For their third 1/48 sheet, Starfighter Decals has chosen to stick with pre-war subjects and offers us this very nice one on the F2A Buffalo. The sheet provides us with four options and three different camouflage schemes. This is one of the things I like about the sheet and I'm sure you will agree. It is designed for either the Tamiya or Special Hobby kit. You can also use the Classic Airframes version as it was developed by Special Hobby's parent company, MPM. The sheet itself is superbly printed by Catrograf, who has become the top decal producer in the world, and rightfully so as the colors are vibrant and the detailing crisp and clear.

Option #1 is the first of two 'yellow wings' options and this one with green bands and cowling is from VF-3 aboard the USS Saratoga in 1940. This aircraft was assigned to Lt. Jimmy Thatch.

The other is dressed up in red and is the VF-3 plane shown at the New York World's Fair in 1939/40.  This and the previous option are F2A-1 variants.

Next is a F2A-2 from VS-201 aboard the USS Long Island in 1941. This aircraft is in overall light gull grey.

The final option is an F2A-3 with the upper surfaces painted blue-grey and is from VF-2. This is the early 1942 scheme with the red and white rudder stripes that were gone after the Coral Sea battle.

There are enough common markings to do two of the planes on the sheet and if you use the kit decals, you can do them all. There will be some painting required for some of these, but since you have to paint the yellow wings and empennage anyway, it won't be that onerous. The instructions are quite well done. The sheet also includes prop tip warning decals and the wing walk areas.

It is a great sheet and a very good price. If you have been waiting for some decent markings to do your F2A, your wait is over.

Thanks to www.starfighter-decals.com for the review sample. Get yours direct from the link.

March 2010

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.