Finnish Buffalo Interior Color?

Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:13 pm

Hi All,

I just picked up a model kit of a Finnish AF B-239. The instructions say the cockpit and wheel wells should be "interior green," but I'm thinking more likely aluminum laquer in the cockpit and the same or underside color for the gear and wheel wells.

Can anybody who's seen the recovered Buffalo at the NMNA confirm or deny?

Thanks,

Steve

Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:13 pm

I think it's mostly annodized aluminum. There are plenty of pictures here for you to see. Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Richard

http://www.pienoismallit.net/galleria/referenssi_3090/

Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:13 am

Perfect..that's exactly what I was looking for! Thank you very much!

It's interesting to see the serial number stencilled on the underside of the wing. I've never seen that on Finnish birds before.

Does anyone know if the Finnish Buffaloes had the underside window?

SN

Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:04 am

You're very welcome. I seem to remember that there was a bottom window on BW-372 when she was first recovered, but I am not 100% sure. There are some photos here, but it's not entirely clear whether it was a panel removed, or perspex that's fallen away.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=78458

Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:08 am

Where was this a/c recovered from?

Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:09 pm

That is SO cool! The Buffalo has always been my favorite warbird, along with the PBY. I know American pilots didn't like them, but they did pretty good against the Russins, if I remember correctly. I wish one of you buff buffs would start a thread to share all you can about them!

Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:20 pm

muddyboots wrote:That is SO cool! The Buffalo has always been my favorite warbird, along with the PBY. I know American pilots didn't like them, but they did pretty good against the Russins, if I remember correctly. I wish one of you buff buffs would start a thread to share all you can about them!

They did really well with the Finns... 26:1 kill ratio.... probably the highest of any WWII aircraft. BW-372 was recovered about ten years ago... hard to believe it's been that long... in Karelia (used to be part of Finland, now part of Russia).

Cheers,
Richard

Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:15 am

Below is a link to some photos that might answer your questions about
the colors on the Buffalo.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/2133415 ... host=rides

http://rides.webshots.com/album/234043341JfVLwL

Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:16 am

Below is a link to some photos that might answer your questions about
the colors on the Buffalo.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/2133415 ... host=rides

http://rides.webshots.com/album/234043341JfVLwL

Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:45 am

These are great pics! Nothing like having an original unrestored artifact for reference. I picked up an I-16 kit at the same model show..I'm thinking about building them both, and displaying them together under the title "Roll Out The Barrels."

Is BW-372 still at NMNA? I thought I heard it had been returned to Finland.

SN

Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:50 am

The aircraft is owned by the NMNA, but it is going to be placed on loan to a museum in Finland.

Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:33 am

mustangdriver wrote:The aircraft is owned by the NMNA, but it is going to be placed on loan to a museum in Finland.

...has been placed...

Good stuff on Buffaloes here:

http://www.airwarfareforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3865

http://www.airwarfareforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2987

http://www.airwarfareforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3742