training photos or even done for the press.

AMERICAN_GRENADIER:

I see your point about bullet-proof glass, but most of the paintings of the Dauntless show it with an open canopy---I assume the artists try to be as historically accurate as possible---so it appears the Dauntless pilots preferred the open canopy.

Yes the rear gunner almost always flew with the canopy open. His job is to scan the sky looking for enemy planes. Must have been some scary work.

Not sure where I heard it and cant find a site. But I recall that there was a problem with humidity fogging the aiming device and having the canopy open would solve that issue to the detriment of comfort and safety of the closed canopy

very good points. ive only found 1 pic with it closed and its not an attack photo

KIMTHEREDEX:

Thanks---maybe that solves the mystery. I used Elmer's to glue the pilot's canopy open on my Dauntless--which also covers the gap on the second canopy which was not inserted into the fuselage all the way at the factory.

post deleted--I found the answer to my question.

Nice aviation art dragon53

Now that I used Elmer's glue to keep the pilot's canopy in the open position, the Dauntless looks really cool--and the open canopy covers up the gap in the middle canopy where the factory worker didn't fully insert the canopy (why am I the always one of the few to get BBI models with defects?)

Mine just arrived in the mail today. As others have said very nice. Only problem I had was putting the wings in Next time I will eat me spinach first

KIMTHEREDDXD:

On my Dauntless, the left wing was extremely difficult to insert, I had to post on it here...most of my BBI planes required muscle, but the Dauntless left wing was by far the worst. I was scared I was going to break the fuselage and wing.