Hobby 2000 72011 - 1:72 Brewster 239 Buffalo Finnish Aces

1:72 plastic model kit of the Brewster 239 Buffalo fighter

Hobby 2000 72011 is a self-assembly model of the Brewster 239 Buffalo in the export version delivered to Finland, where the aircraft wrote the most remarkable chapter of its history. The stocky, barrel-shaped silhouette with retractable landing gear makes a rewarding 1:72 subject, including for less experienced modellers.

The kit is based on Hasegawa plastic with recessed panel lines. Hobby 2000 has added a newly researched waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf and self-adhesive canopy masks.

The decals allow two aircraft of Finnish fighter aces to be modelled: BW-393, tactical number 7, of 1./LeLv 24, flown by Capt Hans Henrik "Hasse" Wind at Suulajarvi in April 1943, and BW-364, number 4, of 3./LeLv 24, the aircraft of Lt Eino Ilmari "Illu" Juutilainen from April 1942.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues (Hasegawa tooling)
• Self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf for 2 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72011
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled model length: approx. 112 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 148 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The model is small and straightforward to build – a good choice for a modeller getting to grips with 1:72 aircraft. The cockpit interior is best painted before the fuselage halves are joined. Seating the radial engine and cowling ring takes a little patience, but this area defines the character of the finished silhouette.

Finnish Buffalos wore a distinctive camouflage of black and green upper surfaces over light blue undersides, with yellow identification bands on the fuselage and wings and the swastika in a blue circle, then the national marking of the Finnish Air Force. Applying the decals over a gloss coat reduces the risk of silvering, and a satin finish with subtle wear around the cockpit and wing roots suits the subject.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel wash to bring out surface detail
• Gloss varnish for the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal softening solution

About the aircraft – Brewster Buffalo:

The Brewster F2A Buffalo went down in history as the first monoplane carrier fighter accepted into US Navy service. Designed in the second half of the 1930s, it had a distinctive barrel-shaped silhouette resulting from the combination of a short fuselage, a Wright Cyclone radial engine and retractable landing gear. When it appeared it was a modern design: all-metal, with an enclosed cockpit and retractable gear, clearly ahead of the biplanes it replaced.

The manufacturer quickly developed export versions. The B-239 went to Finland, while the B-339 was ordered by Britain, by the Netherlands for the Netherlands East Indies and by Belgium. Each successive version grew heavier – armour, extra equipment and armament robbed the aircraft of the agility on which its effectiveness depended. The Buffalo's finest hour came in Finnish service. The B-239 version, lighter than the US Navy carrier aircraft and stripped of naval equipment, reached the Finnish Air Force in 1940 and became the standard fighter of squadron LeLv 24. During the Continuation War the unit is credited with close to 470 aerial victories for very modest losses, and its pilots called the aircraft the pearl of the sky. It was on the Buffalo that Finland's leading aces, Hans Wind and Ilmari Juutilainen, began their great scoring runs.

Original aircraft specifications (Brewster B-239 Buffalo):

• Length: 8.03 m
• Wingspan: 10.67 m
• Height: 3.68 m
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Wright R-1820-G5 Cyclone radial engine, approx. 950 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 480 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 9000 m
• Armament: 4 machine guns (Finnish aircraft usually carried three of 12.7 mm and one of 7.62 mm)
• Production: 1938-1941, approx. 500 aircraft of all versions

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that specialises in themed releases of plastic model kits. Its business model is built on cooperation with established kit manufacturers – the Hobby 2000 catalogue features plastic originating from Hasegawa, Fujimi, Dragon, Academy and Revell moulds, among others. This particular kit uses Hasegawa plastic. The added value of a Hobby 2000 release comes from newly researched decal sheets, its own assembly instructions and – in most aircraft kits – self-adhesive canopy masks included in the box as standard. The company is known for consistently choosing subjects that are poorly covered by the large manufacturers, with a particular focus on Polish and Eastern European stories. Releases are produced in limited runs, so sold-out items can be hard to find later on. For the modeller this means proven, well-developed tooling combined with carefully researched history and a generous choice of markings.