Hawk 1/72 SBD-5 Dauntless

The Royal New Zealand Air Force operated the Douglas SBD Dauntless for a short but active period during World War II. No. 25 Squadron received SBD-3, SBD-4, and SBD-5 aircraft beginning in 1943, using them for training before deploying to the Solomon Islands. From Bougainville, the squadron flew dive-bombing, patrol, and ground-attack missions against Japanese positions, including targets around Rabaul. The aircraft gave New Zealand a useful interim strike capability while newer types became available. By late 1944, the Dauntless was replaced in RNZAF service by the F4U Corsair, ending a brief but interesting chapter in Pacific air operations.

This project started as a bit of harmless mischief about 30 years ago. One of our local IPMS members suffered badly from AMS — Advanced Modelers Syndrome — and had little patience for older kits, especially those with molded-in decal locations. His bragging and loud voice that he would NEVER build an Aurora or Hawk model because of the markings that were molded into the model. Naturally, that made me want to build one.

I chose the old Hawk SBD Dauntless mostly because it had recessed decal placements and decided to finish it as a fictitious Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, using spare markings from a Frog TBF Avenger sheet. The scheme was not intended to be completely accurate; it was meant to look believable, have fun with the hobby, and perhaps gently irritate a perfectionist.

The funny part is that it worked better than expected. At the meeting, the gentleman looked it over, apparently liked the finish, and marked it highly on his ballot. Only afterward did he notice the molded decal outlines and reacted accordingly. He EXPLODED! But the vote had been cast.

To my great amusement, the Hawk model won first place that evening. This “twisted the knife” a little more. Not because it was historically perfect, but because it looked convincing and reminded me why I enjoy modeling in the first place. Sometimes the best builds are the ones that make you smile. (Hee! Hee!, giggle giggle…)

The Hawk SBD Dauntless is a product of another era, yet it remains surprisingly enjoyable to build. Consisting of roughly twenty parts, it was clearly designed for simplicity rather than super-detailing. The entire wing is molded as a single piece, eliminating alignment problems, while the control surfaces are molded in place. Even more surprising is the presence of finely recessed panel lines, a feature uncommon on kits from the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Cockpit detail is almost nonexistent, consisting of two crew figures seated on a simple bench. Wheel wells are absent, and the engine is basic, but everything fits remarkably well. Only a small amount of filler was required around the wing roots and tailplanes, and the fuselage halves aligned with very little cleanup. Despite its age, the kit goes together quickly and provides a relaxing weekend project.

The kit provides markings for a U.S. Navy aircraft finished in Blue Gray over Light Gray. For this build I chose a fictitious Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft using decals from an old Frog TBF Avenger sheet. The national insignia fit the model surprisingly well and created a convincing "what-if" appearance. Although not intended as a historically accurate representation, the finished model captures the look of an operational Pacific theater aircraft and demonstrates how easily older kits lend themselves to imaginative projects.

Because the kit lacks wheel wells, I simply painted the openings black to suggest depth rather than attempting major modifications. Panel lines were lightly enhanced with a sharpened pencil, a popular technique when this model was built, although today I would probably leave them alone. (The holes in the Dive Brakes took a toll on the pencil tip.) The canopy was masked, painted, and given a coat of Future floor finish before installation, producing a clean, glossy appearance. Final assembly presented no surprises, and the model retained the straightforward, enjoyable character that makes these vintage Hawk kits so appealing.

The Hawk SBD Dauntless will never compete with modern multimedia kits, nor was it intended to. What it does offer is an inexpensive, uncomplicated project that reminds us why many of us fell in love with the hobby in the first place. It builds quickly, fits well, and serves as an excellent canvas for experimenting with new painting techniques, markings, or "what-if" subjects. Even after all these years, it remains one of my favorite Dauntless kits—not because it is the most accurate, but because it reminds me that scale modeling should be fun.

I still have the pencil.

My Imagination and a few pictures.

This model was built in 1996. Reviewed and dusted, July 2026 To this date, there is no cure for AMS.

Simple build, simple painting, and simple smiles. Friendly commentary and memories are welcome.

Chris Mikesh

10 July 2026

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