Yellow Wings Decals 1/32 Dauntless Sets By Chris Banyai-Riepl

Yellow Wings Decals are at it again, this time expanding the possibilities for the impressive Trumpeter (or the far less impressive Matchbox) 1/32 SBD Dauntless. Building off their colorful SBD-2 sheet, the next two sheets provide complete stencils for three aircraft and an Operation Torch SBD-3.

Starting with the stencil sheet, this provides stenciling for an SBD-1, an SBD-2, and an SBD-3. There are some subtle differences between the variants, and it appears that Yellow Wings Decals has captured those differences. The decals are nicely printed and appear to be quite thorough in their coverage. However, there are some challenges presented in the instructions. While there are plenty of interior stencils, both for the cockpit and the engine compartment, their location is given solely as a text reference. Not having the kit in front of me, I do not know how clear the Trumpeter instructions are in labeling items such as the “confidential locker,” so these might take a bit of additional research. The placement diagrams for the other stencils are better, although they are given over a painting diagram, which has many extraneous notations. This can be confusing, so read the instructions carefully and go slow to make sure you have the proper placement.

Overall, though, these stencil decals will greatly improve the look of your Dauntless build and the time spent in applying them will be well worth it.

The Operation Torch SBD-3 sheet presents an interesting historical snapshot, as it provides markings for one aircraft at two different points in its life. The aircraft, SBD-3 BuNo 06624, was found at the bottom of Lake Michigan, after having been lost on a training mission over fifty years earlier. Upon resurrecting the aircraft and during its subsequent restoration, two sets of markings were discovered: the training markings, with the star and bar outlined in red, and a much larger roundel outlined in yellow: the Torch markings. As only eighteen SBDs took part in Operation Torch, this discovery made a rare find even rarer. This decal sheet provides markings for this aircraft as she appeared during Operation Torch and how she appeared as she rolled off the training carrier and into Lake Michigan. During Torch the aircraft was coded 41-S-13 and carried the top hat insignia of VS-41. In addition to the impressive yellow surrounds to the national insignia, this plane also had a small green Sinclair dinosaur on the tail. During its training days, the markings were more sedate, with a simple white B-10 on the fuselage.

These two sheets are printed to the usual high standard of Yellow Wings Decals and should be a welcome addition to those building the Trumpeter kit. My thanks to Yellow Wings Decals for the review samples.