Classic Airframes 1/48 scale Brewster F2A-1 Buffalo

Kit: No. 4100
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Classic Airframes, 773-883-8888, www.classicairframes.com
Price: $44.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 168 parts (3 resin, 54 photoetched brass), decals
Pros: Fine engraved panel lines, good interior details and engine, good photo- etched details, beautiful decals
Cons: Parts fit, some parts locations unclear, engine sits too far aft

Thanks to Classic Airframes, modelers, who for decades have wanted a 1/48 scale injection-molded early Brewster Buffalo, can add one to their collections.

This kit is not for the faint-hearted, however. Like most low-pressure, limited- run injection-molded kits, assembly is challenging. The basic components are molded in medium-gray plastic and show fine engraved panel lines. The rear of the engine (visible through the wheel wells) and the gear-bay interiors in the wings are cast in resin. A small sheet of photoetched parts provide detail for the interior and the weapons pylons. Decals are provided for nine VF-3 ("Felix the Cat") aircraft sporting yellow wings, and one overall light-gray aircraft based at NAS Norfolk.

The kit uses an unusual assembly sequence. You start by building the wing and adding some of the basic interior parts to it. The early Buffalos did not have landing lights in both wings, so you need to fill in the one on the left wing. The lower window (F1) requires careful fitting. I sanded the upper and lower halves to reduce their trailing-edge thickness before gluing them together. Also, I painted the wings before adding the fuselage halves to the model.

Before installing the right fuselage half to the wing, I jumped ahead and added the details to the sidewalls on the fuselage. The location of some parts is not clear in the instructions. I found a flight manual for a Buffalo Mk.I on the internet (www. warbirdforum.com/buffman.htm), and although the photos were of a different variant than the kit, they helped me place the main components. I never could figure out where parts D35 and D36 (the bomb sight?) were supposed to go - its locating arrow just disappears in the diagram.

Despite tweaking the parts, all of the major joints required filling. I used a variety of materials including sheet styrene, epoxy putty, auto spot putty, and Mr. Surfacer 1000 to blend in the parts. The worst fit was where the rear edge of the wing fits into the fuselage.

I then painted the fuselage with Tamiya flat aluminum. The tail was masked and sprayed with gloss white, while the lower half of the cowl was painted with Tamiya park green. The entire model was given two coats of Future before the decals were added. The decals are excellent; a light brushing of Micro Sol brought them down into the fine engraved lines.

Once everything was dry, I added the rest of the detail parts. The tail planes didn't fit well, so I used epoxy putty to fair them into the fuselage. I had to trim the parts on the rear deck to keep them from interfering with the rear canopy. I also had to trim the opening in the front canopy to make more room for the gunsight. The antenna mast is flimsy and difficult to mount to the fuselage with just a butt joint. When I added the propeller, I discovered the engine sits back too far in the fuselage.

The finished model matches the external dimensions in Squadron/Signals' F2A Buffalo in Action. I spent about 34 hours building my kit, a bit longer than normal for me due to the complexity of the kit and the paint scheme I chose. Still, you'll need a lot of experience and time to finish the F2A.

- John Plzak