Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7012 Brewster Buffalo Model 239 BW-393 “White 7”, 1 Lt. Hans Wind, CO of 1/LeLv 24, Suulajarvi, Jan 1943

Accurate 1/48 scale Professionally painted Pad applied markings Opening canopy Pilot figure Movable rudder Retractable Landing Gear Specifications for the Brewster Model B-239 Manufacturer - Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, USA Crew - (1) pilot Performance Engine - (1) air-cooled Wright R-1820-G5 Cyclone 9 cylinder 950 HP radial Propeller - Hamilton-Standard variable pitch - metal Maximum Speed - 478 km/h @ 4,750 m (297 mph @ 15,580 ft) Cruising Speed - 380 km/h (236 mph) Maximum Range - 760 km (472 miles) Flight Duration - 4 hours Maximum Ceiling - 9,900 m (32,480 ft)

Dimensions Wing Span - 10.67 m (35 ft) Length - 8.03 m (26.35 ft) Height - 3.66 m (12 ft)

Weight Empty - 2,020 kg (4,453 lbs) Maximum - 2,640 kg (5,820 lbs)

Armament Originally equipped with a single 0.30" machine gun but it was replaced with a 0.50" (12.7 mm). In 1943 all except one Finnish B-239s had four 0.50" machine guns. The wing guns had 400 rounds and fuselage guns 200 rounds each (0.30" had 600 rounds).

In 1939 the US diverted some Brewster Buffaloes to Finland that had USN equipment removed such as self-sealing fuel tanks and pilot armor plus This lighter aircraft also receive a different engine. These aircraft were designated Brewster Model B-239. The Finns added an armored pilot backrest and metric instruments. They also added their own gun-sights and four .50 inch (12.7mm) machine guns. In Finland the aircraft was referred to as the Brewster, never the Buffalo. A few nicknames were given to the Brewster such as Taivaan helmi (“Sky Pearl”) or Pohjoisten taivaiden helmi (“Pearl of the Northern Skies”) also Pylly-Valtteri (“Butt-Walter”), Amerikanrauta (“American hardware” or “American car”) and Lentava kaljapullo (“flying beer-bottle”).

On August 1, 1941 1Lt. Hans “Hasse” Wind joined 4/LeLv 24 and on March 29, 1942 he became an ace. In August 1942 Wind was transferred to 1/LeLv 24 and was assigned Brewster Model 239 BW-393 “White 7”. On November 10 1942 Wind took command of the flight until January 15,1943. On May 27, 1943 he was transferred to 3/LeLv 24 and was promoted to Captain on October 19, 1943. At this point in time Capt. Wind’s BW- 393, now “Red 9” had 29 victories marks on the tail. In October 1944 the aircraft was destroyed in a Soviet bombing raid. He finished with a total of 302 combat sorties, racking up 75 kills. 39 kills came flying a Brewster Model 239 and 36 kills were accomplished flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 numbered MT-439.