Katangan Air Force T-6

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Spaceowl
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Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by Spaceowl »

Katangan Air Force T-6 Texan, 'Babette', Kolwezi, Congo 1962

During the secession of Katanga the KAF were supplied with 10 North American Harvards acquired in Belgium from the COGEA aircraft brokerage company . These aircraft were crated and shipped from Ostend to Luanda where they were assembled and flown to Kolwezi by Polish, Belgian, French and South African pilots, led by the WW2 ace Jan Zumbach. They seem to have had a pretty lively war, 6 being destroyed or captured on the ground by UN forces, the other four making it to Angola where they were essentially left to rot. This one, KA-30 Babette, was destroyed in a UN air raid, strafed by a Swedish SAAB J-29.

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This was the Hobby Boss quick build Texan with a little interior detail, pylons and stores added, otherwise pretty much out of the box. The decals are the last of the DP Casper set I intend to build, although there is one more kit to add to the project after this one. The quick build kit lives up to its name - I did this one over two nights, one of which was spent improving the interior. If you want a Harvard without the fuss, it's certainly the one to go for.
Overhead a rainbow appears...in black and white.

Current Projects:
Aircraft of VMA-542, USMC
Peru-Ecuador War 1995
THK 1939-2023
Polish Air Force 1939
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59North
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by 59North »

It's a very nice model with an interesting, 'poor mans' camo scheme.
I had to google Katanga to learn if it was real. Now, I,m a little bit smarter thanI was before I clicked your post.
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by vacant »

Fine job indeed.
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Spaceowl
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by Spaceowl »

59North wrote:It's a very nice model with an interesting, 'poor mans' camo scheme.
I had to google Katanga to learn if it was real. Now, I,m a little bit smarter thanI was before I clicked your post.
Oh yes, it's not a made up country, it just sounds like one! And as you correctly guessed, the camo was applied in-country with what was at hand. If anything my model isn't weathered enough. :grin:
Overhead a rainbow appears...in black and white.

Current Projects:
Aircraft of VMA-542, USMC
Peru-Ecuador War 1995
THK 1939-2023
Polish Air Force 1939
ShaunW
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by ShaunW »

Great build and that has made for a different looking T-6, Spaceowl. Katanga sounds like the sort of made up country name the makers of the A-Team would come up with! :grin:
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Softscience
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by Softscience »

ShaunW wrote:Great build and that has made for a different looking T-6, Spaceowl. Katanga sounds like the sort of made up country name the makers of the A-Team would come up with! :grin:

That reminds me of the Onion headline from many years ago "U.S. Ambassador to Burundi not Sure if Nation Actually Exists"



Is Katanaga and its conflict related in any way to the one where Zumbach flew a heavily modified A-26?

I'm interested to learn more.

I really like these aircraft of obscure conflicts builds, that you build.
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gnomemeansgnome
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by gnomemeansgnome »

Very cool looking Texan.
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Kitaholic
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by Kitaholic »

Softscience wrote:
ShaunW wrote:Great build and that has made for a different looking T-6, Spaceowl. Katanga sounds like the sort of made up country name the makers of the A-Team would come up with! :grin:

That reminds me of the Onion headline from many years ago "U.S. Ambassador to Burundi not Sure if Nation Actually Exists"



Is Katanaga and its conflict related in any way to the one where Zumbach flew a heavily modified A-26?

I'm interested to learn more.

I really like these aircraft of obscure conflicts builds, that you build.
He flew an A-26 for Biafra. something I wouldn't have known with out looking up Katanga too. Very interesting model with an equally interesting history. Nice work
Regards

Gord

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Spaceowl
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by Spaceowl »

Kitaholic wrote: He flew an A-26 for Biafra. something I wouldn't have known with out looking up Katanga too. Very interesting model with an equally interesting history. Nice work
Thanks very much chaps. I appreciate the feedback.

Zumbach flew a B-26 for the breakaway Eastern Provinces Air Force around 1964-65, then moved on to Biafra. For a man in his fifties, he was busy in the sixties. The Eastern Provinces are a possible future project but information on them is hard to come by.
Overhead a rainbow appears...in black and white.

Current Projects:
Aircraft of VMA-542, USMC
Peru-Ecuador War 1995
THK 1939-2023
Polish Air Force 1939
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Kitaholic
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by Kitaholic »

Thanks for the info update, Wikipedia was a bit basic on the details
Regards

Gord

Desperately trying to find his MOJO, don't know where I left it
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FAAMAN
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by FAAMAN »

Great to see a very different scheme 8-)
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skypirate
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Re: Katangan Air Force T-6

Post by skypirate »

Very interesting background and colour scheme!
Well done!

David
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