BBI Dauntless

blurx7 · Post by **blurx7** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:40 am

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.

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:47 am

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!

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:34 pm

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.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:35 pm

SABREFAN:

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

AMERICAN_GRENADIER · Post by **AMERICAN_GRENADIER** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:23 pm

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

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:24 pm

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.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:08 pm

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.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:28 pm

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).

AMERICAN_GRENADIER · Post by **AMERICAN_GRENADIER** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:20 am

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.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:19 pm

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.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:07 pm

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.

kimtheredxd · Post by **kimtheredxd** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:08 pm

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

AMERICAN_GRENADIER · Post by **AMERICAN_GRENADIER** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:33 pm

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

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:55 pm

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.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:11 pm

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

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:24 am

Nice aviation art dragon53

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:28 am

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?)

kimtheredxd · Post by **kimtheredxd** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:47 pm

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

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:22 pm

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.