1/72 Revell/Matchbox T-2C Buckeye VT-19 NAS Maridian 1975
Entering service in 1959, utilizing the wing design of the FJ-1 Fury and controls similar to the T-28, over the years the Buckeye trained thousands of naval aviators. finally being phased by the T-45 Goshawk in 2004.
Revell's 2009 reboxing, the kit is typical Matchbox, deep panel lines of what little there are. The decals are quite good though, the best part of the kit! Built out of the box except for a couple of Fujimi F-4 seats. I've included a comparison photo with a FJ-1to show the wing, and a couple of other related shots. The second live shot, I actually took at NAS Key West in 1993.
Very nicely done, Robert! I love the white & day-glo orange paint schemes and you did this one very well.
Good lookin' build, Robert...love the additional pics, too.
Very color-full, looks good Robert, nicely done.
Great looking Buckeye, Robert! And I love the backdrop poster of all the trainers over the USS Lexington to boot...
Very nice! I have two of these - both a Matchbox and a Revell re-box - and a set of TwoBobs decals. They were on deck for a while a year or so ago, and I got distracted. This is nudging me to get un-distracted!
love it
Hello Robert,
With the exceptional sharp finish of this Revell model, it is proved again, that it is not necessary to spend a fortune on an nice model.
My highest compliments. Dirk / The Netherlands.
Good job, Robert.
Nice job Robert.
Pretty looking Buckeye, Robert. Nice job.
Some nice work, and photos here, Robert. Great to see this little kit built up!
I have a couple in my stash - love the orange and white scheme.
Beautifully painted, doesn’t look at all like a matchbox kit, it sure fools me.
Thank you all.
Well you know how I feel about Navair! Beautiful job!
I logged some hours in the T-2 and since I have always loved this jet. I remember waiting for years for a decent T-2 model in any scale. Then I came across the matchbox version many years ago. I hated the lack of detail in the model so I went nuts trying to fabricate details, cut out flaps, etc. This was before any after-market stuff was available. So your matchbox build, which is outstanding, brought back many good memories for me, as well as, the frustrating of wanting a good T-2 model. Great job, Great Paint job and overall finish. She came out well.
Since then we now have several choices in all scales. I recently built a 1/48 version of the T-2. Here is a few pics of her.
5 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Real nice! love the flight deck.
This is probably my favorite build that you have posted Robert ! Well done my friend. I like it a lot. It reminds me of a 1/72 scale F9F Cougar I built as a kid with very similar markings...
Two thumbs up Sir. The back ground poster is a plus...
ah. NAS Meridian, Miss. Loved my time there in the summer of 1984. The Buckeyes and Skyhawks, you captured the T-2 and its character. Great job on a kit that doesn't get much of anything. A workhorse day in and day out. You know no one just jumps into any front line aircraft in service until logging several hours on a T-2. I remember seeing the anxiety on a few faces when it was their turn to go off to the boat and try to land for the first time on a carrier. Even after hours of touch n goes on the runway. Trust me it was hair raising for me just sitting in the back seat landing on a carrier for the first time in an F-14. Outstanding Robert and inspirational.
Glad you liked it, As F-4 plane captain, getting a bear hug from our XO after recovering on a misty night with a pitching and rolling deck, he was just glad to be back on deck, I learned to appreciate all that the aircrews endured.