Curtiss BF 2C-1 by CDW - FINISHED - Hasegawa - 1:32 scale

[CDW]

I wanted to do an aircraft from pre world war 2, the Golden Age, so I dug this old 1:32 Hasegawa Curtiss BF 2C-1 out of the stash to serve that purpose. It should be colorful is nothing else. I’ll be needing to cut my own stencils and paint on the markings as the kit decal sheet is pretty much shot. It will serve as the template for my masks later on. The kit is long in the tooth and has been around at least 40 years or so. Don’t expect any modern marvel molds here, I’ll just have to work with what I’ve got and maybe add some scratch details here and there to make things lively.

[Egilman]

I'm down for this classic Curtis Goshawk in USS Ranger markings.... (they were aboard the Ranger from from October 1936 to November 1937, the shortest span for any serving US Navy aircraft) The reason for this was Curtis took the original 10 yr old Hawk design and replaced the wooden wings with Aluminum ones... The aluminum wings had a vibration frequency that in flight harmonized with the engines vibration frequency, this meant the airplane was trying to shake itself to pieces all the time it was in the air... No matter what the Navy and Curtis did to fix it failed so it was unceremoniously dumped by the navy... Besides they were looking at much better more advanced fighter/bombers soon coming off the production lines in late '37 so keeping a decade old biplane fighter design around just wasn't in the cards...

 

It IS a gorgeous yellow wing though.......

[CDW]

If you think this kit looks old, just zoom in on the picture to see the price tag…$3.39! 🤣

[CDW]

The kit comes with this cool color poster

[Javlin]

I built one of these eons ago Craig and think it still resides in the cabinet.Yellow Wings are Nice and Colorful!

Edited May 16, 2023 by Javlin

[yvesvidal]

Great idea. I have this kit in my stash and I will be delighted to see you build it. 

There are some excellent decals produced for this kind of aircrafts. The name escapes me...something like yellow wings...

 

 

Yves

Edited May 16, 2023 by yvesvidal

[CDW]

23 minutes ago, yvesvidal said:

Great idea. I have this kit in my stash and I will be delighted to see you build it. 

There are some excellent decals produced for this kind of aircrafts. The name escapes me...something like yellow wings...

 

 

Yves

I've been looking everywhere for this set of decals but cannot find any in stock. According to my regular suppliers, the particular set is out of production.

[CDW]

@ccoyle

Do you know of a card model of this aircraft in 1:33 scale? 

[yvesvidal]

7 minutes ago, CDW said:

I've been looking everywhere for this set of decals but cannot find any in stock. According to my regular suppliers, the particular set is out of production.

Yes, I am afraid the Yellow-Wings company went belly up during the Plandemic. You may be able to find other 1/32nd decals of different planes and adapt them to your Curtiss.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Craig,

 

You probably have already read that thread, but this Canadian guy has made all four (if not five) of these old Hasegawa 1/32 kits. That may give you some ideas on which paints to use and other details. He uses the Yellow Wings decals (RIP) and the Vector engines.

 

https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/61231-yellow-wings-forgotten-models/

 

Yves

Edited May 16, 2023 by yvesvidal

[Roger Pellett]

An interesting model!  I’m curious about the black smoke plume on the box.  Has the guy in the foreground been trying to shoot down his squadron mate in the background?😆

 

Roger

[CDW]

1 hour ago, Roger Pellett said:

An interesting model!  I’m curious about the black smoke plume on the box.  Has the guy in the foreground been trying to shoot down his squadron mate in the background?😆

 

Roger

It was a UFO...phone home

[CDW]

1 hour ago, yvesvidal said:

Craig,

 

You probably have already read that thread, but this Canadian guy has made all four (if not five) of these old Hasegawa 1/32 kits. That may give you some ideas on which paints to use and other details. He uses the Yellow Wings decals (RIP) and the Vector engines.

 

https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/61231-yellow-wings-forgotten-models/

 

Yves

Yves

No, I had not seen the referenced material, but I will be sure to read it now. Thanks!

By the way, I do have the Yellow Wings decals and a copy of the 1:32 Hasegawa P-26 to do later on. The decals were found on the Spruebrothers website.

[ccoyle]

2 hours ago, CDW said:

Do you know of a card model of this aircraft in 1:33 scale? 

 

I do, actually. Answer published one in 2006.

 

 

And here is a finished example, although the usual caveat about Polish builders and their uncanny abilities applies here.

 

[CDW]

29 minutes ago, ccoyle said:

 

I do, actually. Answer published one in 2006.

 

 

And here is a finished example, although the usual caveat about Polish builders and their uncanny abilities applies here.

 

Would love to see how they rendered the interior/cockpit. There’s a site that’s sells digital copies of old card models but I can’t recall the web address at the moment. Maybe he has it? I will check when I am at home on my computer.

Thanks!

[CDW]

I just saw this today. This kit dates back to 1971. 52 years old now!

 

Curtiss BF2C-1, Hasegawa JS-064 (1971) (scalemates.com)

[Landlubber Mike]

I'm a big fan of yellow wings - looking forward to this one!

[Egilman]

6 hours ago, CDW said:

Would love to see how they rendered the interior/cockpit.

I don't know about the card model, but the real deal was all aluminum...

With of course a black panel... the Army version was the F11C-2, and the export version was the Hawk III....

 

Hope it helps...

Edited May 17, 2023 by Egilman

[CDW]

27 minutes ago, Egilman said:

I don't know about the card model, but the real deal was all aluminum...

With of course a black panel... the Army version was the F11C-2, and the export version was the Hawk III....

 

Hope it helps...

Hey, thanks for all those photos, EG! That's a big help. I was a bit concerned the kit provided no cockpit details on the sides (insides) of the fuselage. Those don't look too hard to replicate at least in a rudimentary fashion. I don't care if they are not precise in scale, just don't want a bare 1:32 scale cockpit. I may even look for a period correct pilot and mount the plane flying with wheels retracted.

[CDW]

Here is my 50 year old decal sheet. It was sealed in plastic but shows it’s age.

[Roger Pellett]

I’m probably the very last person to suggest anything using computers,BUT could you make a color copy, or scan of the old decal sheet and then print it on new decal paper?

 

Roger

[CDW]

22 minutes ago, Roger Pellett said:

I’m probably the very last person to suggest anything using computers,BUT could you make a color copy, or scan of the old decal sheet and then print it on new decal paper?

 

Roger

It certainly can be done and have seen others do it very well on YouTube. Many times those individuals have graphics editing software and who knows what kinds of printers to achieve a quality result. I have done some very rudimentary decal printing such as stripes or rectangles, etc., with limited success. The decal paper needs to be prepared for printing then after printing, given ample time to dry, then finally and clear coat to seal the printer ink. I may very well try to print some specific small decal items but for the most part will paint on the national markings and formation stripes.

[realworkingsailor]

On 5/16/2023 at 1:35 PM, CDW said:

I've been looking everywhere for this set of decals but cannot find any in stock. According to my regular suppliers, the particular set is out of production.

According to yellow wings, they have the decals in stock:

 

https://store.yellow-wingsdecals.com/1-32-decals/32-008-curtiss-bf2c-1-fighter-bomber-vf-5b-uss-ranger-12-95.html

 

Andy

[CDW]

6 minutes ago, realworkingsailor said:

According to yellow wings, they have the decals in stock:

 

https://store.yellow-wingsdecals.com/1-32-decals/32-008-curtiss-bf2c-1-fighter-bomber-vf-5b-uss-ranger-12-95.html

 

Andy

Wow! I sure hope this is true. I just ordered a set. Thanks Andy!

[realworkingsailor]

8 minutes ago, CDW said:

Wow! I sure hope this is true. I just ordered a set. Thanks Andy!

 

You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help! 😁

They seem to have a good selection of different offerings from the same era. Failing the exact set, you could probably cobble together everything you need from one or two of the other sets.

 

Andy

[CDW]

43 minutes ago, realworkingsailor said:

 

You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help! 😁

They seem to have a good selection of different offerings from the same era. Failing the exact set, you could probably cobble together everything you need from one or two of the other sets.

 

Andy

I own a set of their decals for the 1:32 P-26 and they are beautifully done.

[CDW]

A small group of men,

who have in common,

no ambition beyond

the time to discuss

matters of interest,

but of little importance.

 

John Steinbeck

[Egilman]

20 minutes ago, CDW said:

A small group of men,

who have in common,

no ambition beyond

the time to discuss

matters of interest,

but of little importance.

 

John Steinbeck

Cannery Row, well quoted brother...

Edited May 18, 2023 by Egilman

[Canute]

All I could say is amen to Steinbeck's quote. Looking forward to the outcome of this build. It should be a beauty.

[CDW]

For a 50+ year old kit, the engine builds up decent, not perfect but not too shabby. I'm sure kits like these from Japan made Revell and Monogram stand up and take notice back then.