MATCHBOX 1:72 ROCKWELL T-2 BUCKEYE

Reviewer: Adrian  (rec.models.scale)

The Rockwell T-2 Buckeye is in service with three armed forces, being Greece, Venezuala and US Navy. However, in the US Navy they were going to be phased out and replaced with the T-45 Goshawk, whether or not that has actually happened now I have no idea.  The Buckeye was developed as a standard US Navy trainer aircraft in the late '50's and was among one of the first trainers to have the instructor sit aft and higher than the pupil.  In US Navy service it has had a long career.  The current model is the T-2C Buckeye which is the subject of this Matchbox kit.  The Buckeye is a tubby looking aircraft with twin engines and twin intakes on either side of the lower fuselage.  Production for the US Navy finished in 1975 when further examples were exported then to Venezuala and Greece.

Matchbox make some very nice and extremely detailed toy cars as we all know, and some of us have collected over the years. But don't think for one minute this is how their aircraft kits are manufactured other than the fact they are mere toys! Those of us in the modelling circle have most likely only dabbled in the Matchbox kits because they are cheap, nasty and easy - other than the fitting of pieces of course.  Don't ever expect a lovely Matchbox example, although I have read in some places that there are some around!!

I grabbed this kit because the Buckeye isn't manufactured by anyone else, so if you want the model then you have to take what you get, and there's nothing out of line, for good or for worse in this kit.  Opening the box reveals heavy and squared plastic with engraved panel lines that represent trenches and you can see that all it will reproduce is the basic T-2 Buckeye shape.  The plastic is not very good quality but adequate for it intends to be.  The kit is very easy to assemble and you only need a few minutes to knock it up if you were that way inclined!  All the parts fit easily but are smaller than their grooves so a lot of filling and sanding is called upon to get a smooth and nice alignment.  The cockpit is about as sparse as you can get with just "seats" - or something which is trying to be them - there is no control panels, sticks etc.  The canopy is clear with a bit of distortion and quite thick.  You also need to weigh down the nose quite heavily to prevent it from ass-sitting. 

The kit allows two schemes to be replicated, a US Navy version from VT-23 and a Hellenic Air Force (Greece) version in camouflage.  This is where the kit has got it wrong, the version produced for the Greek Air Force which is touched on in the instructions is the T-2E.  While the model is hardly noticeable in differences - especially in Matchbox's engineering - it was a model especially made for Greece for the purpose of being a dual Trainer/Light Attack aircraft.  There's no use harping over this because you wouldn't be buying this matchbox kit for its accuracy.  The decals are pretty crude with plenty of excess carrier film that needs to be trimmed and have a hard time correctly affixing to the Matchbox surface, especially over the panel lines which I am sure they have carved out with a jackhammer.  There are no aftermarket decals for this aircraft so you might need to delve in your decal spares box to make up some of the common parts like warning symbols and insignia.  I used plenty of Future floorwax to try and give them a really nice sheen but for anyone who has an eye for detail, they would soon spot the flaws - which is a shame.

As far as recommendation goes well only you can be the judge.  If you want accuracy, nice details, a good kit to display and work on then forget it, this kit will only achieve the basic shape and features of a Buckeye. On the otherhand, if you want a Buckeye then this is all you can get at the moment.  If you are a beginner or want to delve into something that is out of the norm, very easy and a change from the rigorous detailing and attention of other kits then this kit is perfect.  It is very easy to build and is quite enjoyable to hone your modelling skills on and in that way comes highly recommended.

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Photo Credit: USAF Museum

A couple of Rockwell T-2C Buckeyes