Author Topic: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration  (Read 7516 times)

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« on: December 17, 2020, 01:56:05 AM »
A thread for your Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration.

All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2020, 02:01:12 AM »
Some interesting armament trials/mockups:







All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
  • Patterns? What patterns?
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2020, 09:26:18 AM »
Some interesting armament trials/mockups:

They are indeed! Also interesting is the spinner and cowling. I wonder if these were just for the wind tunnel or were such nose changes actual proposals for cleaning up the Buffalo?
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline Kelmola

  • Seeking motivation to start buillding the stash
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2020, 05:22:19 PM »
What would be the biggest engine you could conceivably install on a Buffalo without completely borking the CoG? Later versions had problems with the weight creep so more engine power could help. Though that would cause weight to increase even more, so perhaps you would need longer wings as well ;)

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2020, 01:47:23 AM »
What would be the biggest engine you could conceivably install on a Buffalo without completely borking the CoG? Later versions had problems with the weight creep so more engine power could help. Though that would cause weight to increase even more, so perhaps you would need longer wings as well ;)

Depends upon how practical you wanted to be.  I'm sure you could do something wild if you wanted to do a Brewster Buffalo based race aircraft going along the lines of some of the Reno racers with outsized engines.

If wanting something for operational use in a realistic timeframe though, I would probably go with refitting a 'standard' Buffalo with a uprated version of the R-1820.  Perhaps either of the following:

  • 1350 hp Wright R-1820-56 (same engine as General Motors FM-2 "Wilder Wildcat") or even the later R-1820-74W giving up to 1500 hp - these would be available in the 1942 - 1945 period and thus give between 150 - 300 more hp than a standard 1200hp engine; or
  • To take a different route, maybe fit with a turbosupercharged variant similar to that used on the B-17 so as to help ,maintain power at altitude
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2020, 02:03:14 AM »
Speaking of racer versions, there's this great 1949 Schneider Cup Racer by Scott Kruize



More here.
« Last Edit: December 22, 2020, 01:40:57 AM by GTX_Admin »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline M.A.D

  • Also likes a bit of arse...
  • Wrote a great story about a Christmas Air Battle
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2020, 08:39:09 AM »
No such think as 'Brewster Buffalo Inspiration' GTX....evil little plane!!😩


MAD

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2020, 09:36:21 AM »
How about Reno Race version ?

Offline perttime

  • The man has produced a Finnish Napier Heston Fighter...need we say more?
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2020, 12:34:00 PM »

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2020, 01:47:27 AM »
How about Reno Race version ?

I like that idea.  Will give it more thought.  Meanwhile, here is one that 63cpe created a year or two ago:





All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2020, 02:02:12 AM »
Thinking (or maybe "mad sciencing" is more appropriate :-\) about a Reno style unlimited racer version:

Wright R-1820-40 from typical F2A-3
Length: 47.76 in (1,213 mm)
Diameter: 54.25 in (1,378 mm)
Dry weight: 1,184 lb (537 kg)
Power:  1,200 hp (890 kW)
Wright R-3350 (similar to used on Rare Bear)
Length: 76.26 inches (1,937 mm)
Diameter: 55.78 inches (1,417 mm)
Dry weight: 2,670 pounds (1,210 kg)
Power:  4,500 hp (3,400 kW) with nitrous oxide injection

I dub thee "Balls to the Wall Buffalo".  May well need to extend undercarriage, give it counter rotating props to cut torque, blindfold the pilot...
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2020, 02:47:48 AM »
Random idea:  Brewster Buffalo as a CAM fighter
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2020, 04:05:17 AM »
How about some French Buffalos - maybe originally for operations off the Béarn in a scheme similar to this:



Or perhaps in Armee de l'air colours similar to the H75s:

All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
  • Patterns? What patterns?
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2020, 10:44:19 AM »
Random idea:  Brewster Buffalo as a CAM fighter

And why not? Here is the 'Buffacat' catapult fighter.

Based on Lend-Lease Brewster 339 Buffalo, the 'Buffacats' were stripped down for their new CAM Ship role. The retractable undercarriage was removed - the main gear openings being plated over, the tailwheel bay becoming the rear catapult mounting point. In some cases, 'Buffacat' armament was reduced to the two cowl guns ... but the pudgy Brewster still had difficulty in intercepting the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor raiders.

Based on the Herbert Ringlstetter 'Hurricat' profile.
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2020, 02:41:31 AM »
 :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #15 on: December 27, 2020, 05:05:19 AM »
I keep thinking of a Brewster Buffalo with an Allison J33 or a Derwent in a Buffalo. With the exhaust through a cutout in the lower tail (like the Yak-15) or through bifurcated exhausts like the Sea Hawk.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #16 on: December 28, 2020, 02:49:53 AM »
Oh,  I do like that idea.

Appropriate nose art would be a barrel with flames shooting out the end and the pilot straddling it.
« Last Edit: December 28, 2020, 02:52:55 AM by GTX_Admin »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #17 on: December 28, 2020, 08:19:17 AM »
I just tried it and the J33 is too big. A BMW003 or Jumo 004 would fit, so would the Rolls-Royce Welland from a Meteor. I can imagine a Finnish Buffalo with a "borrowed" German engine, shortly after the war.

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #18 on: December 28, 2020, 12:31:45 PM »
I can imagine a Finnish Buffalo with a "borrowed" German engine, shortly after the war.
Possibly from one or more interned German fighters?  Perhaps some that sought refuge with the Finns rather than surrender to any of the main combatants.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #19 on: December 29, 2020, 01:48:54 AM »
Another option might be a motorjet such as from the Caproni Campini N.1
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #20 on: December 29, 2020, 03:18:40 AM »
The motorjet from the Caproni Campini N.1 was huge. I guess it could be modified to work with a radial, but I think Evan's idea might work better. Plus it would match what the Russians were doing across the border.

Offline perttime

  • The man has produced a Finnish Napier Heston Fighter...need we say more?
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #21 on: December 29, 2020, 12:13:46 PM »
I can imagine a Finnish Buffalo with a "borrowed" German engine, shortly after the war.
Possibly from one or more interned German fighters?  Perhaps some that sought refuge with the Finns rather than surrender to any of the main combatants.
In the Real World, Finland had an adequate supply of Db 605 ... and of Bf 109 airframes. Luftwaffe had Fw 190 in Finland. Some of their engines could have been left behind.

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #22 on: December 30, 2020, 02:24:59 AM »
German Engine Options:

Wright R-1820-40
from typical F2A-3

Length: 47.76 in (1,213 mm)
Diameter: 54.25 in (1,378 mm)
Dry weight: 1,184 lb (537 kg)
Power:  1,200 hp (890 kW)
BMW 801 D-2
as used on Fw-190A-8

Length: 79 in (2,006 mm)
Diameter: 51 in (1,290 mm)
Dry weight: 2,231 lb (1,012 kg)
Power:  1,677 hp  (1,250 kW)
BMW 003A-2

Length: 143 in (3600 mm)
Diameter: 27.2 in (690 mm)
Dry weight: 1,375 lb (623.7 kg)
Thrust:  1,760 lbf (7.8 kN)
Jumo 004B

Length: 152 in (3860 mm)
Diameter: 32 in (810 mm)
Dry weight: 1,585 lb (719 kg)
Thrust: 1,980 lbf (8.8 kN) 

Interestingly, when you do the maths, you will see that the more powerful engines aren't always the best choice since the power:weight ratios actually get worse.
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline jcf

  • Global Moderator
  • Turn that Gila-copter down!
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #23 on: December 31, 2020, 10:24:10 AM »
Re-engined with R-1830, DC-3A/C-47A type cowling.

The GR-1820G107 was a commercial/export version setup for a turbosupercharger and roughly
equivalent to the R-1820-65 used on the B-17B/C/D/E/F. The "civil" versions had a 100hp lower
power rating than the military versions, however there is reason to believe that wasn't actually
true. The R-1820-93 that was used on some B-17F was a 1,350hp engine.

The turbosupercharger installation on the B-24 might be a guide to adding one to a Buffalo:


Of course you'd have to fit it into this:

 ;D
“Conspiracy theory’s got to be simple.
Sense doesn’t come into it. People are
more scared of how complicated shit
actually is than they ever are about
whatever’s supposed to be behind the
conspiracy.”
-The Peripheral, William Gibson 2014

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Brewster Buffalo Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #24 on: January 01, 2021, 01:39:40 AM »
Would it give any advantages though?
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.