General Motors "Korea Kat"

[Brian da Basher]

In 1949, North Korea was overflying the Republic of South Korea with absolute impunity, due to the fact that the nascent South Korean Air Force was only equipped with small artillery spotting and liason aircraft known as "Grasshoppers". Clearly something had to be done to curb this continued violation of South Korean airspace. In February of 1949, Syngman Rhee sent an emissary to approach all U.S. aircraft manufacturers seeking a modern air defence fighter. Unfortunately, the premier U.S. aircraft manufacturers Lockheed, North American, Republic, Grumman, Boeing and Douglas were up to their eyballs just fulfilling the U.S. demand for modern types. Another solution had to be found and found fast.

Fortunately, the South Korean emissary was wise enough to cast his net further afield and was able to strike a deal with the General Motors Corp. whose wartime experience manufacturing FM-2 Wildcats was still a fresh memory. General Motors was able to contract a young aeronautical engineer, Nev Englander, who was desperate to finance his recent purchase of a 1/144 scale house and had developed a modern jet fighter using as much of the original FM-2 design as possible and mating it with a General Electric jet powerplant built under license and the GM F-83.5 Korea Kat was born...

1st of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The new F-83.5 GM Korea Kats were rushed into production and deliveries of the new jet began in May of 1950. By the time the North invaded the South, there were two squadrons of General Motors Korea Kats in service with more arriving daily. While the Korea Kats were not able to completely stop the invasion, they were able to make mince-meat out of the North Korean Il-2 and IL-10 ground attack bombers and help the R.O.K. Army to make a somehwat orderly retreat until they could be bolstered by U.S. forces. The Korea Kats proved their mettle against Soviet-supplied MiG 15s, achieving a 3.5 to 1 loss ratio during 1951. Once the South Korean Air Force could be supplied with more modern types, the four squadrons that had been delivered were reassigned to ground attack and tank busting duties at which they excelled. The example shown here is now on display at the R.O.K. Museum of Air Power in Uijongbu.

2nd of 6 pics

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The base kit for this little project is the 1/72 scale Academy FM-2 Wildcat. While the box says it's an F-4F, clearly this little gem has the easily recognizible features of the later General Motors project (the rudder cut-out being a dead giveaway). Granted, this may not be the best detailed or accurate 1/72 Wildcat out there, but the kit goes together easy and is ripe for whiffery! While robbing the mighty fine front half of the radial engine for another project, I fiddled around with it trying to decide what to do with the leftovers. It was then that I noticed the tip of an extra F-15 nosecone was a perfect fit and that with some careful surgery, I could turn this into a swept-wing jet fighter. All I had to do was find some swept horiz. stabs from my spares box and chop a little off the tail to attach a burner can, which I scratched from a butane nozzle.

3rd of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I wanted to try to camoflage the wingtips, so I converted some 1/144 scale torpedoes into wingtip drop-tanks. I also wanted to give this little fighter a load-out so I attached some underwing rockets I found in my spares box. Lastly, I wanted to fill the gap in the belly where you can attach a stand, so I found a 1/144 belly tank for an F-15 and used it to cover up the hole. Here's a shot of the undersides.

4th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I knew it would be next to impossible to hide the fact that this is really a GM FM-2 Wildcat, so I had to come up with an explanation. I had some R.O.K. Air Force markings in my decal stash and decided that the idea of General Motors modifying the FM-2 to be a modern (for 1949) jet fighter might work. I remember reading that North American could barely keep up with U.S. demand for F-86 Sabres and decided that in my wacky alt. history all the other main U.S. manufacturers were unable to help too, bringing the fine firm of General Motors into the picture. NMF is a good choice for 1950 jet aircraft, so the paintjob was simple, but I decided to complicate things a little by adding the red detail around the nose intake and the O.D. anti-glare panel. The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics.

5th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I actually completed this project last night. I probably spent less than 12 hours total on it. It helped that I'd already "advance-engineered" this weeks ago so that when the group build kicked off all I had to do was make a few cuts with my trusty razor-saw and CA it together! I know you're all shocked I didn't come up with another spatted wonder, but I hope you enjoyed seeing a swept-wing, jet powered Korea Kat!

Last of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Maverick]

Kick azz Kat their Brian.  Something totally different to say the very least!!

[Leigh]

Awesome, looks like it belongs in "Buck Rogers" or "Sky Captain". Totally retro sci-fi.

[Chap]

Great work yet again Brian! I have the same kit in the stash and this gives me some ideas for the FM-2.

~Steve

[Eddie M.]

WOW! Fantastic BdaB, plain and simple!!
    Eddie  

[Rafael]

...And the swept wings are a wonderful addition.

Great detail on the burner can, and the intake with the radial behind gives the impression of a big axial turbojet.

Excellent work, Brian!!!    

Rafa

[cthulhu77]

 that should really confuse them on the other sites...great stuff!

[nev]

Awww, look at the cute ickle airyplane    

General Motors was able to contract a young aeronautical engineer, Nev Englander,

Who is this guy?  He sounds like quite a stud    

[traceyrb]

Bri,

That's really cool!!!!!  B)  You amaze me with what you do to these planes!!!    :f16:  

Great job!!!  

Talk to you later!!

Love ya,
Trace          

[lancer]

WOW!!!! indeed! That is AMAZING Brian. Superb concept and brilliantly executed. That is the muttrs nuts old son.  Serious kudos to you..