\n
Book Review: SB2C Helldiver in Action<\/i> (Aircraft No. 54)<\/b><\/p>\n Author:<\/b> Robert Stern<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Illustrator:<\/b> Don Greer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Publisher:<\/b> Squadron\/Signal Publications, Inc. (1982)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Format:<\/b> Softcover, 50 pages<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n ISBN:<\/b> 0-89747-128-8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Part of Squadron\/Signal\u2019s long-running In Action<\/i> series, Volume 54 takes a comprehensive, visual-first look at one of the U.S. Navy\u2019s most controversial carrier-based aircraft of World War II: the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver<\/span>. Known affectionately\u2014and sometimes disparagingly\u2014by its aircrews as the “Beast,” the Helldiver had a notoriously troubled development history but ultimately grew into an essential strike asset across the Pacific Theater and into the postwar era<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Author Robert Stern presents a concise, chronological breakdown of the aircraft\u2019s evolution, pairing detailed historical narrative with extensive photographic documentation and line drawings<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Developmental Troubles & Design Constraints<\/b><\/p>\n The volume opens by detailing the Bureau of Aeronautics\u2019 restrictive 1938 specifications, which mandated that two scout-bombers fit on a 40×48 ft<\/span> aircraft carrier elevator<\/span>. Stern explains how these dimensional constraints forced project engineer Ray Blaylock into a stubby, wide-fuselage design that suffered from severe longitudinal instability, high stall speeds, and structural failures during early flight testing<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Variant-by-Variant Breakdown<\/b><\/p>\n The book systematically tracks the technical refinements made across production blocks<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n XSB2C-1 & Early Production (-1 \/ -1C):<\/b> Documents early crashes, the shift to 20mm cannon wing armament, heavy weight increases, and disastrous initial carrier qualification trials aboard Yorktown<\/i> and Essex<\/i><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n A-25A Shrike \/ SB2C-1A:<\/b> Covers the U.S. Army Air Corps’ land-based derivative, its lack of carrier equipment, rejection by the RAAF, and eventual transfer to Marine Corps training units<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n XSB2C-2 Floatplane:<\/b> Explores the single float-equipped prototype evaluated in 1942\u20131943 in response to Japanese seaplane operations<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n SB2C-3 & SB2C-4:<\/b> Highlights the introduction of the more powerful Wright R-2600-20 engine, four-bladed propellers, wing rocket rails, sub-wing radar pods (APS-4), and perforated dive brakes that finally eliminated high-speed tail buffeting<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n SB2C-5 & Experimental Marks:<\/b> Summarizes postwar production, MDAP exports (France, Greece, Italy, Thailand), combat use in the First Indochina War (notably Dien Bien Phu), and the experimental XSB2C-6 and XSB3C concepts<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n Visual References & Artwork<\/b><\/p>\n Illustrated by Don Greer, the title features line drawings comparing canopy profiles, tail modifications, propeller types, and armament setups<\/span>. Profiles illustrate carrier air group markings\u2014ranging from mid-war geometric white tail symbols to late-war geometric “G” codes\u2014alongside full-color cover art and center-spread profile artwork<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Rich Photographic Coverage:<\/b> Packed with clear action photographs from naval archives and private collections, showing deck crashes, arming procedures, cockpit detail layouts, and field maintenance<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Concise Technical Evolution:<\/b> Clearly illustrates how Curtiss incrementally fixed the airframe’s control and stability issues<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reference Material for Scale Modelers:<\/b> Provides clear visual references for variant differences, camouflage schemes (Blue-Gray\/Light Gray, Three-Tone, and Glossy Sea Blue), and squadron markings<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Aircraft Anatomy of World War II: Technical Drawings of Key Aircraft 1939-1945<\/strong> Paul Eden, Soph Moeing, editors p.32-33: SB2C cutaway, with a color side view photo of the XSB2C-1 with broken tail.<\/p>\n Walter A. Musciano Warbirds of the Sea<\/strong> p.217-218: photos of a pair of Helldivers in flight, close-up of the rear gun position, side-view cutaway of the SB2C-3<\/p>\n David Donald, editor American Airplanes of World War II<\/strong> p.78-81: SB2C-4 cutaway, VB-8 Helldiver color profile, SB2C-3 color 3-view Curtiss ad, with an artist\u2019s depiction of the XSB2C-1 dropping a bomb Aviation September 1940 p.14<\/p>\n \u201cGreater Striking Power For The U.S. Navy \u2013 Curtiss SB2C-1 Dive-Bomber\u201d Curtiss Aircraft ad Aviation February 1941<\/p>\n \u201cLeathernecks Get New Helldivers\u201d Aviation News February 21, 1944 p.18<\/p>\n Photo: side view of XSB2C-2 with floats Flying April 1945 p.75<\/p>\n Sidney P. Chivers \u201cTaming The Big Tailed Beast\u201d Scale Modeler May 1969 Kitbashing the Airfix 1\/72 SB2C-4 into an SB2C-1C.<\/p>\n Photo: SB2C-5 as NACA 147 with second cockpit Air Classics July 1981 p.76<\/p>\n Photo: color shot of a postwar SB2C-5 of VA-9A FlyPast June 1998 p.84<\/p>\n Jack Trent \u201cProving the Pudding \u2013 Backing the Beast \u2013 The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver\u201d Scale Aviation Modeller International April 2012 Includes color profiles (including one in high-viz ASR colors) as well as 1\/72 scale plans. This issue also has an article by Alec Smith showing the Academy kit built as a VB-84 aircraft from the USS Bunker Hill<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n
Overview<\/h3>\n
Key Content & Structure<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Strengths & Modeling Value<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\nSB2C cutaway drawing Aviation February 1940 p.61<\/p>\n
\n