Juanca Fernandez Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Hi, friends. After introducing myself in "new members" thread I'd like to show you my latest work. This Buffalo was flown by Noel Sharp, a New Zealand pilot of No. 488 Sqn RNZAF. His personal aircraft, with a striking chinese dragon, made this model irresistible to me. Noel Sharp was credited with 3 kills during the Malayan campaign, including a Ki-43 and a Zero. He was shot down on 17 January 1942, but survived. Engineers were able to repair his aircraft, replacing the front section of the engine cowling with that of another plane (for this reason the ring colors don't match with the rest of cowling). Sharp was evacuated from Singapore before its capitulation, along with his Buffalo. The aircraft was destroyed at Palembang, South Sumatra, during a Japanese bombing raid on 7 February 1942. Sharp was KIA over Java on 20 February 1942, while flying a Hurricane with No. 605 Sqn RAF. He was 20 years old. Buried in the Kanji War Cemetery in Singapore, Sharp was posthumously awarded the DFC on 20 December 1946. Following two pics posted only for discussion purposes: The old Tamiya kit was improved with a PE set from Eduard, masks from Montex, vacform canopy (central section) and some add on (pitot tube made of metal tubes, Unithread for the wires) . I riveted the whole kit (I'm not a river counter but sometimes I do that). Everything is painted, roundels, letters, codes... using masks , with the exception of the dragon wich is a decal (btw too thick, I had to go over the rivets again). Undersurfaces painted with Tamiya Sky and Black. Upper surfaces (Dark Earth & Dark Green) with MRP (Mr Paint), I do like this new brand of lacquer paints. The pics: I love this barrel. Hope you like it. Regards JC 61 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom.boom Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Really beautiful! And the short history presented by you is just a great plus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Great looking Brewster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFly Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Fantastic Job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Very well done indeed. And moving story behind it... Regards J-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorby Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Welcome to BM, and what an introduction! As far as I'm concerned you couldn't have found a better aircraft to start with – I love the Buffalo, and yours is possibly the best I have ever seen. Absolute beauty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomkil Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Super! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Amazing work. Got to be the best Buffalo I’ve seen on here. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I like it a lot, there is such a lot to like about it, not least a very interesting intro to the model. Thanks for that. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, Juanca Fernandez said: Hi, friends. After introducing myself in "new members" thread I'd like to show you my latest work. This Buffalo was flown by Noel Sharp, a New Zealand pilot of No. 488 Sqn RNZAF. His personal aircraft, with a striking chinese dragon, made this model irresistible to me. Noel Sharp was credited with 3 kills during the Malayan campaign, including a Ki-43 and a Zero. He was shot down on 17 January 1942, but survived. Engineers were able to repair his aircraft, replacing the front section of the engine cowling with that of another plane (for this reason the ring colors don't match with the rest of cowling). Sharp was evacuated from Singapore before its capitulation, along with his Buffalo. The aircraft was destroyed at Palembang, South Sumatra, during a Japanese bombing raid on 7 February 1942. Sharp was KIA over Java on 20 February 1942, while flying a Hurricane with No. 605 Sqn RAF. He was 20 years old. Buried in the Kanji War Cemetery in Singapore, Sharp was posthumously awarded the DFC on 20 December 1946. Following two pics posted only for discussion purposes: Hi JC Always nice to see a 488 Squadron Buffalo Few Comments on your Post While 488 Squadron was the first Fighter Squadron formed in New Zealand 1941, 488 Squadron was actually an Article XV Squadron - (RAF Squadron, but manned by RNZAF Personnel), so should read 488(NZ) Squadron. Article XV Squadrons Certainly Noel Sharp had had three Kills, along with 2-3 probables Noel's Buffalo was shot up but he managed to crash land it back at Kallang. He was Volun-told into 605 Squadron, flying Hurricanes, which they flew from Singapore to Java. The rest of 488 Squadron with the exception of Squadron Headquarters staff (OC Wilf Clouston etc) evacuated to New Zealand. Noel was not KIA (Killed in Action), but rather crash landed his aircraft in the jungle - Batavia (Beginning March 1942), and was last seen running away from his aircraft by his squadron mate. He actually had been shot down a few days before, and escaped death from drowning, struggling out of his parachute. He was never seen again, and is listed as Missing in Action - no known burial site, possibly captured and executed by the Japanese. There is a Plaque on a wall with his name on it at the Commonwealth War Graves, Singapore Memorial, Kranji. He was warded the DFC just after being reported missing March1942. The above is from various documents (RNZAF Museum/488 Squadron Diaries/488 Squadron members/CWGC) Just a FYI on your Buffalo, Noel only had the Dragon on the Port side Thanks for sharing your model build with us Regards Alan Edited March 20, 2018 by LDSModeller Additioal Date info and fix typo 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 nicely done and good photos too rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kampartiger Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 (edited) Noel Sharp's tally of three enemy planes shot down clearly shows that the Brewster Buffalo was no pushover,the Finns and the US Marines have showed that too.Mr.Juanca,i like what you had done with the Buffalo,really masterly done. Edited March 20, 2018 by Kampartiger wrong grammar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 28 minutes ago, Kampartiger said: Brewster Buffalo was no pushover,the Finns and the US Marines have showed that too. The Buffalo's score of Ilmari Juutilinen was 34 victories (out of - accordingly to some source - 124 total). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilmari_Juutilainen Buffalos were used in Finland till the end of war and were considered definitely not a pusher... Regarads J-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Great Buffalo, nice to see one for a change. Super modelling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 1 hour ago, Kampartiger said: Noel Sharp's tally of three enemy planes shot down clearly shows that the Brewster Buffalo was no pushover,the Finns and the US Marines have showed that too.Mr.Juanca,i like what you had done with the Buffalo,really masterly done. Noel Sharp was a Clark before joining the RNZAF, he and other 488 Aircrew arrived in Singapore circa Oct 1941 straight from flight School. Luckily for them their OC - Wilf Clouston and his Flight Leaders Ft/Lt's Hutchinson and MacKenzie were Battle of Britain Veterans They had basically un-serviceable 339E Buffalo inherited from 67 Squadron to get flying and train on by the time of December 8, 1941 came about. As far as the Buffalo in combat, there were a number of "Aces" in the RAF/Commonwealth Aircrew ranks - Kiwi Geoff Fisken being one. Regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce bay Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Stunning build. I made this kit a while back and remember it being a joy to put together, but seeing what you have done with it I now want a second attempt. The rivetting really adds a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Wonderful model, well done. And being a Kiwi I especially liked the history and backstory. Ticks all the boxes for me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Hawkins Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Even if the Squadrons out in the far east were equipped with the same number of latest Spitfires, they still would have lost. Always up against it. Little or no early warning and when the japs turned up, they did so, 'mob handed'. Always out numbered and always climbing to meet the opposition.....Mostly when they were on their way out. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 A fantastic BritModeller debut Juanca! Excellent weathering and attention to detail and enough of the history of the aircraft and Pilot- I've not seen many Buffalo here, and your effort sets a very high bar. cheers, Troffa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mihajlo Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Wow, wow, wow! Superb, Juan Carlos!!! ...as usual From your neighbour Miguel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juanca Fernandez Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 First of all, mates, thank you for your welcome in this forum and your kind words on the model. I'm very happy that you like it, even more since it is a forum with many lovers of British planes (as I am too). Also thanks to Alan (LDSModeller) for the clarifications about Noel Sharp, it is always interesting to expand data and correct the errors. As for the dragon only going on the port side ... is there a photo on the starboard side or a comment? Because I did not find any. In this book, as in others, I only saw the dragon on the port side: Indeed the Finns took very good advantage of the Buffalo but they took advantage of everything that could fly Juutilainen's Buffalo is a nice subject and the Dutch one...well it's a beautiful barrel. Like I said, guys, it's a pleasure to be here. Gracias, Miguel JC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 8 hours ago, Juanca Fernandez said: First of all, mates, thank you for your welcome in this forum and your kind words on the model. I'm very happy that you like it, even more since it is a forum with many lovers of British planes (as I am too). Also thanks to Alan (LDSModeller) for the clarifications about Noel Sharp, it is always interesting to expand data and correct the errors. As for the dragon only going on the port side ... is there a photo on the starboard side or a comment? Because I did not find any. In this book, as in others, I only saw the dragon on the port side: Indeed the Finns took very good advantage of the Buffalo but they took advantage of everything that could fly Juutilainen's Buffalo is a nice subject and the Dutch one...well it's a beautiful barrel. Like I said, guys, it's a pleasure to be here. Gracias, Miguel JC Hi JC, Some time ago I had a discussion with Jim Maas about the Dragon, as I had seen model decals like yours showing both sides. I queried this, as it seemed "wrong" and not in practice with what I understood RNZAF practice or even RAF (ie Port or Starboard not both). Jim commented that it was only the Port side, and there is a photo - I may have a copy but it would be on my other hard drive a bit inaccessible at present Regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cger Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 A superb build and nice pics ! I remember building one several years ago when the kit was reissued by Tamiya, but it did not turn out as nice as yours by a long shot ! Makes me want to build another ! Christian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Superb Buffalo, Really nice work there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Thats a great model, up there with the best couple on BM this year (in my opinion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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