Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7001 Brewster F2A-2 “Buffalo”, 3-F-11 USN VF-3, USS Saratoga, pre-WWII paint scheme

Hobby Master offers this great 1/48 scale model of the first USN mono-wing fighter. The detail and quality of workmanship will please the most discriminating collector. The Brewster Buffalo was a plane created by a company without an aircraft design background and poor sales tactics. Also caught in an era when change and technology were beginning to advance at a rapid rate, this little plane was doomed to failure. Regardless of its record the Buffalo makes an interesting addition to your collection.

Accurate 1/48 scale Professionally painted Pad applied markings Opening canopy Movable rudder Retractable Landing Gear HA7001 Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo, USN VF-3, 3-F-11, USS Saratoga The U.S. Government started to receive the first of their 235 F2A-2s in September 1940 with VF-3 (Felix the Cat squadron) being equipped with the new planes in February 1941. The F2A-2 was still plagued with F2A-1 landing gear problems as well as being underpowered and compounded by slow delivery. VF-3 only flew the F2A-2 for eight months before being re-equipped with the F2A-3 that still had the same problems. Because of all this plus shipments of planes being redirected to foreign Air Forces the USN starting to look at alternatives and chose the F4F Wildcat.

Brewster F2A-2 Specifications:

Power plant: One Wright R-1820-40 Cyclone nine-cylinder single row air-cooled radial, rated at 1200 hp Performance: Maximum speed - 285 mph at sea level 323 mph at 16,500 ft. 344 mph at 26,500 ft. Cruising speed 157mph Landing speed 73 mph Initial climb rate 2500 ft/min.

Service ceiling 34,000 ft.

Maximum range 1670 miles Weight: 4576 lbs. Empty 5942 lbs. Gross 6890 lbs. Maximum take-off Dimensions: Wingspan - 35 ft. Length - 26 ft. Height - 11 ft. 8 ins. Wing area - 209 sq. ft Armament: Four Browning 0.50 in. Machine guns, two in the upper engine cowling, one in each wing. Bomb racks for 100-lb.-bombs could be mounted under each wing just outboard of the main landing gear.

You will find a white piece of plastic with your model that looks like a fork. This is included to help you press the main strut of the landing gear into its position. Personally I just used my fingers THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE RETAIL VERSION