The explicit dimension of SBD-4 engine mount (dwg no 5055954) specifies its length (distance from the firewall to the back faces of the engine mounting lugs) as 3 4.1875 (I switched original fractional dimensions to decimals). Now I found the proof of this observation in the SBD-4 and SBD-5 engine mount dimensions (drawings 50559336): Figure 108-4 Differences in the fuselage length between SBD-4 and SBD-5 In this post I estimated this difference in length as 4 inches. Several years ago I analyzed the SBD photos and concluded that SBD-5 (and -6) engines were mounted a few inches forward than in the previous Dauntless versions (SBD-1.-4). Unfortunately, there are no data about the wing fillet shape, especially its outer edge. However, these blueprints are not as precise as you think – due to barrel distortions of the photo lens and draughtsman mistakes, I estimate their tolerance to 2-3% of the overall size. I have also found some contours of these missing bulkheads, drawn as additional information in various installation drawings. I will have to recreate its shape basing on the few reference dimensions placed in the identified assembly drawings. However, there is no master diagram for the fuselage. For example, Figure 108‑2 shows the identified and missing wing bulkheads: Figure 108-2 Identified and missing bulkheads of the wing structureįortunately, reel “E” contains also wing geometry master diagram (ordinals), so I can use it for recreating shapes of these missing elements.įuselage structure also misses many bulkheads (Figure 108‑3): Figure 108-3 Identified and missing bulkheads of the fuselage structure The documentation from NASM microfilm is missing many important details – I suppose that they were on the lost reel “C”. Maybe this is due the fact that part of these drawings came directly from the Northrop Co, without any renumbering? (You can still find “Northrop Aviation Division” name in the title blocks of some standard parts from this microfilm set).
#Sbd dauntless series#
The SBD/A-24 drawing numbers seem to be assigned as they were ordered: for example, drawing numbers of subsequent wing bulkheads belong to number series that begins with: 206*, 209*, 212*, 406*, 409*, without any visible order. I think that Douglas did not use any sophistical drawing numeration (at least in this project). I practiced that when I click such a link, it opens the image in Photo Viewer, as if it was the original file. To preserve disk space, I placed in these folders shortcuts to files located in the original directories (These original directories correspond to microfilm reels: “A”, “B”, …, “XB”). I chose about 1000 frames (mostly assembly drawings) from this microfilm set, and organized them into a tree-like structure as in Figure 108‑1: Figure 108-1 Folder structure for the SBD blueprints Duplicates from these “X*” reels are also useful, when a drawing from one of the previous reels is unreadable.
However, 350 frames from “XA” and “XB” are unique – most probably this is a part of the missing roll “C”.
On reels “XA” and “XB” you can usually find updated copies of the previous reels (“A”, “B”. You should be able to get something close, though.In general, the set of 7 SBD/A-24 reels from NASM contains 3308 unique microfilm frames, belonging to 3022 drawings. You may have to do a bit of mixing if they don't have the FS numbers that you need. Your best bet for colors, if you're using enamels, would be the Testors Military Colors, there's two ranges of these. The colors listed are presumably the closest FS595 matches to the original ANA colors, and I'd use the color samples on this site as a good but, nonetheless, general reference. Just scroll down a tad 'til you see US Navy. Go here for some decent reference on the colors of USN aircraft from the 30's to present day. :( If you grunge around on that site, though, (there's usually a ton of links on every page) you'll find a whole-lotta interesting stuff about Midway in general as well as other battles, events etc. There's also a page on this site dealing with SBD's at the Battle of Midway, but I haven't been able to find it since I first saw it and I apparently didn't bookmark it. The SBD's in that photo are aircraft #'s 9 & 13 from Scouting 8 aboard USS Hornet (CV-8) and are approaching the heavy cruiser Mikuma, already on fire from earlier attacks by aircraft from the Hornet and Enterprise.Ĭlick here for a page on the Naval Historical Center's website which deals with the Battle of Midway.
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