The product of a long and troublesome design period the Curtiss SB2C dive bomber entered U.S. military service in 1943 under the call-sign of Helldiver. Built to replace the aging SBD Dauntless in Navy service the Helldiver had a troublesome start b eing ill-received by its flight crews and shipboard mechanics for a variety of handling and maintenance problems but eventually its speed large payload and increased range won out and the Helldiver was used successfully in a number of Pacific battles including the sinking of the Yamato at Okinawa.The Helldiver is reconstructed here in a handcrafted mahogany model painted to match the SB2C`s own unique tricolor paint scheme. A high degree of quality and precision make this model a must-have for any enthusiast