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MORE PAGES TO READ:
• MODEL AIRCRAFT–Page #2
• MODEL MANIA SHOW–Page #3
• "SEXY MODELS"–Page #4
• ARMOR MODEL –Page #5
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VNAF A-1H Detail–Page#6
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VNAF C-47 Echo Whisky–Page#7
BUIDING THE DREAM
It has been more than 30 years, since the end of Vietnam war, today all VNAF airplanes are gone. A few retired in US air museums. Some lucky restored ones are still flying in the freedom sky of Australia. But the rest has been lying rusted somewhere in an abandoned corner of the forgotten military airfields in Vietnam. And soon they all will fade away in memories of many wariors; but not in aircraft modeling.
On this Website, you will have a chance to see all kinds of VNAF war birds. The tiny plastic ones? Yes, but amazingly they all look like the real full size VNAF airplanes, from the thin antenna to the small detail paint chips and the real serial numbers. Look at the T-6 Texan's picture on the left, who can tell it's a tiny plastic one? Surprisingly, most VNAF model aircraft today have been built by "big kids" who during the VN war were just...kids, never had a chance to touch a real VNAF aircraft much less riding them. So you can say they are building a dream, yet they also restored and presersed the history so that many next Vietnamese generations would know who we are, where we came from and how manificently we flew!
It takes you a few seconds to look at the photo of a VNAF model aircraft, but it took the modeler about a month to get his model finished. The guy then has to set up the model for a photo shot, doing some touch up on computer before sending it for posting on the website. So don't get disappointed if you see only a few photos.
How a bout a slides show of VNAF model aircraft that it takes you a few minutes to go through, but it took the guy some two or three years to get the whole thing done.
YANKEE-CARIBOU'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
Yankee_Caribou brought back this model page again with his C-123. And don't fool yourself by thinking this is 1/72 scale. Man, it's 1/144!
This particular aircraft 033 crashed in a training flight at LONGBINH the transmission shaft snapped in flight . The Chinook crashed killed all crew. 033 is one of the oldest Chinook airframe that US Army handed over to VNAF ... The flarebox was built using alluminium can, (reference is from the famous Xuan Loc Chinook) . Hope you guys enjoy it. (Yankee-Caribou)
History of VNAF CH-47 (SN 033)
66-19033, Boeing build number B-291, was a CH-47A helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 9 January 1967. The administrative strike date was 14 February 1974. 66-19033 accumulated at least 2,056.0 aircraft hours. At some point, 66-19033 was assigned to the 237th Helicopter Squadron, Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF), in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), and remained there until it was lost due to unknown causes. On 14 February 1974, 66-19033 was on approach to an unknown location when it blew up in mid-air. Sabotage was suspected, but has not been confirmed. The last known location of 66-19033 was in the Republic of Vietnam. Aircraft status: Crashed. (Source:CH-47 Chinook Helicopter)
TANGO 0-5'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
Tango 0-5 returns with the Alouette, Chinook, and H-13 choppers. Two more models H-21 and H-19 will come in the near future. Thank Tango for the great collection of VNAF choppers and rare documentary of VNAF Chinook
From Montreal, Canada, Tango 0-5 joins us on this page with his H-34 (Song Chuy Squadron) , UH-1B (Than Tuong Squadron), the Bird-Dog L-19, and the C-119G. The VNAF decals, especially the Song Chuy insignia are all home-made. A job well done on the meticulous and time-consuming home-made VNAF decals and congratulation on the landing of Tango 0-5's choppers at VNAF-MAMN airbase!
GUCCI'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
I sent these photos of my VNAF B-57 to the ARC for the anniverary of the Tet Offensive model show, unfortunately I missed the deadline 1 day. Those photos wouldn't be able to show up on the "flight line." As a result, they retuned to the Home Air Base. Enjoy the old model but with new pictures!
The VNAF chopper below is an old model (1/35 scale, I don't remember Company name) that I have built long time ago out of the box without modification. It originally bore US Army Air Cavalry insignia on the pilot side's door. After I can make custom-decals, producing a lot of VNAF insignias, I put the chopper through "Vietnamization program," by taking out some "fancy machine guns" and rocket pods that used to be mounted on both sides of US helicopter (controled by pilot). The "poor guy" VNAF choppers have the basic M-60 guns or 7.62 mm mini-gun manned by side door gunner. Now the UH-1 bears VNAF insignia with tail number 059. The #059 served dutifully throughout the VN War; its last duty was to ferry ARVN troops for the final ARVN epic battle at Xuan Loc (April/1975, see the last photo in row).
The VNAF UH-1H looked good in the photos, but actually it had some tiny gaps between the assembled part; because long ago as a model novice, I thought that was the manufacture company's fault for molding their defect products. We don't have to fill the gaps (and fill with what?). Today I still think any model companies that produce models with unfitted parts are the lousy culprits to be blamed for flawed assembly. The modeler shouldn't fix, fill, or file their defect products :0)
MORE GUCCI'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
COHUONG'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
TRIPLE-T'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
Photos & texts (printed on photos) by Triple-T. See "HALL OF FAME" for interesting story about Triple-T.
BIRD-DOG'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
THE ARVN'S EXHIBITION IN AUSTRALIA
THE ARVN'S EXHIBITIONA group of young Vietnamese generation held an exhibition on the subject of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces (ARVN) on June 19, 2007, Melbourne, Australia. The exhibition is to pay tribute to the ARVN on the commemoration of the South Vietnam Armed Forces Day (June 19) and consists of various categories: Documentary photos, paintings, digital art works, and military artifacts. Thanks CoHuong for the great work and the interesting photos of that event.
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TRIET CAM'S MODEL AIRCRAFT
More photos of Triet Cam's Skyraider 1/48
Triet Cam is a VNAF modeling "old timer" who has built the VNAF models at the time when the computer technology didn't exist. The photos below were the works of his newer phase of aircraft modeling accomplishment. Thank you for sharing with us the photos of your VNAF models. Nice paint job and great presentation!
See Triet-Cam's A-37 (below) and F-5B models (on the last row). Most assumed that it was a 1/48 scale model. Hold your breath, this is a 1/72! Holy macro, what a detailed labor....
VNAF MODEL AIRCRAFT EXHIBITION
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VNAF MODEL AIRCRAFT EXHIBITION
It began with the three "poor guys" (an ARVN foot-soldier, a VNAF mechanic and a "big kid") who happened to befriended one another while hunting for VNAF model-aircraft kits at a bargain model swap-meet. Then the idea of holding a VNAF Model Aircraft exhibition was cooked up between the three. After their idea was turned down when asking for sponsorship of the exhibition (from some military groups), the three guys decided to hold the exhibition with their own money ($130) and a sole support of Vien Dong Daily News (free of charge for the rent of gallery room and promotion ads).
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THE 2nd EXHIBITION OF VNAF MAC
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"REMINISCENCE OF A LONG GONE DREAM""Back by popular demand!" Rumors about the VNAF exhibition had spread around...the world! :0) This time more participants jointed in. Not want to miss the fun, some "big kid" flew from Ohio for the show! The exhibition had a "romantic theme" name (Goi Giac Mo Xua - loosely in English "Reminiscence of A Long Gone Dream") and included diorama, VNAF books and VNAF artifacts. The VNAF Model Aircraft Club was also founded by this time.
A lot of thanks should be directed to the following people and business firms for their sponsorship of VNAF exhibition: |
THE 3rd EXHIBITION OF VNAF MAC
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"FLYING BACK FROM FORGOTTEN PAST" To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of VNAF's founding history and to mark the 30th year since the Republic of South Vietnam falled under Communism, the VNAF Model Aircraft Club (VNAF MAC) has organized an exhibition in April, 2005. The two-day exhibit was a great success, drawing a big crowd in Orange County, Southern California. Click on the two thumbnail pictures below for the slide shows of the exhibition. 
 THE GUYS WHO SHOULDER "THE ELEPHANT TUSKS"
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"WINGS OF FREEDOM" Click the thumbnail picture below to view the slide show of the 4th VNAF MAC EXHIBITION (Little Saigon, June 17th & 18th, 2006)  FROM THREE "POOR GUYS" TO ROW AFTER ROW OF "RICH KIDS"
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INTRODUCTION of VNAF Model Aircraft Club|
VNAF Model Aircraft Club (VNAF MAC) is a group of VNAF modeling enthusiastes who devoted in building VNAF scale models. The group has organized three major exhibits of VNAF in Southern California. We are proudly presenting some of VNAF MAC's works. Click on one of the name lists below to see MAC members' model aircraft. |
VNAF MAC's SKYRAIDERS VNAF MAC's More Models
VNAF MODEL EXHIBITION IN AUSTRALIA
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A group of VNAF modelers and former VNAF airmen have held two-day VNAF exhibits on the occasion of TET festival (Feb. 2006) in Victoria (Australia). One of the main features on display is the introduction of VNAF's History book (in Vietnamese language). Here's a few humble photos.
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GLOBAL MASTER III C-17
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This 1/9th scale radio-controlled C-17 model was built in the United Kingdom. To date it has about 20 flights. It was built as the centerpiece of a 15 program television series produced in the UK. for the Home and Leisure satellite TV channel.? Built with the aid of three friends, it took 1 year to build and is powered with 4 Jetcat P-120 turbines with a total thrust of 108 lbs.?
The models weighs over 250 lbs fuelled, and carries 12.5 liters (3.3 US gallons) of 95% kerosene and 5% turbine oil fuel.? Other details include 5 Futaba PCM receivers, 16 battery packs (93 cells), 20 Futaba servos, on board air compressor, electro/pneumatic retracts, etc.? The four builders are shown in the lower right image below.? Colin Straus is at the nose of the aircraft. Wingspan is 20 feet 8 inches, and the top of the fin is 74 inches (6 feet 2 inches) above the ground.? Takeoff weight is 264 lbs. The rear cargo doors open and they drop an r/c jeep on a pallet, as well as 2 freefall r/c parachutists.? The model also has smoke systems both of the inboard turbines, and uses 2.4 GHz data link to provide real-time data to a laptop computer on the ground while in flight, this data includes airspeed, turbine RPM, EGT, fuel consumption, etc. It is covered in fiberglass and epoxy resin. Built mainly from balsa and ply, with many glass and carbon fiber moldings to reduce weight.? This C-17 Globemaster III is one of the largest jet models in the world today!? Complete with retractable landing gear and pneumatically operated flaps.
(Sent by Triple-T)
C-17 PAINTING
Some art works, photos, and articles are properties of their owners, the rest by VNAF MA MN.© Copyright 2005 vnafmamn.com.