SBD Dauntless

[lagaffe]

Hello,

For quite some time I have been thinking about the next project I would like to do.

In 2013, I had found on the web Witold Jaworski’s work concerning computer modeling. For several years he detailed the design of several aircraft : P-40 and Lavochkin-5 and notably an SBD Dauntless: https://blenderartists.org/t/sbd-dauntless-us-navy-dive-bomber/641592.

During these years he also published several books (PDF) that include all this work in a didactic way, "books" that I bought of course to improve my way of modeling on Blender: https://airplanes3d.net/index_e.html. These are excellent bedside books

All these years, I have gathered a large number of documents on these planes (avialogs.com), but if you have any, I would be very happy to be able to consult other photos or books.

Naturally, I had thought one day with his agreement of course, to create an interior for this plane, what do you think, are you interested by this kind of aircraft in simulation?

 

[jankees]

It's a beautiful aircraft. I'd be interested!

 

[Killbilly]

Absolutely interested. The Dauntless is an icon.

 

[Priller]

Absolutely interested! The Dauntless is a much overlooked classic in flightsim!

Priller

 

[DennyA]

Dauntless would be amazing. Such an important historical aircraft. It would be fantastic to get a chance to fly it in MSFS.

 

[Bomber_12th]

One of my favorites. Such an elegant design, and everyone who has ever flown one talks about how nice of an aircraft it is to fly. I would love to see a good SBD/A-24 in the sim.

Some years ago I read the book "Never Call Me a Hero" by WWII SBD Dauntless pilot Lt. "Dusty" Kleiss (noted for his exploits during the Battle of Midway), and it was quite an eye opener, the detailed descriptions of just what it was like to experience nosing down into a near-vertical dive from 15-20,000 ft, then pulling out at just the right altitude, and the impact it had physiologically. As I recall, there was even a pill that the pilots and gunners would take ahead of a time to counter the effects.

 

[heywooood]

a vital historical USN aircraft - way overdue to the MS flight sim hangar deck...
I hope you will take this on Lagaffe - the Dauntless will be in good hands if you do..
PS - we'll need an Akagi to torment.. and an Enterprise, Yorktown, Hornet to trap on..

 

[lagaffe]

Find this morning during a FS20 re-install ... Look at 7:00 for the cockpit details: a gem !!!

 

[Paul K]

Absolutely interested! The Dauntless is a much overlooked classic in flightsim!

Priller

Agreed - incredibly overlooked, given its fame and exploits in the Pacific. I'd certainly welcome one.

 

[Tom Clayton]

what do you think, are you interested by this kind of aircraft in simulation?

That's a question you'll never need to ask this group!

 

[Penzoil3]

Oh yeah! Great plane, still fly it in P3D 5. Please!

 

[Wing_Z]

Oyez... please
Ex Kiwi Warbirds
– Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless NZ5021
– Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless NZ5062

 

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some detail photos of the early SBD-4 Dauntless, BuNo.10694 (N34N), which is certainly the most WWII-period-accurate airworthy Dauntless, in every detail, including the primers, paints, stencils, placarding, hardware (down to the nuts, bolts and rivets), engine dash number, prop hub and blades, wheels, brakes, etc., all correct to the way it was in 1942. It was expertly-restored by Vultures Row Aviation. Anything that was non-existent in reusable form was simply machined new. This particular aircraft was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan in 1994, and its first post-restoration test flight took place in 2017. It continues to be flown to this day, based in Colorado Springs at the National Museum of WWII Aviation.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Continued:

 

[Bomber_12th]

And a few more this evening:

 

[Cazzie]

The aircraft that destroyed the Japamese Navy's ability to fight from the sea. This model is from the Battle of the Corel Sea.

Cazzie

 

[roger-wilco-66]

Count me in! Absolutely interested.
I remember the FSX version of the Dauntless from Vertigo Studios back then, and loved it.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[lagaffe]

Wouaou !!! I didn’t think I would bring so much joy among you.

As you seem to be passionate about this plane, we will first try to gather even more documentation for the interior of the device and get down to work to draft the cockpits. I have already found a twenty-one photograph of a device, I will base myself on this information to start my draft.
For the outside, I think I will do as for the Aeronca: a single device and if painters want to participate they will be welcome. The external version will be the "Commemorative" version that we see in the video, simple version to make and then we’ll see.




I will do it in parallel with the Canso update : modeling with Blender after a few hours of coding or testing allows to change ideas .

 

[Priller]

Brilliant news! Thanks @lagaffe !

Priller

 

[lagaffe]

Again images of a cockpit of an SBD-3 Dautless, in black and white but very detailed (too big to be included) :

=> https://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/sbd/sbd_pit.shtml

and on another site almost the same boards but with the associated layout to find the function of each command :

=> https://www.lonesentry.com/blog/sbd-dauntless-cockpit.html

Finally, by rereading the docs retrieved from avialogs.com, I found the same annotated images but in addition readable as well as a POH with the main characteristics of the aircraft:
- Pilot' handbook Model SBD-3 - 1942: 0003426-avialogs-1001738.pdf
- An OSPREY Aviation publication (in Spanish) on the Web for some euros (I read Spanish very well since my fault originates from the Balearic islands)