Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7007 Brewster USMC F2A-3 , VMF-221 Midway, June 4, 1942 Captain William Humberd (LIMITED EDITION)

Accurate 1/48 scale Professionally painted Pad applied markings Opening canopy Pilot figure Movable rudder Retractable Landing Gear

Brewster & Company started out as a manufacturer of horse-drawn wagons and carriages. In 1920 they moved up to supplying aircraft floats to the Naval Aircraft Factory. The next step was producing things so they designed the SBN-1 low-wing, two- seater, all-metal torpedo/bomber/reconnaissance plane for the USN. The next big break came when their Brewster F2A was chosen over the Grumman F4F. What should have been a great opportunity for the company turned into a night-mare. They sold far more planes than they could produce which meant the US orders weren’t being filled as almost all planes were shipped overseas. Next they were caught up in an arms scandal during the Spanish Civil War and this forced the US Government to step in and take control of the company and production of the Brewster planes. The Brewster Aircraft Company finally closed its doors in 1944.

On June 4 1942, while attacking a Japanese bomber that was approaching Midway VMF- 221 F2A-3 pilot Captain William Humberd, USMC, was jumped by some Zeroes. He quickly put the Brewster into a dive to sea level and with the dive speed he out distanced his attackers. When Humberd had enough of a lead he turned the aircraft around and went head on with a single Zero. He opened fire with his guns and as he went flying past the Zero he saw it crash into the ocean. VMF-221 “the Fighting Falcons” had 13 of their 26 F2A-3s completely destroyed and 11 of the surviving planes were too damaged to fly. In 1943 they transitioned to the F4U Corsair and in December of the same year they were sent State-side for re-organization.

Specification of Brewster F2A-3:

Powerplant 1 X Wright R-1820-40 Cyclone nine-cylinder single-row air-cooled radial, rated at 1,200 hp for takeoff and 900 hp at 14,000 feet Performance Maximum Speed: 321 mph at 16,500 feet and 284 mph at sea level Initial Climb Rate: 2,290 ft/min Service Ceiling: 33,200 feet Normal Range: 965 miles Maximum Range: 1,680 miles Weights Empty: 4,732 pounds Gross: 6,321 pounds Maximum Take-off: 7,159 pounds Dimensions Wingspan: 35 feet 0 inches Length: 26 feet 4 inches Height: 12 feet 1 inches Wing Area: 209 square feet Armament 4 X 0.50 inch machine guns, two in the upper fuselage and two in the wings

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE FINISHED MODEL