Planes Of The Federal Republic Of Central America

[anthonyp]

Next subject is my bizarre infatuation with the Federal Republic of Central America, an actual entity that existed in the early to mid 19th Century.  It was made up of the countries of Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua, with the capital in Guatemala City.  

These are not the first planes I've made for the FRoCA.  I did a Convair 880 sometime last year as a medium range transport for the nation.  I never really fleshed out a backstory, other than the FRoCA became a successful nation (as opposed to disbanding in 1840), and a staunch ally of the US.  They fought Marxist rebels and Communist insurgents throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, fighting numerous border skirmishes with Mexico and a few small all out wars with Cuba before finally invading and liberating Cuba in 1985 without US assistance (other than some intelligence and being able to land at US bases in emergencies).

Some of these I wasn't really feeling as I was building them, just slapped some paint and decals on them and called them done.  Others, I forgot I had to finish until I took them out for photos.

First up is the FRoCA's primary fighter immediately following the Second World War, the P-51D Mustang:

P-51D Federal Republic of Central America

The venerable P-51D Mustang has served with distinction over the years with a myriad of air forces.  The FRoCA AF received theirs during WWII, and continued to use them in anti-insurgent roles until the early 1980's.  A total of 385 P-51's were used by the Federal Republic.



To see more pics, click here.

This particular model was an Academy 1/72 P-51D in Korean markings.  Went together like a dream.

[anthonyp]

Next up is an older Hasegawa (I think) 1/72 OV-1D.  I hated the cockpit glass like you wouldn't believe!!!  And the balance of this thing is just goofy as all get out!  I don't remember how much different kinds of ballast I used to get this thing to sit right.

OV-1D Federal Republic of Central America

The OV-1D Mowhawk was used very effectively along the Federal Republics borders with their at times less than friendly neighbors.  These planes cruised above the trees, using their sideways looking radar to find rebels and guerillas attempting to make their way into the Republic.

The last OV-1D was taken out of service in 2001.



For more pics, click here.

[anthonyp]

There's only a couple 1/72 kits of the AM-1 Mauler out there, and I'll be darned if I can remember which one this one is.  It was sorta a bear to build (gaps, odd fittings, etc), but I think it turned out ok.  This thing also didn't want to photograph from the front end.  I have no idea why, but I took about four pics, and every one of them (different angles, distances to try and fool the camera into focusing) turned out blurry.

AM-1 Mauler Federal Republic of Central America

Following World War II and into the mid 50's, the FRoCA was embroiled in an ideological war with communist guerrillas who wanted to turn the nation into a Worker's Paradise.  The US, fresh out of their experience in the war and Korea, was tired of fighting.  The US provided weapons, equipment, and training to the FRoCA to fight their own war.  The AM-1 was one of the weapons systems exported, even though it wasn't all that successful in US service.  It went on to serve valiantly in the War for Freedom, as the FRoCA Civil War was called by the victorious Federalists.  Maulers actually chased the Marxist rebels across the Caribbean to Cuba, where they joined up with Castro in Cuba.  This example served in Honduras during and after the war until it was replaced by A-1 Skyraiders in the early 70's.



For more (blurry) pics, click here.

[anthonyp]

This is one of those old Hasegawa 1/72 F-105B's, you know, the one with no cockpit.  Went together alright, but the landing gear didn't fit together quite right until I straightened out the gear.

F-105B Federal Republic of Central America

The FRoCA AF was the first export customer for the F-105 Thunderchief, receiving the first planes in 1961.  A total of 56 F-105B's were purchased, as well as a further 18 F-105F's when they became available in 1964.  These planes were delivered minus their nuclear capabilities, but were very effective combating the Marxist rebels that were trying to subvert the country.  FRoCA AF F-105B's continued to serve until 1989, when they were phased out and replaced by F/A-18's.



For more pics, click here.

[anthonyp]

This is a 1/72 Matchbox A-10A-ish plane.  It's based on the prototype with the M61 Vulcan in place of the GAU-8 Avenger.  At first I was just going to build it up as a recoiless rifle, but thought about it and decided I'd need to make some mods to the plane that I was just too lazy to do.  This model has the first of my redesigned FRoCA roundels.  The three colour roundel I was using was cool and all, but I decided the FRoCA would want to redesign their roundel in the 80's, and came up with a few different designs, all of which were in service at the same time until about 1997 when a final design was selected (similar to the one this model has, just blue, white and yellow).

A-10E Federal Republic of Central America

The A-10E version of the A-10 Warthog was one of the export versions sold to friendly nations in the early 1980's.  The A-10E variant is unique in that in place of the GAU-8 cannon, an M61 Vulcan is fitted.  While lacking the anti-armor punch of the Avenger, the Vulcan equipped planes don't have to worry about the barrels melting with prolonged usage.  A total of 102 A-10E's were purchased, mainly to replace the numerous other aircraft that performed the role of COIN and Anti-armor.

The A-10E's were used effectively in the Liberation of Cuba, taking advantage of their inflight refueling capabilities to remain on station while the landings were taking place.



For more pics, click here.

[anthonyp]

Next up is the first of my Federal Navy planes, flying off of a variant of the USN's SCB68.101 design (in The Manifesto they're described as USN Reprisal class ASW carriers).

This particular model is an Airfix 1/72 A-7E...  I think.  I'm not sure which one I built (the A-7D or A-7E) that I lost the canopy for.  At first, the FRoCA was going to get an A-7D, but then I got the idea for a Naval one, but I only had one canopy and two kits.  I flipped a coin, and the A-7E won, so the A-7D got put back until I can figure out what happened to the canopy glass...

This model has the new roundel that I'm going to be using for modern FRoCA aircraft.

A-7E Federal Republic of Central America

The Corsair II has served the Federal Navy well since its introduction to the fleet in 1975.  During the May war of 1978, they were effective in taking out small boats and reinforced positions on the beachhead.

The A-7E served with distinction through the decades.  They are scheduled to be withdrawn from service once enough F/A-18's are acquired for both the air force and navy.



For more pics, click here.

[anthonyp]

Here's actually the first completed plane from this batch, but I wanted to put it at the end.  It's a 1/72 Esci F-4C.

F-4C Federal Republic of Central America

The FRoCA was one of the first recipients of ex-USAF F-4C's.  They began to receive the planes in the early-70's, for use against the continued incursions of Marxist rebels, backed by Cuba.  In the weeklong May War of 1978, FRoCA F-4's downed nearly 40 Cuban aircraft sent to support the invasion of Honduras and Nicaragua.  FRoCA F-4C's, along with their F-4D's, F-4E's and RF-4C's, are finally being phased out of service, replaced by F-15C's mainly for the air-to-air role, and F/A-18C's and D's are being bought for the strike role.  RF-18D's are being acquired to replace the RF-4C's.

This particular F-4C is shown in late 1986, with two Cuban Mig kill markings claimed during the 1985 liberation of the island.



For more pics, click here.

[anthonyp]

Here's the last plane for this thread (at least for this batch of posting).  It's a 1/72 Fujimi F-4S.  I figure the Federal Navy would model itself on the USN, so this plane got a lighter scheme than the USN's own F-4S's, and kept markings in roughly the same places.

F-4S Federal Republic of Central America

The FRoCA Navy expanded from some donated ex-USN destroyers after WWII to a respectable regional power, with blue water capabilities.  Among the assets available to the Federal Navy are many USN designs, exported to the ally.  These include eight Spurance class Destroyers, eight Kidd class destroyers (designated cruisers in the Federal Navy), four Flight I Burke class destroyers, two Defiant class helicopter carriers, and two Reprisal class light carriers (ASW carriers in USN service).

Flying off the Federal Navy's Represalia class ships are a mix of modern and yesterday's carrier aircraft, though the older aircraft won't last much longer.  The last squadron of F-4S's is scheduled to stand down at the end of 2007, being replaced by F/A-18E's and F's.

This particular F-4S served on the Represalia during the liberation of Cuba in 1985, and provided escort to the cargo planes carrying the Federal forces to the island.



For more pics, click here.

Ok, that's it for this subject this time.  I've got plans for an F/A-18C, an RF-18, and an F-15 in FRoCA markings, but they have yet to be even started.

[Brian da Basher]

Wow Anthony yet another cool fleet! I really like your alternate history of the FRoCA. Your cool camo schemes and markings bring new life to these birds and your backstories grip the imagination!

I am particularly found of your Mauler...a very cool design that unfoprtunately we don't see more kits of.

Those late FRoCA markings are very interesting ad resemble some cool custom-made decals I got from a certain friend in Michigan recently...

Brian da Basher

[Hobbes]

What cigar commercial would that be? from 'Independence'?

[Nick]

That is one excellent backstory and the models are looking good too. I particularly like the way you kept the numbers and types of aircraft to a realistic minimum instead of going for overkill with a 1000 B-52s etc.

Nick B)  

[anthonyp]

What cigar commercial would that be? from 'Independence'?

Gispert is the brand of cigar I got the idea from.  There's a radio commercial where a vacationing couple is having a cigar, and the husband starts talking about the Honduran flag and why it's got five stars in it.  He BSes some reason, and the wife corrects him about the stars representing the five original members of the Federal Republic of Central America (she listened to the tour guide).

I just ran with it at that point.   :dum:

I try to keep my airfleets close to what they might be in reality, if not a little larger.