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1/48 Tamiya Brewster Buffalo - VS-102


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This build is the 1/48 scale Tamiya Brewster Buffalo. I will be building it as the US Navy F2A version. The aircraft will represent VS-201 that was aboard the USS Long Island AVG-1. I will be adding a resin engine from Quick Boost as well as Eduard photo etch set. Starting with the cockpit I detailed the side walls and then the seat and dash. The rear bulkhead had 2 injection areas. Not sure why they set it up for the front side instead of the back, but a little putty solved the issue. After the seat and dash were done I detailed the pedals and then assembled the cockpit into the fuselage and put the fuselage together. The fit was good and only required a couple of areas to be filled with putty. Next up will be the building and detailing of the engine.

 

You can see more photos in the build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-brewster-buffalo-vs-102/

 

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This week I used the Quickboost resin engine in place of the kit engine. The first thing I did was use 32awg wire to add the ignition wires. They were then painted dark brown. A 28awg wire was added to represent the hub oil line and some photo etch engine labels were added to the hub. The engine was detail painted. Finally, for the pushrods I used 32awg wire but did not strip off the black sleeving.  A quick light dusting with black chalk was added to give the engine a little grime. The engine was then mounted into the fuselage. For the cowl I had to trim down the upper and lower cowl ducts so I could add the photo etch grates as the resin engine is a little thicker than the kit engine.

The wings and main landing gear assembly were assembled which includes the floor of the cockpit. Next up is putting wings and stabilizers on and painting the basecoat.

 

You can see more photos and details from the start in my build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-brewster-buffalo-vs-102/

 

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Wolfman 63,

I like seeing you showing the Brewster Buffalo some love. You've done a really nice job

on the cockpit, and using the Quickboost resin engine instead of the kit piece. The new

engine looks so much better, and worth the cost you spent on it. The model will now be

a more realistic representation of the real-deal. Looking forward in watching this project

and what you'll be able to do with it... keep-up the good stuff.

 

Also, checked-out your builds on your site and you've got quite a talent in building kits!

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This week’s update covers the final assembly as well as the completed build of the Buffalo representing VS-102. The fuselage was assembled and detailed. The prop was assembled and painted and the light gray was base coated. I applied the decals which were not bad. A little thicker than I like but they laid down and conformed to the surface well. The canopy was polished and painted as well as the underside windows. And this is negative side of this kit. The windows on the belly are a very poor fit. I filled the gaps with styrene which makes it less noticeable but once the gaps were filled it still sits a little under the surface of the fuselage.

 

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Finally I added the antenna wire using EZ line fine. The large spinner for the prop does limit the engine details a little but I am happy with the overall aircraft. This kit was a nice kit to work with the exception of the underside windows.  Due to its small size the build moves quickly, especially with the current situation.  Thanks for following along.

 

See all the detail from start to finish at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-brewster-buffalo-vs-102/


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  • 2 years later...
On 3/27/2020 at 3:43 PM, Wolfman_63 said:

The rear bulkhead had 2 injection areas. Not sure why they set it up for the front side instead of the back

So they could push the seat mounting pins out of the mold.

 

After several decades of thinking about getting one of these I did last month.

In those intervening decades there has been a health decline which means there will be no superdetailing, even so, it is enjoyable looking around the internet to see what people have done with Tamiya's kit.

Engine and cockpit here look quite nice. 😎 Quite nice.

 

 

On 4/10/2020 at 2:05 PM, Wolfman_63 said:

This kit was a nice kit to work with the exception of the underside windows.

 

On 4/10/2020 at 2:05 PM, Wolfman_63 said:

... the underside windows. And this is negative side of this kit. The windows on the belly are a very poor fit. I filled the gaps with styrene which makes it less noticeable but once the gaps were filled it still sits a little under the surface of the fuselage.

 

Ah, that's an issue since this build is landing gear retracted and will be hung up.

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