Brewster Buffalo: kits and plans

Brewster kits and plans (part 2)

continued from part 1

Jim Maas (jimmaas@aol.com) writes:

The magazine "SKYWAYS" (put out by the same folks who do WWI Aero) included, in its January 1997 issue a twenty page article on the original Brewster dive bomber, the XSBA-1. The article includes numerous interior photos, a description of some of the modifications the XSBA went through, and a set of (1/72?) plans for the XSBA-1 and its production version, the SBN-1 produced by the Naval Aircraft Factory. The publisher's address is Skyways, 15 Crescent Road, Poughkeepsie NY 12601. I sent ten bucks for the copy. I also saw some copies at the Air Force Museum so they may be available in some outlets.

Ken Macaluso (KMacal1019@aol.com) writes:

Recently found a F2A-3 conversion kit for the 1:48 scale kit. The Kit is produced by AeroMaster Products, 3615 NW 20th Ave., Miami, Florida 33142. The phone number is (305) 635-3134. Kit includes the fuselage extension, the prop hub (both resin) and a vacuform canopy and costs about $15. The person I spoke to also stated that demand was such that they would probably be putting out a kit for the F2A-1 later this year. - Mac

Bob Clarke (clarkeb@hanscom.af.mil) writes:

SCALE AVIATION MODELLER International (Vol 3 Issue 3) has a 3 page spread of 1/72 F-2A-1/2 5-view drawings with cross sections. As a bonus, there is a small pencil type 3-view drawing of a RAAF Buffalo in the article on Australian markings in the same issue.

Jim Maas (jimmaas@aol..com) writes:

The second 1/72 Hasegawa Buffalo kit has arrived, so here's a quick review of the series. The first release is an F2A-2; the second, a Finnish Model 239 (and with minor changes an F2A-1). The cowling/engine area forward of the windscreen is separate from the main fuselage, so the mold-makers could (and thankfully did) depict the correct cowling variation for each version. Presumably, they will later issue the export version of the F2A-2, with British and Dutch markings, which involves adding the 'cone' at the end of the fuselage in place of the arrestor hook style tail cone. Moreover, we can hope for the F2A-3 with the longer fuselage.

A couple of 'hardware' points: both the Model 239 (correctly) and the F2A-2 (incorrectly) have little oval depressions just below the leading edge of the vertical fin. That's a vent found only on the F2A-1/239, so fill it in for later versions. Also, Hasegawa give you TWO landing lights. That's correct only for the British 339E (as yet unreleased, cuz you need that tailcone). Delete the one on the starboard (right) wing for all other versions. In the Finnish 239 kit, the instructions tell you to insert a solid blanking plate in lieu of the ventral window. The Model 239 manual mentions the ventral window (and the clear piece _is_ included in the 239 kit, so I'd forget the blanking plate and go with the window.

By the way, be very careful with the F2A-2 kit's decals. The scheme shown for '2-F-5' is totally bogus, Air International #1 to the contrary. Plane #5 should have white section colors, not yellow, and no fuselage band.

Rob Carver (Vanwall@msn.com) writes:

The revell 1/72 scale kit originally cost a buck each, came with box art depicting an F2A-1 taking off from what appears to be the Lexington. Although excellent as to scale, and had a 3-piece sliding canopy, it was plagued by the dreaded Revell rivets. I remember waiting for a year until I got an Airfix kit so I could cut off the front cowling section and transplant the Revell one. The Revell Brewster was later re-issued in a 3 kit special box, with Finnish markings no less, along with a Fiat CR42, and a Polikarpov I-16, I seem to remember. There is also out there a vacuum-formed conversion kit for the Tamiya 1/48 F2A-2 scale kit to cut off the front part of the plane and change it to a B239. Haven't caught up with one yet, but I'm workin' on it.

Plastic Kits

1/72 Scale

Airfix F2A-2 Buffalo; Early model with window in bottom of fuselage. USN decals, Recently reissued. [bc]

Matchbox B-339; Simplest of the buffalo kits, decent. Dutch and RAF decals. Kit is somewhat difficult to find. [bc]

Revell F2A-2; Best of the three, good fit and 3-piece canopy. Hard to find. [bc]

Hasegawa has announced a 1/72 F2A-2/Buffalo release for late '96 [see Jim's letter above]. Hopefully this will immediately obsolete the others, since each has serious outline problems (including the unlisted Aoshima kit circa 1966, which had a box top touting it as the 'US Navy FZAZ' - evidently the box printer didn't realize those were '2's'.) [jm]

1/48 Scale

Fujimi F2A-2; very nice but $35.00 retail price at the local"Chez Hobby" and about $25 by mail from a discounter. Separate kits for USN and RAF Buffaloes reissued in the last year (95-96). [bc]

The manufacturer of the 1/48 kit is Tamiya, not Fujimi; it was originally isssued in about 1974-5 with parts for F2A-2, British and Dutch versions. The current release is just for the F2A-2 but does add the VF-2 wing antenna post. I assume Tamiya will eventually release the Model 339 export version (since all these parts were in the original release). [jm]

There is a pretty good 1/48 scale vacuform of the Buffalo from a Polish firm called Remi. It is basically a Model 239, but includes 'conversion parts' to do the F2A-2 and -3 and the Brit and Dutch export versions. Accuracy is good and (especially if certain parts are robbed from the Tamiya kit) looks like a decent way to get a Finnish Buff in 1/48. [jm]

Model Plans

F2A-2 Midkiff, 27" span, Rubber Power, plans available Flying Models magazine plans service [bc]

F2A-2, D. Diehls, 18" span, Rubber Power, plans available from Diehls Engineering (advertises in most model magazines) [bc]

Dave Diels also offers his Buffalo plan in Peanut scale (13" span) and has a canopy available as well. [tn]

The following plans are listed in the 1995 Old Timers Model Supply catalog. Prices as of th 95 catalog (min order is $10.00, Postage 20% under $50.00, 10% over, Takes Visa / MC. [bc]
#14C3, F2A-1 Buffalo, Lindberg (Pop Aviation 1/39), 43" Wingspan, Freeflight, $8.00
#26C4, F2A-1 Buffalo, Mills (Flying Aces 5/40), 26" Wingspan, Rubber, $4.00
#46A3, F2A-1 Buffalo, Wheldon (Model Aircraft 6/62). 37" Wingspan, Control Line, $7.00
#1E35, F2A-2 Buffalo, Halls (Aeromodeller 6/44), 12" Wingspan, Rubber, $4.00
#56A4 F2A-3 Buffalo, USN BuAer #A-1, 6" Wingspan, Solid Scale Recog'n Model, $4.00
#26C3, F2A Buffalo, Wentzell Model Co, 18" Wingspan, Rubber, $7.00
#24B5, F2A Buffalo, Cleveland #SF-87, 26" Wingspan, Rubber, $7.00
#46C6, F2A Buffalo, Jones (Aeromodeller 4/42), 27" Wingspan, Rubber, $6.00
#26C6, F2A Buffalo, Clements (Model Airpln News 7/60), 35" Wingspan, Control Line, $6.00
Address is: Old Time Plans Service, Box 90310, San Jose, CA 95109-3310

One-fifth scale plans!

5th scale Radio Control plans with an 84" wingspan and 1/10th scale Radio Control plans with a 42" wingspan are available from Jerry Bates, 102 Glenwood St., Mobile AL 36606 (334-478-6720) - Leo Spychalla

Diels Engineering

The following prices were updated by email from Dave Diels in April 2005. The address is Diels Engineering, PO Box 263, Amherst OH 44001 (email ddiels AT mrdoc.cc).

Peanut scale plans (13" wingspan maximum)

P2 - Brewster SBN-1 (the navy-built monoplane dive bomber, Brewster's first design and having some features in common with the Buffalo) ($2.50)

P-12 - Brewster SB2A-2 Buccaneer / Bermuda ($3)

P-14 - Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo ($3)

P-20 - Brewster XA-32A (experimental attack plane) ($4)

Larger scale plans

P-17 - Brewster SB2A-2 Buccaneer / Bermuda (18 inch span) ($4)

P-38 - Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo (1/24 scale; 17 inch span) ($10)
C-6-1 - canopy for the F2A-2 ($2)

P-53 - Brewster SB2A-2 Buccaneer / Bermuda (1/24 scale; 23.5 inch span) ($5)