Now that's a really nice SBD I'd say! It's a UK-market special version.
The DB MK 1 flew for the UK Royal Navy FAA Evaluation JS 997 squadron.
I like the paint-scheme even more than the Leppia & Lisca Battle of the Coral Sea SBD-3.  |
Hi Armour Addict - I didn't realise/never knew that this was 'Ltd' to the U.K. market only ??????
A few years back, my Wife travelled back to London & phoned me, to say that the local 'Modelzone' store had a few of these in stock & had reduced a few of them............
They'd been reduced from £46 down to £20, (few yrs back) so I got her to pick me up a couple !!!!!!!!!!!!
I was impressed with the overall finish, scale & representation of Armour's SBD.......
& I still have them sitting next to me, as I type this.
As 'our' Navy ONLY ever used these in an evaluation manner & NEVER operationally, my original intention, was to remove the British 'roundels & markings' & replace them with U.S. Navy markings suited to the Tri-colour (Dark/Intermediate/White) colour-scheme, as none of the U.S. versions (SBD's) were easily obtainable from where I now live.
Rather strangely.......
the folks on the 'F.M' production line in China, have no grasp of reason, as to exactly WHY the 'Fin-Flashes' are there...........
Just like your photo's, both of mine have the 'fin-Flashes' the WRONG (Wong
) WAY ROUND........(on the Port-side)
yet, curiously correct, on the Starboard-side ?????????? (as 'Kabel' would say, "a Friday Aft'noon special") LOL.
I've just picked up my 1st two U.S. SBD's ("Operation-Torch") & I've gotta say they look SUPERB !!!!!!!!!!!!!
not, in the 'tri-colour' scheme, however.
The most NOTICABLE difference, between these, is that the Royal-Navy SBD (B.934) has a FULLY-ENCLOSED full-length 'greenhouse' canopy - whereas the "Op-Torch" U.S. SBD (B.632) has BOTH it's Pilot's & Gunner's Canopies wide open, with the 'twin-.50cals' displayed on their mount 'ready for use' so to speak !!!!!!!!!!
I like that very difference in both, as well as the contrasting colours !
Hard to believe I got my "Op-Torch" birds EVEN-CHEAPER
The 'F.M.' SBD deserves to sell in greater numbers....... it's a 'Good-un'
Esp' now I can pick one up, for basically the same price as a Hobbymaster SBD (of which, I also have several).