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F-5A
FREEDOM FIGHTER
(3)
CF-5A VENEZUELA
I
opted to make another ESCI
kit as a VENEZUELA CF-5A, these are ex-Canadian aircraft so the ESCI
kit
is good for that as it has the typical characteristics like the
slightly
larger intakes and other CF-5 / NF-5 features. So for the model use
pointy
nose parts 73A and 74A. The flare dispensers parts #25C were not
installed.
Also, the model would get no missiles but only the coke-bottle tip
tanks
that are nicely provided with the kit.
First,
the rear of the fuselage halves
the holes for the jet pipes were opened up. Also the exhaust pipes
parts
#40C themselves were drilled open. As most parked aircraft show the
leading
edge flaps drooped down, with a razor saw the edges were sawed and the
flaps bended donw a bit.
Some
extra work regarding the canopy
to be set open was done as
described
on the NF-5A kit. The remainder of the kit was simply
assembled as
per instructions.
Decals
came from the AZTEC set
72050.
acrylic
colours were airbrushed and
used were:
green
FS34079 using Gunze Sangyo
H309;
brown
FS30219 using Gunze Sangyo
H310;
green
FS34102 using Gunze Sangyo
H303 and
the
lower surfaces FS36622 for which
Gunze Sangyo H311 is nice.
Demarcations
between colours seem
soft, this was achieved with free hand airbrushing
with the fine Harder Steenbeck airbrush using in place simple
masks.
The
tank boom is also nicely fitted.
Decals were applied after the model got a gloss base coat to prevent
"silvering"
with several
airbrushed
layers
of Johnson Future/ Pledge..
The
model got a semi-matt base coat
with the
usual technique.
Some
stretched sprue was added for
the "hydraulics" in the undercarriage bays and gear. A nose pitot tube
was installed made from a metal needle. A nice CF-5A model completed
and
now in the World Air Forces collection!
.. .... .....
In Venezuela
military aviation started with the Air Academy in 1920 with some French
Caudron aircraft and Breguet aircraft. In the 1930's a first base was
established
at Boca del Rio and aircraft purchased from France, England and the
United
States. Venezuela had larger oil fiels and oil was exported, mainly to
the USA and the neighbouring Dutch Antilles islands of Aruba and
Curacao.
During the Second World War more US support was obtained and locally in
the Caribbean Sea German submarines on some occasions attacked oil
tankers
and ships.
The Fuerza
Aerea Venezuelana (FAV) was formally established in October 1947. Also
transport aircraft were used and aircraft like the Venom, Vampire,
Canberra and F-86 Sabre. Politics were not always stable and meanwhile
many air bases were established aircraft deployed. Forces were
strengthened
also because of fears on Communism propagated in Cuba. Venezuela
exported
large amounts of oil so financing was not an issue. Aircraft like
Mirages
V, OV-10 Broncos, Jet
Provosts and later the T-2
Buckeye and various helicopters were operated. From
Canadair second
hand former Canada armed forces were acquired: 16 Northrop CF-5A and 2
CF-5D arrived from 1972. Most were based at Barquisimeto and local
designation
was the VF-5. Two VF-5A were also converted to a reconnaissance version
as RVF-5A. From 1986 an additional 7 ex Royal Netherlands Air Force
NF-5
aircraft were acquired. Soon some local VF-5 were upgraded as well with
Singaporean assistance.
Later on, also
F-16A
and B aircraft were put in service as well as EMBRAER Tucanos. In
November
1992 a coup was launched by the FAV general but that failed as some
F-16
pilots still supported the existing government and shot down rebellian
aircraft.
The FAV was
renamed Aviacion Militar Venezolana in 2001 and later under the Chavez
government "Aviacion Militar Nacional Bolivariana" in honour of the
South
American liberator Simon Bolivar. The last decade Russian "socialist"
influence
became larger and the AMNB purchased Russian aircraft like Sukhoi SU-30
fighters based at Barcelona and El Sombrero. Also Chinese K-8 trainers
are used based at mainly the base Barquisimeto.

...
CF-5A or
sometimes called VF-5A. Some 26 F-5A and B aircraft were obtained by
the
FAV through Canada starting 1972.
...
...

...
This same aircraft is now on display at the Museo Aeronautico de Maracay

...

.Northrop
CF-5A or sometimes called VF-5A with code "9456"

At Libertado air base, Venezuela
.
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