This is kind of the clean-up operation on our little yellow plane. While we have been repeatedly saying FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, I think that most of us will find that following them is probably the way we’d do it anyway. About the only variation that I have made in this final detail section is to glue the painted cowl in place after I have applied some light wash around the intermediate cowl ring and to various small details. Many of those little details cry out for a bit more emphasis. As you can once again see from the photo, I have decaled the plane completely before adding all of the fragile stuff. I think most of us automatically do that. All of this minor deviation from the basic instruction sheet further points out the importance of what we say at the beginning of all of our instructions: READ THEM! By becoming familiar with the recommended assembly, we are better able to determine where we might want to vary the sequence. We know that our kits are sometimes a "little different." Our instruction sheets are trying to keep you from getting into trouble. It is part of the company’s goal to deliver a kit that not only offers assembly, but also treats the modeler as someone who is going to contribute more than paint and glue to the end result. After all, these aren’t toys. They are works of art that you create through your talents and building experience.

Anyway, on to the clean up. I have added the dive flaps, even though my better judgment tells me to leave them off until the very end. I only say this because I seem to have the uncanny ability to knock off pieces faster than I put them on. These are very vulnerable to my eight thumbs and yes, I did knock one piece off. Twice. One critical part is the map table that goes in the pilot’s cockpit - the part we warned you about in Step 2, "Don’t put it in yet." Well, now is the time. A light wash on the hoisting cable will look nice. And for my two female fans (yes, we are blessed!) who sent me an E-mail and requested an open interior, I have cut the pilot’s section away from the closed canopy. "Look, look," said Jane. "There is cockpit detail. Spot can now see the relief tube."

That lift cable is one of those little parts that always seems to draw an eye and the question: "what is it?" Wow them with your deep knowledge of the subject! Even though these airplanes were pre-war and therefore very well maintained, I have shown a slight amount of wear on the anti-glare panel. Very slight. This is a Marine plane and that might have been grounds for a Court Martial in those days!
The underside is full of detail that will really benefit from a light wash. Carefully applied burnt umber oil paints will pop out the many panels, etc. I'm not aware if the practice bombs carried standard fuses. Any experts out there? Anyway, I left them in place cause they look neat. Artistic license.

The prop requires a disproportional amount of time to complete. Stripes. Black backside. Metalizer finish. Mask, paint. Mask, paint. Mask, paint. Done. I have added a radio antenna using my favorite technique - stretched sprue from the clear plastic tree. When it is installed and left unpainted, it gives the illusion of sort of being there and not being there depending on how the light hits it. Works for me. And it is easy to install. Check out the photos. You might also notice some of the light washes that have been applied here and there. I try to keep them subtle. If you can see them, I’ve probably overdone them!

The dive flaps have had their interior surfaces painted in the pre-war colors as described earlier. They may not be as dramatic as the red red interiors that most of us would normally select, but it does make for another opportunity to show your vast knowledge of these planes.
Remember, that spinner had a rubber surface! No matter how many beautifully painted profiles and paintings you see of these planes, try getting paint to stick to a rubber spinner turning 300 RPM. Go with black paint here. And that silver pencil makes short work of the band towards the rear of the spinner. Once again, the washes help bring out the detail in the cowl area. Don't forget to paint the back of the prop. Some planes in the pre-war time frame used insignia blue in place of the matte black.
Using the one piece canopy, I have carefully cut the pilots portion away and installed it in the open position. I find this to be easier than stacking the individual pieces. It seems that most photos of these early planes show them with the rear canopies closed and I like the lines of the plane with them closed.

So, that’s it. I have tried to give you a build with a few tips and a bit of company "philosophy" thrown in for good measure. I actually enjoyed doing one more SBD in spite of the fact that after building 50-60 of them, the subject had gotten a little old. If this sort of "build it on line" thing helps explain some "unusual" assembly to folks who might be having a few questions or would just like to see how it looks, then it has succeeded. Don’t hesitate to let us know what you think. The F3F’s and the B-25's are in the wings waiting to go through the same exercise.

The finished plane. Ready for display.

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