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World War II: USA
Aircraft of the United States in WWII.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
Brewster - Gear up or down
slodder
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: February 22, 2002
KitMaker: 11,718 posts
AeroScale: 305 posts
Posted: Monday, April 02, 2007 - 05:00 AM UTC
Ok - I've gotten a few other kits off the bench and want to build a plane. It's going to be Tamiya's Brewster F2A2 US version.
My question is - gear up or down. the struts look a bit on the beefy side and is it to simply on my part just to go wheels up to get rid of the problem?

Who's built this little guy and who can toss out ideas on the notion of up vs. down?
My usual determination is display space (hang vs. desk top), but this guy is small so it's not too much of an issue.
SGTJKJ
#041
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Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: July 20, 2006
KitMaker: 10,069 posts
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Posted: Monday, April 02, 2007 - 06:30 PM UTC
Well, I cannot comment on the landing gear. However, I think you should make it gear up. It really changes to look of the aircraft.
On the ohter hand as I recall it there is no pilot included (?) which would look strange for a "flying" aircraft. So maybe an aftermarket pilot is the solution.

I say: gear up
slodder
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: February 22, 2002
KitMaker: 11,718 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 07:04 PM UTC
There is a pilot figure in the kit so that's a bonus.

Thanks for the feedback. Gear up.
josepedro
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Portugal
Joined: June 15, 2005
KitMaker: 172 posts
AeroScale: 168 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 08:15 PM UTC
Hello!!

I´ve built that kit, and had the same dilema, but chose that i could live with it!
Here´s a couple of pics:







Regards!!

José Pires
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 09:14 PM UTC
Hi Scott,

The Buffalo's gear were pretty hefty. Here's one recently drug out of a Russian lake and restored at Pensecola:

Color Buffalo Pix

Though Tamiya's gear may be a bit thick, a little shaving down will get them right.

BTW, an interesting article concerning how well the Buffalo performed in a dogfight with the Curtiss P-40B/C Tomahawk: Buffalo VS P-40 Dogfight

written by American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers member Erik Shilling .
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