T-34/85 Chinese Volunteer 215

 

Here’s the Rye Field Model (RFM) 1:35 scale T-34/85 finished as Tank No.215, commanded by Yang Aru, 4th Company, 4th Tank Regiment, 2nd Tank Division of the People's Volunteer Army(PVA), in 1953 during the Korean War. 

This has been an enjoyable kit to build albeit RFM’s instructions are a little vague in some areas: with part numbering a bit erratic, instructions to drill holes for bits without locating pins and some parts being missed from the instructions altogether. It kept me on my toes 😂

For the first time I used SMS acrylic lacquer paints which were a real dream and I can’t wait to give them another go. I lightly weathered using Abteilung 502 oils and Flory Models sand which I sprayed to give that dusty look.

F-51D Mustang

My 5th model of 2025 is Airfix’s F-51D Mustang, which I’ve selected to build as part of my current Korean War project. 

I found this a very nice kit to build. Although I had a number of different after market decals for both US and Commonwealth UN markings, I decided to run with the Airfix set and finished it in the colours of Mustang 44-74625/FF-625 of 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron stationed at the forward operating base at Hoengsong, South Korean in 1950.

I used my new favourite silver paint, Vallejo’s Liquid Metal, for most of the aircraft and added Vallejo’s standard aluminium acrylic to provide lowlights to the wings. This was a mistake as not only do I think the effect detracts from the overall finish, subsequent masking of the red wing tips removed some of the aluminium! Time to acquire the rest of the Liquid Metal range. The decals went on very nicely, and to be honest, this was probably what finally swayed me to go with Airfix’s and not the aftermarket ones, you know what you’re getting with the new Airfix kits. In view of my feelings towards the paintwork, I finished the model with a layer of satin varnish.

The aircraft features the nose markings ‘ROTATION BLUES’ on the starboard side cowling, presumably after the record of the same name which was popular in the US at that time.

As a result of the North Korean invasion of South Korea in June 1950, the squadron was moved from the Philippines to Taegu Air Base, South Korea in July. At Taego, the squadron exchanged its Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star jets for propeller-driven North American F-51D Mustangs which were more suited to the ground attack and support role. I thought, therefore, that it would be OK to use one of Academy's standing F-86 pilots with helmet rather than the WW2 dress figure supplied with the kit.

Next up will probably be a Chinese T-34 followed by a North Korean MiG-15 … I fancy a piece of armour!

Korean War M4A3E8 Sherman 'Tigerface'

My Korean War M4A3(76)W Sherman is built. 

Although I spent, what seemed a long time, applying oils and pigments to give it a look of wear and use, I haven't really achieved the grimy finish I was expecting. I'm, therefore, assuming this tank represents the time when Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgway replaced General Douglas MacArthur in the in April 1951 and I have read that he, amongst other moral boosting actions, got soldiers cleaning their vehicles again!

This is inspired by a tank of C-Company of the 70th Tank Battalion which was one of the first three tank battalions to deploy in the Korean War, where it saw significant action.

From what I understand, as the United Nations forces engaged with the Chinese People's Army along the Han river in Korea in mid-February 1951, several US tank battalions decided to paint their tanks with giant tiger faces, the idea being that they hoped superstitious Chinese infantrymen would be scared by their fearsome faces!

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The kit:

Brand: Airfix

Title: M4A3(76)W Sherman

Number: A1365
Scale: 1:35
Release: 2019 New decals

F-86F Sabre - Mikes Bird

Here’s my second Christmas F-86F Sabre, Capt. Charles McSwain’s “Mikes Bird”, which coincidentally flew in the same squadron as my first F-86, “The Huff”: 39th FIS / 51st FIW, Suwon (K-13), South Korea.

Although I can not find anything about the history of “Mike’s Bird”, I did learn an interesting fact relating to why it and its fellow squadron aircraft wore yellow bands and had checks on their tails. 

When the Americans arrived in Korea with their F-86 Sabre it became apparent that it looked dangerously similar in flight to that the Soviet MiG-15. Therefore, the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing (FIW) started to paint forward-slanting black-and-white stripes on their fuselages - similar to 'D-Day invasion stripes - to prevent F-86 Sabre pilots from mistaking each other for the MiGs. When in  November 1951, the 51st FIW Group transitioned to the F-86 Sabre, their commander, Lt Col George Jones, didn't want to just copy the 4th FIW stripes, so he asked Capt Ed Matczak, his group material officer and budding artist, to design something different. He came up with the rearward-slanting yellow band on the fuselage, and yellow bands on the wing and tail. Later, the wing also went on to add the black checkered markings copying the WW2 design used by 325 Fighter Group the 'Checkertails’.

In my build of “Mike’s Bird” I used Academy’s amazing 1998 moulding of their 2011 “The Huff” kit and while I used the kits “The Huff” decals on the 1:48 scale Airfix kit I shared earlier, these “Mike’s Bird” decals were gifted to me by a good friend from the original 2011 Academy kit that he had in his stash. However, while the moulding has stood the test of time the decals less so, but if you’ve been following you’ll know that I pressed on regardless!

If you were looking to build an F-86F Sabre and were undecided over whether to go 1998 Academy or 2022 Airfix, unless you wanted to show the earlier model’s extended leading edges, I’d have to recommend Academy every time. From quality of design to crisp moulding, detailing through out from interior to engine, guns to airbrakes and most surprising of all, two excellently crafted pilots!

Happy Christmas all! 

F-86F Sabre - The Huff

Finished for Christmas. The 1:48 scale Airfix F-86F Sabre. 

Lieutenant Jim Thompson's F-86F "the Huff", famous for being photographed with the most astounding nose art of any USAF fighter in Korea. 

Thompson, was a wingman in the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing (FIW), at Suwon (K-13), South Korea, in 1953. 

When he shot down a North Korean MiG-15 in May 1953 that had a dragon painted on its nose he convinced his Crew Chief to put a dragon on his Sabre. He must have eventually shot down another MiG as the decals come with the option of one or two kill star markings. I went with two, just three more required to make him an ace! 

 

 

I am not sure why, but on the starboard side of "The Huff" there is artwork for ‘Miss Jenny" & "Bill’s Baby" with the names of JW Manney and LD Cromwell. I've yet to find any reference to why or when these were added ... so most interesting! 

The kit I’ve used here is the 2022 release of Airfix’s F-86F Sabre with "The Huff" decals from the 1998 (2011 release) Academy F-86F kit. The Airfix kit does allow for the modeller to have gun covers and air brakes open and even forward wing slats extended but I wanted to show the aircraft ready for flight and use the second more detailed Academy kit as an aircraft under going maintenance. I’ve also installed Academy’s pilot which in addition to be better detailed is also more historically accurate. 

Paints used were all Vallejo and the silver was their unique alcohol based Liquid Metal.