SBD Dauntless Dive Flaps

for Accurate Miniatures, Academy
and Eduard kits

Mini Craft Collection, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was one of the most important naval aircraft of the Second World War. It was a rugged, reliable dive bomber that turned the tide of the Pacific campaign at a time when Allied fortunes hung in the balance.

Douglas SBD Dauntless – Development, Variants and Operational Use

The story of the Dauntless began in 1934, when the U.S. Navy issued a specification for a new carrier-based scout bomber. The Northrop Corporation responded with the BT-1, an aircraft that introduced many of the features later refined in the Dauntless. When Northrop was absorbed by Douglas in 1937, the design was developed into the XBT-2, which incorporated retractable landing gear, a redesigned tail, and distinctive perforated dive brakes to ensure a steady, controllable dive. Entering production in 1940 as the SBD-1, the Dauntless (for “Scout Bomber Douglas”) was already on the decks of U.S. carriers when America entered the war in December 1941.

The SBD went through a series of incremental improvements. The SBD-2 introduced self-sealing fuel tanks and increased fuel capacity, while the SBD-3 added armour protection and replaced the original cowl-mounted machine guns with heavier armament. The definitive SBD-5, powered by a 1,200 hp Wright R-1820-60 engine, was the most numerous and saw service across the Pacific. A later variant, the SBD-6, featured a further uprated powerplant but arrived too late to see significant combat. Land-based A-24 Banshee versions, built for the U.S. Army Air Forces, saw limited action in the Pacific and Mediterranean theatres.

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In combat, the Dauntless proved to be a superb weapon. Its range, accuracy and toughness made it ideally suited to the island-hopping campaigns of the Pacific. At the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, Dauntlesses were responsible for the first sinking of an enemy carrier by U.S. forces. Just one month later, at Midway, they delivered the decisive blow — dive-bombing from the sun to sink four Japanese carriers in a single morning. From Guadalcanal to the Philippines, the Dauntless became a symbol of U.S. naval air power, serving with both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

By late 1944, the Dauntless was being replaced by the faster, more heavily armed Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, but many crews regarded the newcomer as a step backwards. The Dauntless remained in front-line service until the end of the war and continued to serve with allied nations, including Mexico, Chile and France, well into the post-war years.

Elegant in form yet deadly in function, the Douglas SBD Dauntless earned its place in history as the aircraft that stopped Japan’s advance — a true classic of naval aviation.

Dauntless Dive Flap System

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was distinguished by its dive brake or dive flap system — a hallmark of its deadly accuracy as a dive bomber. These flaps were among the most technically refined of any aircraft of the Second World War, allowing the Dauntless to execute near-vertical dives while maintaining controllability and structural integrity.

Split Flap Arrangement

The SBD’s dive brakes were perforated split flaps mounted on both the upper and lower surfaces of each wing’s trailing edge, outboard of the ailerons.

Each flap section consisted of a light alloy structure with hundreds of round holes (perforations) designed to let air pass through, reducing buffeting and stabilising airflow during the dive.

The upper and lower panels were mechanically linked and actuated together.

Perforations

The holes — each about 3 inches in diameter — were critical. Solid flaps on earlier prototypes caused severe tail buffeting and instability in the dive. The perforations alleviated this by venting airflow, maintaining lift distribution and control authority.

This innovation became a defining feature of the Dauntless’ silhouette.

Hydraulic Actuation System

The flaps were controlled hydraulically from the cockpit by a lever on the pilot’s left side.

A selector allowed the pilot to deploy them incrementally for landing, or to the full “dive brake” position for attack.

Hydraulic pressure operated both upper and lower surfaces simultaneously via linkages and actuating rods.

Interconnected Dive Control Features

When the dive flaps were deployed for attack, an automatic mechanism engaged to lock the elevator trim and extend the bomb release cradle beneath the fuselage.

This ensured that when the bomb was released, it would clear the propeller arc cleanly — an essential feature given the aircraft’s near-vertical dive angle.

A small mechanical interlock prevented the flaps from retracting until the bomb cradle had returned to its stowed position.

Operation in the Dive

Entry

The pilot typically began the attack from around 10,000 to 15,000 feet.

On signal, he rolled inverted and then pulled into a 70–80° dive toward the target, deploying the dive brakes fully as the nose dropped through the horizon.

With dive brakes extended, airspeed was held to around 240–260 knots, despite the steep angle — preventing overspeeding and airframe stress.

Aiming and Release

The perforated flaps stabilised the aircraft, allowing a steady aim using the telescopic sight or the fixed reticle on the windscreen.

Bomb release typically occurred between 1,500 and 2,000 feet. The swing-arm cradle pushed the bomb down and forward to ensure clean release.

Recovery

Immediately after release, the pilot pulled back on the stick, retracting dive brakes only after recovering to level flight.

The Dauntless’ strong structure and responsive controls made it possible to endure the high g-loads of pull-out without damage.

Significance

The dive flap system was key to the SBD’s success — providing unmatched accuracy and controllability. The design allowed U.S. Navy pilots to strike small, moving targets such as enemy carriers with precision. At Midway, these perforated flaps quite literally changed the course of the Pacific War.

In essence, the Dauntless’ dive flaps were not merely aerodynamic devices — they were the technological heart of one of the most effective dive bombers ever built.

Mini Craft Collection (MCC) has been expanding their range to include more World War II subjects. The latest of these is a set of 1/48 scale dive flaps for the Accurate Miniatures / Academy / Eduard SBD Dauntless kits.

The set arrives in a sturdy silver tin protected by a cardboard slip cover. Inside, the resin parts are safely housed in three individual resin enclosures, with further cushioning from bubble wrap and a plastic ziplock bag.

The entire set is made up from only three parts, all crisply rendered in grey 3D-printed resin.

The cages are labelled L, M and R. I wrote “L” and “R” on the bases of the printing blocks with a Sharpie to help keep everything organised.

The dive flaps are printed in the open position. Upper and lower flaps are moulded as a single piece per side plus the centre section, M.

Small details are lovingly reproduced, including hydraulic actuators and mechanical linkages.

Each part is attached to a fine lattice of supports that taper to hair-thin contact points. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of these to remove. I recommend using a fresh hobby blade for the finer supports.

Printing quality is flawless — there are no striations, layer lines, or other surface imperfections on my sample.

Surface detail is outstanding with appropriate structural artefacts printed in place.

A small one-sided instruction sheet is included, offering clear assembly diagrams and guidance on preparing the kit parts to accept the new dive flaps.

Some thinning is required at the trailing edges of the kit’s wings, but nothing that will trouble an experienced modeller.

Mini Craft Collection's Dauntless Dive Flaps are a high-quality, cleverly engineered, and well-detailed upgrade for the 1/48 scale Accurate Miniatures / Academy / Eduard SBD Dauntless kits.

These delicately detailed dive flaps will deliver a dynamic and distinctive appearance to your Dauntless.

Thanks to Mini Craft Collection for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2025 Brett Green
Page Created 13 November, 2025
Last updated 14 November, 2025

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