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This is part of a group build. I wanted to build my 1/48 Tamiya but I was short on time and had to choose between the Aoshima or Matchbox kits in my stash and chose Matchbox. Many years back I saw Jagan Pillarisetti's research where he traced flight logs to discover that Indian pilots flew a couple of Buffalos that at one time belonged to 67 sqdn and were flown to India as Singapore and Burma fell. These were acquired and flown by No.22 AACU (RAF/IAF composite unit that was later IAF). This is one of the 2 aircraft that the Indian pilots of No.22 AACU flew based on Jagan's research - W8245. The build is entirely OOB except for the decals. For 1/72 scale I use my hair for antenna wire as I have done here as well. Paints, wash, gloss and dull coats are all Tamiya.

The old Matchbox model, which like most of their models, represents relaxation for work. Although my box is from 1979, the decals were top notch. I am satisfied with what has been achieved, the colors are Model Master and Humbrol. I also plan on a Buffalo with Finnish markings, just a Hasegawa model. Here's the picture.

Hi comrades! Here my take on Classic Airframes kit. The kit was great, I liked it more than Tamiya (built simultaneously - see "family photos" and built/RFI thread somewhere here. The only thing I regret-is the leading edge lights - they are to close to/part of wheel wells, not to my recent skills to insert the clear plastic here . Otherwise-I'm happy with the result. The build is here: Thanks for looking!

Hi comrades! My next build is two Brewster Buffalos. In this thread it will be Finnish one. Famous "white seven" of the commander of 1/LeLV 24 in winter camouflage. Classic Airframe's kit is much more detailed than the old Tamiya's kit. I'll anyway add some scratch details to the cockpit and wheels-engine compartment. Model will be riveted. Only aftermarket is Montex Masks. Thanks for looking

Hi comrades! Here is my yellow wing Buffalo. The build is here Main improvements: Scratch built half of cockpit floor, main undercarriage and aft-engine structure and wiring. Rivets. Some wiring on undercarriage legs and cockpit. Used aftermarket: Eduard's brass and canopy masks. Yellow-wings and Starfighter decals. Thanks to all the help I received for my questions! Hope, You enjoy Thanks for looking

Hi comrades! This is my build of Tamiya Buffalo. Old kit, relatively simple. I will made my life more interesting by scratch detailing of the "empty" areas (wheels-motor compartment, cockpit, main u/c legs) and riveting. I'll use some aftermarket details and decals. The painting guide is for general idea only - my project is of different prototype (but the same unit/section). Also, to make the things even more interesting - in parallel I'll build the Classic Airframes counterpart - Brewster Type 239 of Finnish Air Force (will be in different thread) Thanks for looking!

Hi comrades! My build of Classic Airframes kit is approaching the painting stage And now, my question is: how the prop was painted? In different references (mainly profiles, so I'm not really sure about them) the prop is painted different: solid black, black with thin white line, red and white, blue with white line... Which one is true for start of 1943 when BW-393 had temporary winter camouflage? Thanks a lot for help!

Hi comrades! I am build now late variant (winter of 1943) and Classic Airframes instruction tells that on the overhauled Buffaloes cockpits were painted in "light grey" color instead of original natural aluminum and black. Is it true, and which "light grey" is proper? Thanks in advance

Or at least his plane. Bought this a while ago: It contains Hasegawa plastic, canopy masks and decals for Finland’s two leading aces: I will be doing the plane of Hans Wind, partly because it has a neat wintry paintjob and partly because I will not need a cheater’s note every time I try to spell his name and partly because I already have a unopened box containing Juutilainen’s Bf109. Here are some sprue shots. Two of these - notice the strategically placed sink mark on the tyre (not the only example): Hopefully I’m painting the right prop blades. I had some yellow left in the airbrush so I tried out how it will look: Vallejo yellow has the coverage and staying power of Midsummer snow. I have started to prepare mentally for the three or four dozen layers to come. Straight out of the box and, except for the yellow and the sink marks, a fun and easy build to compensate for the rivet counting (or rib counting rather) in the other build. Started with the office. I read that they were initially aluminium and some or all were later overpainted grey. No idea how Wind’s machine looked in the winter of ’43 so I made it an indeterminate alu-grey colour. It is much lighter than it appears here. Wonder if that armour plate should really be so shiny? And finnaly, decals by Cartograf, looking fine to me. I already used the IP:

Now that the thoroughly enjoyable Hawker GB is in the rear view mirror, I can clean off the bench and introduce you all to this barrel of fun. An OOB Airfix Buffalo, 453 Sq., RAAF Sembawang Singapore, December 1941...I will be using the kit decals for this one. It's too windy to prime tonight so I will have a breather and start her up tomorrow. Happy Easter folks! --John

Here's the latest from the bench...Yes...it's like a little factory here on Paros! I present one of the Hasagawa Double Kit Brewster Buffalos B-239 flown by Sgt. Nils Katajainen, LeLv 24, March 1942, aka, 'Orange 1'. This was nice kit and all the parts fit together very well, including the cockpit floor! I had fun with this one (as usual) and it served as a good learning platform for not only my airbrushing but also chipping fluid. A quick rundown on that--after priming and building of the fuselage/wings, I masked off the sides with sticky tac and gave it a spray of Vallejo USAAF Grey for the undersides. Then the top was then spread with Vallejo White. I let that dry and then applied the chipping media to the port side of the aircraft for the distinctive 'mottled' look using a toothpick. After that was dried, I masked more and prayed some black spots. Dry, then masked again and sprayed the green. I used Vallejo Olive Green. These are all 'Vallejo Air', btw. When everything had dried, I gently, gently used a stiff hairy brush to remove the chipping media. I was very happy with the results! I masked the 3 canopy pieces, sprayed with grey primer and then dry-brushed a bit of aluminum to give it some sheen. Then I masked off the whole the craft except what would be yellow and sprayed another light white layer...dried, then sprayed the Vallejo Air Yellow. Ok...what I have learned -- it is best to get the yellow bits sprayed first before anything else. Just less problematic and less masking in the end. Airbrushing can be a steep learning curve and I found I had to do fair amount of touching up when I was finished. The decals went on well, but they took a long time to disengage from the paper. I mean, enough time to go make a cup of coffee and feed the cats. I found the Finnish roundels a bit translucent but after weathering, it isn't noticeable. The decals dried and after a quick spray with Humbrol Clear Matte I weathered with some Flory mixed with white and grime for a light dust tone. I didn't like that so much so I washed as much off as I could and then applied some oil pin-wash which I liked much better. I think thats it. I will see you all in the Britmodeller 10th GB! --John

Hi A pair of two (also) very old models (1/72): Matchbox Lysander Mk I and Airfix Brewster 239 Buffalo, both in Finish markings from 1942-3. Lysander of TLeLv16 LeR1 (whatever it means), Buffalo of Finish WWII ace - E.Luukkanen (54 victories), HLeLv 24. Both from very archive shelf - I made Lysander in 1977 (I know it almost exactly since from 1978 to 1992 I made all together only six models) and Buffalo was done even earlier (1975?) originaly in RAF Airfix in-box markings from Singapore, than it was reconstructed into Finish about 1993-4. In 1977 I was considering this Lysender together with posted recently Dinah as my best models so far .... In this time I belived that Finish green should be a fresh light green colour. It has changed some years ago when I visited Helsinki museum of aviation and since then I know that it should be light olive green, sorry for this mistake. Regards Jerzy-Wojtek https://www.flickr.com/photos/152188754@N05/35701904890/in/dateposted-public/

Hello, I'm presenting my Brewster Buffalo in Dutch markings (Netherlands East Indies Army Air Corps, Batavia, Java Island, February 1942). I used old Tamiya kit, rescribing all the raised panel lines. I also used Eduard Zoom PE set and Montex canopy masks. The kit was painted using MrColor and Tamiya acrylics. This was my fastest model build ever - it took only two weeks, with majority of work done during weekends Hope you enjoy!