Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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DDS874 Brewster B-339 is a new sheet from Dutch Profile.  The sheet ties in with their recent release of Brewster B-339C/D-23 History Camouflage and Markings book that tells the story of the Brewster B-339 in service with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Forces (RNEIAAF) in World War II.

The sheet provides markings for markings for 12 machines in all in both 1/48 and 1/72 scale.  You are treated to a variety of markings with this one ranging from U.S. civil registration, two different styles of Dutch markings, USAAF markings, RAAF markings and finally, the Japanese markings worn by a captured example.

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The individual options are:

• Brewster B-339D B-3119 of the RNEIAAF in 1942.  The machine is finished in the standard basic scheme worn by these aircraft of US medium green over US dark olive drab over aluminium undersides.  The spinner is green whilst the backing plate is black.  National insignia markings comprising black bordered orange triangles are worn on the lower surfaces of each wing and both sides of the fuselage.  The serial number (B-3119) is in white and worn on both sides of the rear fuselage and the leading edges of the wings.  The unique markings for this option are the white U.S. civil registration NX341B worn in white on the upper starboard wing, on both sides of the rudder and in black on the lower surface of the starboard wing.

• Brewster B-339D B-3119 of the USAAF in Australia in 1942. This machine was taken over by the USAAF following its evacuation from Java after the Japanese invasion.   In standard finish with US blue and white star national insignia on the upper port and lower starboard surfaces of the wings and on either side of the fuselage, white serial number on the rudder and black U.S. Army on the lower surfaces of he wings.  The forward portion of the spinner is in medium green.

• Brewster B-339C B-3107 of 2-VI G V (2nd Squadron) RNEIAAF Red Patrol, Java, Dutch East Indies in 1941.  In standard finish with Black and orange national insignia, white serials on either side of the fuselage and leading edges of the wings and a white band around the rear fuselage.  The machine wears a “Java badge” comprising a brown rhinoceros head on a yellow circle background and the name “Bruggink” in white.

• Brewster B-339D B-3132 of 1-VI G V RNEIAAF yellow Patrol, Java, Dutch East Indies in 1942.  In standard finish with Black and orange national insignia, white serials on either side of the fuselage and leading edges of the wings and a yellow band around the rear fuselage.  As the aircraft was flown by the patrol commander the yellow band has a thin white boarder on its trailing edge.  The machine wears a “Java badge” and the name “Kuijper” in white.

• Brewster B-339C B-395 “Adam” “E” of 2-VI G V RNEIAAF at Palang, Singapore in 1942.  The machine is in the standard finish with red white and blue horizontal “flag” national insignia on the lower surface of each wing and both sides of the fuselage.  Individual aircraft letter “E”, serial number and the name “Adam” in white.  The forward portion of the spinner is in white as is the band around the fuselage.

• Brewster B-339-23 B3-186 of the RNEIAAF in New Jersey in the United States in 1942.  The machine is in standard finish with black bordered orange triangle national markings insignia are worn on the lower surfaces of each wing and both sides of the fuselage.  The serial number is in white and worn on both sides of the rear fuselage and the leading edges of the wings.  The machine is minus a spinner.

• Brewster Buffalo Mk. 1 W8163.  The aircraft is painted in the US equivalents of dark earth and dark green upper surfaces over sky (or sky grey) underside with the starboard side of the fuselage and the entire wing in “Night” black.  This was an ex 21 Squadron RAAF machine but the RAAF markings have been painted out and the supplied markings depict it when it was being flown by the RNEIAAF and wearing red white and blue horizontal “flags” national insignia markings on either side of the fuselage and on the undersides of both wings.  The machine still wears the GA-P squadron codes of its previous owners and these are supplied as decals as is the serial number.  The leading portion of the spinner is in sky whilst the backing plate is in dark green

• Brewster B-339D B-3111 of 2-VI G V RNEIAAF in Java, Dutch East Indies in 1942.  In standard finish with black and orange national insignia and white serials on either side of the fuselage and the leading edges of the wings.  The spinner is in medium green.

• Brewster B-339C B-3114 “Manesse” of 2-VI G V Blue Patrol REIAAF in Java 1942.  In standard finish with “flag” national insignia, white serials on either side of the fuselage and leading edges of the wings.  The machine wears a “Java badge” and the name “Manesse” in white on the port side of the fuselage.  The Leading portion of the spinner is in blue.

• Brewster B-339C B-3110 “Van Helsdingen” of 2-VI G V Red Patrol REIAAF in Java 1941.  In standard finish with black and orange national insignia, white band around the rear fuselage and white serials on either side of the fuselage and leading edges of the wings.  The machine wears a “Java badge” and the name “Van Helsdingen” in white on the port side of the fuselage.  The Leading portion of the spinner is in red.

• Brewster B-339-23 B-31670 REIAAF.  This machine was taken over by the USAAF following its evacuation from Java after the Japanese invasion and was re-assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force’s 25 Squadron and based at RAAF Pearce in Western Australia in 1942 for the defence of the state’s capital, Perth.  The machine now wears RAAF blue and white national insignia on the upper and lower surfaces of each wing and on either side of the fuselage as well as a blue and white fin flash, grey A51-13 RAAF serials and the USAAF number 310 in yellow on either side of the vertical stabiliser.  Whilst it still wears its medium green and olive drab upper surfaces, the undersides have now been painted in RAAF sky blue.

• The final option is Brewster B-339 C/D (unconfirmed).  This machine was captured and evaluated by the Japanese following the fall of Java.   It wears the standard finish with a white band and number 1 on its rear fuselage, Japanese national insignia on the upper and lower surfaces of the wings and on either side of the fuselage.  The spinner is in medium green and it wears the emblem of the Japanese evaluation unit that spans both its vertical stabiliser and rudder.

The decals look to have been printed by the Dutch company Zeefdrukkerij van der Geest bv.  This is pure speculation on my part but a fair assumption given the tie-in with Dutch Decals and KitsAtWar with Dutch Profile.  The decals are silk screen printed, are thin, and in are in perfect register.  The “Java Badge” decal is on a separate smaller sheet and looks to have been printed by an Alps printer

The placement guide comprises two A-4 sized sheets that carry black and white profile and plan view drawings of each option.  Whilst the placement guide is perfectly adequate the tie-in book has all of these drawings in colour!

The decals and the placement guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

The recommended kits in 1/48 scale are the Tamiya Buffalo, and the Special Hobby/Classic Airframes ones the 1/72 ones are the Airfix, Hasegawa, Special Hobby and Matchbox ones.

A busy sheet indeed and well worth the cost of entry as far as I am concerned.

Thanks to Luuk from Dutch Profile for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 29 December, 2008
Last updated 29 December, 2008

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