Brewster Buffalo (oz3774)

About this Plan

Brewster Buffalo. Peanut scale model WWII fighter. Scale is 1/32. Re-printed in in Nov. Dec. '98 FAC news.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 18/03/2013: Replaced this plan with a clearer version, scanned from Aeromodeller June 1944, thanks to Algy2.

Planfile includes article text.

Quote: "THE Brewster Buffalo, or F2A-2 as it is known in the US Navy, is a single-motor mid-low-wing monoplane of corpulent proportions and as a first-line Fleet fighter has now been superseded by faster and more heavily-armed types.

It is powered by a Wright Cyclone nine-cylinder air-cooled radial motor developing a normal output of 900 hp, and has a maximum speed of 313 mph at 13,500 ft. The usual operating speed is around 250 mph, and the Buffalo has an initial to of climb of 2,070 ft per minute. With auxiliary fuselage tankage the range is nearly 1,500 miles.

The armament consists of four .5 machine-guns mounted two in the motor cowling and one in each wing, and there is provision for an external bomb-load of 200 lbs.

The fuselage is a semi-monocoque construction of light alloy, and the wings and tail-unit are metal structures with stressed skin covering. The movable control surfaces are fabric-covered.

The undercarriage retracts inwards into the fuselage and wings and is hydraulically-operated.

The Buffalo has a span of 35 ft and is 26 ft long. The wing area is 208.9 sq ft.

Buffalo fighters arrived in this country in the summer of 1940, and after being tried out on operations were relegated to Training Command. Later versions were delivered to fighter squadrons in the Far East, but with the arrival of the Japanese S-00 on the scene were found to be of little use.

Buffaloes have also been delivered to the Belgian, Netherlands and Finnish Air Forces.

British and Dutch Buffaloes were camouflaged on the sides and upper surfaces with dark earth and dark green, and were light grey underneath. The modified Dutch marking consists of an orange triangle with a black outline, and this version is shown in the lower photograph.

Construction: Fuselage: Cut out all formers from sheet, cut out keels from 1/16 sheet substitute; pin on to plan. Cement on left half formers, checking that they are upright while setting; when set add stringers. Next build the cowling: Cut out C1 and C2 from 1/8 sheet, cement together, cut out block to fit the square hole in C2. Cement CC (an 1/8 sheet disc) to this block, drill the block and cement in a length of aluminium tubing. Cement on 8 cowling spacers (1/8 by 1/16 in) spaced at 45 degrees, add C3, cover with 1/32 sheet. Remove fuselage left half and add right formers and stringers. Cement on the soft balsa block at the tail and the two 1/16. sheet rear motor peg attachments. Add cabin framework. Cement on rib A on each side... "

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Planfile includes article.

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