Title:

Brewster F2A Buffalo

Author:

Andre R. Zbiegniewski

Publisher

Kagero

Price

$24.95 ($22.47 at Squadron)

Reviewer:

Scott Van Aken

Notes: Monographs # 2. ISBN 83-89088-14-2

Maligned by many, the Brewster Buffalo was the US Navy's first all metal monoplane carrier borne fighter. It beat out the early F3F Wildcat, which was hampered by a poorly operating engine. Of course, we all know that the later Wildcat turned out to be a much better aircraft and was produced in prodigious quantities.

Such was the state of the world in 1940/41 that even an aircraft as the Buffalo was sought by many foreign air forces. The type eventually went into service with the RAF, Australians, Dutch and Finns. It was with the Finns that it saw its most successful use, managing to be highly effective against the Soviets in the Continuation War. It only goes to prove that the skills of the pilot mean as much in successful air combat as the aircraft which is being flown.

As with all Kagero books, this one is dual language with Polish on one side of the page and English on the other. It is unlike some of the Kagero publications in that the English section is quite readable and is lacking many of the syntax errors that have made some books most difficult to read.

The complete history of the Buffalo along with the different variants is covered along with wartime operations with the various services and countries. This is followed by quality drawings and three views showing the differences between the different types. The final section consists of color profiles and three views of different aircraft, including those shown on the decal sheet that is included in the book.

This book includes a decal sheet for four different Buffalos. First is a VF-3 F2A-1 from 1940. Next up is a model 339E flown by the RNZAFs 488 Sq in Singapore during 1941.A Finnish 239 from 4./LeLv 24 in full camo is the third option and the final one is a Model 339 of 2-VLG-V during early 1942. The sheet only provided unique markings in both 1/72 and 1/48 so national insignia and other markings will have to be supplied or painted by the modeler.

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