[HotTrap429]

Just bought an IXO Brewster F2-A Buffalo off ebay. Decided to do a conversion job on it because I'm not to crazy about a Finnish bird in my collection. I really wanted an early USN bird to go with my IXO F4F Wildcat. Two gray-blue birds next to each other should look good on my shelf. Overall, I don't think this effort turned out half bad. Some scrounged up decals and a few hours painting resulted in a pretty decent looking model. I really do hope that somebody else does this plane in 1/72 scale with USN or Marine markings in the future - maybe HobbyMaster will or IXO.

The basic model is really nice. It's a very heavy model and the panel lines are not that deep. There's a lot of metal here and this plane is heavy for its small size. The original colors are nice, but IXO did not include the light blue Finnish markings. The model goes together well. I'm not sure the propeller is the correct size - seems a tad bit small to me.

[mustangdriver]

That is great looking. Good job.

[Captain Eddie]

Very nice, HotTrap. Great looking bird!

[Epapazian]

I converted an IXO Buffalo a while ago to one of VF-2's planes based on an Aeromaster decal sheet. The IXO props and spinner are way off-in fact these planes didn't have spinners-so I fabricated a temporary piston head while I dig up a Buffalo kit so I can install a proper prop. When I can I'll try to post a picture of my creation. Good job on your conversion. You are missing a few red and white stripes on the tail but all in all you did an excellent piece of work. Congratulations.

[HotTrap429]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

You are missing a few red and white stripes on the tail but all in all you did an excellent piece of work.

Yeh I know Epapazian, I'm missing more than a few stripes, but I didn't have the patience to mask all thirteen of them. I'm not really that fussy when the model is just for my own, personal enjoyment. It looked okay and when it is next to my Wildcat, they both look great! I expect the manufacturers to be more accurate with small details and markings. After all, that's their job and it's what we collectors pay for. I would have been much more careful if I was selling this model but I'm not. I'd love to see your conversion. Getting a different propeller was a great idea - again, I'm not that critical, but would of done the same thing if I could have.

[skysurfer808]

Nice job hottrap, as for the prop, not too sure about blade dimensions, but the spinner on the Finnish buff is small because it was a F2A-1, rather than the F2A-2s and -3s used by the USN/USMC. Also, the cowling of the early model buffs is smaller due to a different engine.

Skysurfer808