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Tamiya 1/48 F2A2 Buffalo

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  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Tamiya 1/48 F2A2 Buffalo
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 3:12 PM

Well, here it is, my first “Yellow Wings” build in well over 40 years. This is the classic Tamiya 1975 vintage kit, in a later rebox, finished in the markings of VF-2 “Flying Chiefs” circa 1940. This was the first monoplane fighter plane taken into service by the USN. Paints are Tamiya for the aluminum lacquer & Lemon Yellow, Model Master Acrylics for the Chrome Yellow wing upper surface, and Testors enamel square bottle for the True Blue 3rd Section markings. Decals are a mix of kit decals, Microscale & SuperScale, and Yellow Wings Decals. Aside from adding a 3-D decal harness in the cockpit, everything else is OOB for assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posed on an Eduard US Carrier Flight Deck base that I painted into pre war colors

 

 

“Pilots… Man your planes.”

 

 

Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcome.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Nashville, TN area
Posted by bobbaily on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 4:32 PM

Stik-Very nice build. weathering is subtle & effective and a subject not seen often here.

Question-was your MM Acrylic Chrome Yellow a recent purchase?  I thought Testors had dropped the MM Acrylic line...however, I have a lot of 10+ year old bottles in the stash.

Bob

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 4:50 PM

Excellent work, Stik, she's a beauty!! I love the little buffalo.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    July 2015
Posted by MR TOM SCHRY on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 5:15 PM

Great build Stik!  You just gotta love a pre-war yellow winged plane, especially this little "pugnacious" little fighter.  They weren't too successful for the USN but the Finns sure used them effectively.  Once again awesome build!

tjs

TJS

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 5:25 PM

Great job Stik - motivated me to start looking for a yellow wing subject

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 5:45 PM

Very cool,I had in mind the British Markings when I saw your heading,great job on the yellow

  • Member since
    January 2021
Posted by PFJN2 on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 7:12 PM

Hi,

Your build looks great.  I've always liked the looks of the Buffalo.

Pat

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 7:49 PM

Excellent work Stik.  Nailed the yellow perfectly.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Thursday, November 3, 2022 2:11 AM

Comment removed.

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Winter Park, FL
Posted by fotofrank on Thursday, November 3, 2022 8:32 AM

Nicely done, Stik. I've always liked the Yellow-Wing Navy aircraft. I have this Tamiya kit and the Special Hobby F2A-3 Buffalo in the closet. I think they'll be on the bench sometime this winter. A build as nice as this one is a great motivator.

OK. In the stash: Way too much to build in one lifetime...

  • Member since
    August 2021
Posted by lurch on Thursday, November 3, 2022 8:34 AM

That is great. The flightdeck is the best touch to add. The pilot helps also. Overall its just fantastic.

  • Member since
    March 2022
  • From: Twin cities, MN
Posted by missileman2000 on Thursday, November 3, 2022 8:58 AM

My understanding is the Navy's beef was not the plane itself, but with the company, which could not put out aircraft to the Navy's schedule.

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Thursday, November 3, 2022 10:31 AM

missileman2000

My understanding is the Navy's beef was not the plane itself, but with the company, which could not put out aircraft to the Navy's schedule. 

A little of both.  The Navy required modifications to the Buffalo to bring it up to its requirements for combat-ready, that increased the weight of the aircraft and made it slower and less maneuverable.  And Brewster was beset with logistical and organizational deficiencies that meant it couldn't fulfill its contracts successfully.  The Navy even took over the company in 1942 and put the head of the Naval Aircraft Factory in charge.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Thursday, November 3, 2022 10:37 AM

And that's a beautiful model, Stik!  Outstanding finish!

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, November 3, 2022 1:17 PM

Bob, Brandon, Tom, John, Tony, Pat, Lawdog, Damouav, Frank, Lurch, Baron, and Missilman, thanks one and all guys for your kind feedback on this build!

@bobbailey, the Model Master yellows are old purchases from when the paint line was at every hobby shop. I just don't use the color that much to use it all up over the years.

@brandon, I'm with you on the Buffalo. I love those underdog aircraft types

@tom, the between the wars yellow wings markings are so attractive! Not attempt at concealment. Here we are! Lol! The F2A was a snappy aircraft in its original form, but the Navy kept adding weight to the design, and it couldn't handle the weight. 

@John, there are plenty of Yellow Wings subjects to be had. I sure want to do more now.

@Tony, the RAF camo looks good on these too. As do the Dutch and Finnish schemes Wink

@Pat, the Buffalo does have it visual charm, doesn't it?

@Lawdog, that yellow is such a beast of a color to get on properly. I actually did flat yellow over white primer under the final gloss yellow top coat to get the proper coverage.

@Frank, I'm with you on the Yellow Wings type. After this one I am planning several more, both Navy and Army Wink

@Lurch, the flight deck was a fun little side project to tie in with this. And you gotta love those old Monogram pilot figures, this one being from their TBD kit that I built a few years back.

 

 

 

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    March 2013
Posted by patrick206 on Thursday, November 3, 2022 2:44 PM

Hi, Stik -

Hey, great job on the little flying beer barrel, as nice a Buffalo model as I've seen. It's obvious you've become well acquainted with your 105 Patriot airbrush, excellent finish all around.

A very well built and detailed model, thanks for the post and photos. BTW, did you use a mask set for the canopy, or just use tape?

Patrick

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, November 3, 2022 3:47 PM

Thank you Pat. Yes, the 105 and I are well acquainted nowadays. Thank you once again for your kind gift of the airbrush! 
I used good old Tamiya masking tape and a new xacto blade to mask the canopy and underside glass. And a bit of Microscale liquid mask on the bottom oval windows. It was time consuming with all that framework! I bought some True Details Fast Frames, but opted not to use them and save them for one of the other Buffalos in my stash.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    October 2016
  • From: .O-H-I-O....
Posted by DasBeav on Thursday, November 3, 2022 4:45 PM

Great work, Stik! Like others, love the yellow wings. I finally got the old Monogram TBD Devastator last year, after years of looking on Ebay.(for the right price...I'm cheap) I really need to get off my ass and get back on my ass and finish some shelf queens...

 Sooner Born...Buckeye Bred.

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, November 3, 2022 8:24 PM

Thanks Beav. I hear ya about trying to score a Monogram TBD on eBay for a reasonable price. Good to hear that you were successful with that hunt.

And yes, get back to the bench, finish up some shelf queens and share 'em on here!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Saturday, November 5, 2022 8:33 AM

Oh, wow...that turned out great, Stik. Yes

As already mentioned, I too like your subtle weathering, and your overall work is outstanding as usual.

I've never paid any attention to this neat aircraft before. Sure has a chunky fuselage. I like it.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, November 5, 2022 8:58 PM

Thanks Greg! It sure is a husky little fighter, isn't it?

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

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