Top Gun Trainer: 1/48th Two Bobs T-2C Buckeye

Two Bobs paired up with MPM to produce this USN trainer model kit in 2009, which had previously been ignored by manufactures. The resulting 1/48th scale T-2C Buckeye can be built up into a very nice model of the subject by experienced model makers.

Notable Kit Features:

• Top-notch resin cockpit and ejection seats complete with molded in seatbelts

• Finely done panel lines and surface details

• Kit provides intake trunks with engine faceplates as well as exhaust tubes & faceplates

• Separate flaps, ailerons, elevators and rudders

• Open or closed canopy option

• Clear wingtip and navigation lights provided

• Reference photo CD included with a host of walk-around photos

• Excellent decal sheet
  

Build Inspiration:

I have always liked this USN trainer aircraft for some reason (probably after seeing a couple of USN T-2s at a Canadian International Air Show in Toronto ON), so I was rather pleased when Two Bobs produced a 1/48th scale model of the T-2C Buckeye. It seems they sold out pretty quickly though, as I missed getting one in the initial release. Luckily I managed to pick one up second-hand at a model show. The included VT-9 Tigers markings option was a bonus for me as I thought the paw prints across the spine of the aircraft were brilliant.

Heads-Up Report:

• This is a limited run, multi-media kit, so it requires quite a bit more parts preparation prior to gluing any components - also it seems ejector pins are everywhere

• The instructions are vague in placement of parts of flaps & gear but you do have the reference photos on the CD

• My kit needed a light, fine sanding overall for a better finish

• I don't think the cockpit floor angle is accurate

• Intake trunks are centre-split units and are difficult to align with the intake lips

• Rear exhaust tubes are centre-split units and the fit isn't good

• Gluing up the 3-piece fuselage requires patience and extra sanding & filling

• Six underside air scoops each have a separately molded lip. Glue the scoop to the lip while the lip is still on the sprue and then clean up the assembly

• The keyed joint of the wings to fuselage fit requires some extra work to get it to fit nicely

• Front gear mount is weak and the nose-gear wheel had no hole for the axle

• There is a lap-join in the main gear and the gear needs to be cut with precision to fit in the wheel wells

• Large canopy is a one-piece vacu-form part (two are provided - so you can make one mistake here, but no more.) Be prepared to spend a lot of time to get this to fit - Patience and Persistence Please
  

Kit Additions / Modifications:

• Adjusted the rear seat upwards in height to compensate for the low(?) cockpit floor

• Add nose weight as noted in instructions

• I replaced the rear exhausts with 9/32nd tubes

• Added wire pins to gear attachment points to strengthen join

• Drilled out nose gear tire mounting hole

• Replaced canopy actuator with guitar string (Low E)

• Cut canopy to be able to display open (I formed the canopy by filling it with modelling clay to be able to cut and sand it with more precision)
  

Finishing:

Typically my first shot of paint is to hit the masked canopy area with black to effectively paint the interior frames of the canopy. I also painted the wing walk sections as it would be easier to mask these of now rather than later. A coat of off-white was applied all over with some variance of tone (not too much as these birds were kept pretty spiffy looking). Next I masked off the white including the area of the national insignia on the upper and lower wing, as well as where the NAVY marking would be on the lower wing. I did this insignia masking by using a photocopy of the decal. The Day-Glow red-orange was then sprayed. After all that had dried, I proceeded to mask off and spray the arrestor hook stripes, tank and nose anti-glare black as well as the flap area and intakes in red paint. The landing gear door edge red was done with a magic marker. After the paint cured, the model was sprayed with my gloss standard, J&J Pledge (floor finish) in preparation for the decals and (minimal) weathering. Note: You want as smooth a surface as you can get to apply the decals on so if the gloss coat isn't glass smooth, try giving it a very light wet-sand with some 800+ grit paper to improve the finish. Once he decals were on and any washes applied the final light top coat of model Master semi-matte was sprayed on to seal things in and give the final finish. All that remained were all the last details of securing the gear doors, controls and antennas (although I just noticed I missed the tail pitot!).

The After-Build Report:

Due to the multi-media aspect of this kit, I would only recommend this 1/48th Two Bobs T-2C Buckeye to experienced model makers. You can get a great model for your display, right out of the box with this kit, however you will need some extra patience and time to get things together. If you want a 1/48th T-2 Buckeye in your collection this is it (If you can find one)!

Completed build #248 - December 2021 using the 1/48th scale Two Bobs #K48-002 kit.

Feel free to comment or ask any questions - Keep on building, gain experience, challenge yourself if you like, but try not to stress yourself out over the build - it is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby after all - Cheers