Matchbox  1/72    North American  T-2C   Buckeye 

This kit was picked up at a Club Auction for about $5 . Funny how there always seems to be some of them at auctions, but very rarely are any seen made up. A club member loaned me a book which was a great help ,especially as the kit had
very little interior  to speak of, and one  would have to be scratchbuilt . On the plus side ,there were some colourful schemes  available ,including the kit's US Navy version.
Fuselage
The typically heavy panel lines were all filled ,and rescribed ,with corrections where necessary ,to agree with photos  & plans.. As mentioned ,an interior was required ,so in accordance with reference information , instrument panels and side consoles were made  for both cockpits  The ejection seats were in need of improvement ,so were modified to be slightly more convincing ,including seat belts .The air brakes had a strake added as per photos . The jet pipes were replaced with short lengths of drinking straws ,and the underside air scoops replaced with scratchbuilt items .The arrester hook was replaced with one made from wire with the end flattened and bent to form the hook itself..The pitot on the nose was made from flattened wire filed to shape.
Some small diameter lead sinkers were glued into the nose sections prior to joining the halves .The trailing edges of rudder and tailplanes were thinned to a
sharper edge.
Wings
The coarse panel lines were filled and rescribed as per plan drawings .The landing light housing was made from a clear piece of sprue .
Canopy
The kit canopy was extremely lumpy with flow marks ,and was unuseable ,so it was filled and wet sanded to a smooth contour ,and used as a master to stretch mould a replacement . The result was far better than could have been achieved using the kit part .
Landing Gear
 The kit parts were very basic , so the main legs  were refined with brake lines,
 torque links,and disc brake cylinders at the base of the wheel forks. 
The nose strut was moulded with the wheel ,so the wheel was removed ,the strut thinned down ,fitted with new torque links and a shimmy damper to better resemble photos . After the wheel was cleaned up, it was re fitted ,and the whole nose gear looks a bit better. All of the doors were remade from thin card ,the inner wheel doors were fitted with fine wire braces which are  evident in most photos 
Finish
The colourful kit scheme was used , and additionally thin Black leading edges were added in accordance with a photo from the Internet ,so a  lot of masking was involved . The kit decals were used ,  and numerous small stencilled markings added .The US Navy training scheme always enhances models and this was no exception ,and I was pleased with the result . Matchbox kits can be a chore ,but generally make up  reasonably well with a bit of extra effort.