TeeELLs Cuban Air Force collection

[TeeELL]

Having holidayed many times in Cuba and having gained great respect for the people I decided to see what aircraft they have/had in their inventory. Over the last near 60 years Cuban front line aircraft have been of Soviet origin giving me a diversity in modelling. Prior to that a variety of, predominantly, US aircraft were flown with regular fleet swaps - generally due to a Tropical storm wiping out the aircraft.

This is my growing collection of Cuban aircraft from not quite their beginning to the latest MiGs. I was only going to build post-revolutionary aircraft but ........

Not originally planned, but part of a GB for the P-47, I built the following:

Revell P-47 M of the Cuban FAEC (Batista era). The F-47 was used against the rebel forces of Castro.





Post revolution, it was found that these aircraft were at the end of their useful life and in addition spares were not readily available; consequently they never flew as part of FAR.

[TeeELL]

P-51 D (F-51 D), Airfix new mould kit representing one of 2 (possibly 3) aircraft acquired by the rebel airforce (FAR). The aircraft were damaged by ‘friendly fire’ and were finally made combat ready and serviceable on the day Castro won.

[TeeELL]

Special Hobbies Sea Fury completed as a Revolutionary airforce (FAR) aircraft. Several of these aircraft were used during the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident.

[TeeELL]

North American Texan, Heller kit, representing a training aircraft of the Revolutionary airforce (FAR).

[TeeELL]

Airfix ‘Kingfisher’ aircraft Representing an aircraft captured by the Revolutionary airforce (FAR) and used against the Batista troops.

[TeeELL]

Sword T-33 model built to represent a Revolutionary airforce aircraft used during the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident. Although finished in NMF, it is possible that the aircraft was camouflaged during that incident.

[TeeELL]

AZ MiG-17 modelled as a missile equipped aircraft of the FAR. The pilot of the aircraft represented defected to the USA causing great consternation because he arrived undetected and the US President and ‘Airforce One’ was on base!

Note the National marking on the starboard wing, the orientation is unusual in matching the angle of the wing leading edge rather than ‘straight ahead’.

[TeeELL]

KP models MiG-19, nose section re-worked to add the radar. The aircraft was used, briefly, by the FAR until the MiG-21 was available.

[TeeELL]

Airfix MiG-29 modelled as an aircraft of the FAR and is part of the current inventory.

[TeeELL]

Hobby Boss F-38 Lightning representing an aircraft of the Batista era airforce (FAEC).

[wokka]

Another superb set of builds. I really like the way you've displayed the P-47M

[TeeELL]

Thanks Wokka. I built it for a ‘P-47’ GB and thought it might be an idea displaying it just after take-off with the wheels retracting.

[TeeELL]

This is a list of names used by the Cuban Air Force during its long history.
The Cuban Army Air Force was formed on 5 July 1913.

CAEC = Cuerpo de Aviación del Ejército de Cuba 5 July 1913 - 23 April 1952
FAEC = Fuerza Aérea del Ejército de Cuba. 23 April 1952 - 1 Jan 1959
FAC = Fuerza Aérea de Cuba? Seen on a T-28 Trojan
FAR = Fuerza Aérea Rebelde 2 May 1958 - 1 Jan 1959
FAR = Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria 1 Jan 1959

I will use the above when referencing the models.

[TeeELL]

This is very much ‘tongue in cheek’, the model was built as a ‘what if’ and certainly isn’t a real FAR type. Just thought I would pop it in here for now.

[Migrant]

That's a really unique collection Tony, with some great subjects. Where did you source the decals for these?