Jimmy Thach's Buffalo

[AndrewR]

John S "Jimmie" Thach was a highly distinguished US Navy aviator. Test pilot, combat ace, aerial tactician and instructor during WW2, he commanded several USN carriers, helped develop post-war antisubmarine warfare tactics and retired as a Four Star Admiral.

Before Pearl Harbor, he was part of VF-3, attached to USS Saratoga, which at the time were flying Brewster Buffaloes (later replaced by Wildcats).

The kit:



The ancient Airfix Buffalo, in a plastic bag. In addition the baggie was damaged (while stashed) by a rodent gnawing through the plastic.
The beastie does not appear to have damaged the plastic on this kit. One of the two Airfix Wildcat kits I got with it did not escape as lightly.

As I only paid $3 for the three kits, I can live with the rodent damage.

The decals are from Starfighter Decals, printed by Cartograf and look gorgeous!



His plane is overall metal, chrome yellow wings, white rudder and willow green cowl and wing stripes. I found a pretty good match for willow green in the Vallejo Model Colour series - Flat Green. I have to paint the cowl, but the stripes are decals.



As there are lots of window frames on a Buffalo, I'm hoping that these Montex Masks will be of some use, even if they are intended for the Hasegawa kit.

[TobyC]

Good choice. A rare plane.

[Chris]

I have that same decal sheet Andrew, excellent choice.

[AndrewR]

Real life is crowding in. I may not be able to start for a few days!

[bromo]

OOOH i like that box art there is some really nostalgic builds going on in this GB which i think is fantastic

[AndrewR]

I finally manage to wash the kit this morning before anyone else gets up!

Typical early Airfix, bits of sprues everywhere. Much more canopy than usual. Thick but serviceable.



The prop is broken - two bladed snapped off the spindle.


The rodent has nibbled several cylinders off the engine!




A very nicely sculpted pilot figure. It just needs the mould lines cleaning up.




I think I may have to take the engine and prop from my Matchbox kit to replace the damaged items. As it's David's birthday today, further modelling is unlikely!


Cheers

Andrew

[AndrewR]

Replacement engine from an Airfix Grumman Duck and prop from Matchbox Buffalo

[AndrewR]

Matchbox prop is too naff.



Airfix Wildcat prop substituted instead. Much better after a clean up of mould lines.

[AndrewR]

The birthday biccies



And cake, with Spud Lightyear...



The cowling (three pieces) has been glued together. I need to file the backing plate on the substitute engine to slot in.
I also added some token interior detail from stretched sprue.

[AndrewR]

Added a bit more "vaguely plausible" cockpit detail!



Exhausts drilled out.



A paper printed Wildcat instrument panel has been glued onto card and will be cut into three parts for installation.



The Duck engine now push fits into the cowling.

[Martin R]

Good-oh, Andrew!

Should be a colourful addition to your shelf.

regards,

Martin

[AndrewR]

Good-oh, Andrew!

Should be a colourful addition to your shelf.

regards,

Martin

Thanks Martin. Yes aluminium, chrome yellow and green and white should make it stand out

[AndrewR]

And here is the aluminium interior. The wheel wells are the same colour. I wll put a couple of rods in the wells to represent the interior bracing for the engine -tthat'll be in yellow.



The same yellow has been sprayed on the inside of the cowling too.



Cheers

Andrew

[AndrewR]

Dryfit of fuselage and canopy.



Nothing nasty to deal with!

[AndrewR]

The wings need a bit of pressure on them!