CANBERRA B(I).Mk.8 Venezuelan Style

With the successful flight of the prototype on Friday the 13th 1949, this paved the way for English Electric to move into production of the first Canberra's. The B.2 bomber version came first & entered service with the RAF in the high level bombing role.


The true interdictor version, corresponds to the third generation of the Canberra-based B.Mk.6 with a completely redesigned cabin hunting eccentric type, reduced to two crew members (pilot and navigator-bombardier); avionics and sighting equipment modernized, structural reinforcements and a new hard spot on each wing for bombs of 454kg or SNAB 68mm rocket launchers on the wings.

The B(I).Mk8 was designed for interdiction missions (hence the prefix "I" in the designation) and attacks low-level, highlighting the improped weapons warehouse to support a package of four guns Mk.V 20mm Hispano Suiza carrying 525 rounds per gun and flares to illuminate the target.

The B(I).Mk8 was a popular aircraft with crews despite its obvious shortcomings of having no ejection seat for the navigator.
Venezuela received 30 Canberras, including eight B(I). Mk.8, at the beginning of 1958 arrived in the Venezuelan Air Force eight individuals, who were assigned to B-Bomber Squadron 39 in Barcelona. In 1977 are updated in the UK changing its name to B(I),Mk,88. The las four were kept in service in the 1980 along with other versions of Canberras after a long life in the Venezuelan Air Force, this aircraft 4B39 was retired on September 16, 1990 after 37 year of service.

. Function: Aircraf interdiction and ground attack

.Source: Unite Kingdom.

.Crew: Two: pilot and navigator-bombardier

.Dimensions: Length: 19.96m, Wingspan:19.49m, Height: 4.75m

.Weights: Empty: 10509kg; Loaded: 25514kg.

.Powerplant: Two Rolls-Royce Avon RA.7Mk109 power from 3401kg

.Performance: Maximum speed:933km/h, Maximum range:5471km, Autonomy combat: 1300km, service ceilling 15000

.Armament: four guns Package Mk.V Hispano Suiza 20mm with 500 rounds per gun, 3628kg of weapons and two hard points on the wings, range of bombs: 454,227,113 and 45 kg; rocket SNAB of 18x68mm.

The model is a 1:48 scale kit manufactured by AirFix (A10102) It is known by modelers a good kit, the instruction are easy to understand, I didn't use the kit decal on this project, I use decals from Latinamerican Canberras 2 multi scale set manufactured by Aztec of Mexico.
Colors: Gray Primer ALC 302, AlcladII White Aluminium Alc-106 and Aluminum ALC-101, Tamiya X-11 Chrome Silver, Tamiya XF-16 Flat Aluminum, Tamiya X-32 Titanium Silver, Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black,Model Master Medium Sea Gray.

B(I) Mk.88 (Mk.8) Venezuelan Air Force ( FAV 4B39) , 39th, Squadron. Barcelona 1958.

North American T6-C/D / T-6G Texan Venezuelan Style.

The North American T-6 Texan was known as "the pilot maker" because of its important role in preparing pilots for combat. Derived from the 1935 N. American NA-16 prototype, a cantilever low-wing monoplane, the Texan filled the need for basic combat trainer during WWII and Beyond.

Between 1941 and 1945, Venezuela received 6 AT-6C and 14 AT-6D which played an important role in national defense at the time of the Second World War. Several of these aircraft were artillery rounds from 7.62 and small loads for coastal patrol aircraft along with other Venezuelan Military Aviation.




Although the US retired the AT-6 from active duty by the end of the 1950's, several nations, including Brazil, China, and Venezuela, utilized "the pilot maker" as their basic trainer well into the 1970's. Today aver 350 T-6 Texans remain in airworthy condition.
During 1946, the Canadian Car and Foundry company developed the Harvard MkIV trainer to the specifications of the AT-6G and produced 285 T-6J under the same design for the USAF Mutual Aid Program. Designated the T-6G, the Texan saw major improvements in increased fuel capacity, an improved cockpit layout, as well as a steerable tail wheel.





On November 03, 1946 the Venezuelan Air Force reached 12 T-6G Texan U.S, brought ona flight from Los Angeles California, to the Air Base Boca de Rio, shipping longer fulfilled by the Venezuelan Air Force to date. Were assigned to the Military Aviation School for training of cadets. These noble apparatus gave way to the t-34 A Mentor and jet Provost Mk.52, being trensferred to No.12 Figther Air Group in 1963 where he met anti-guerrilla missions until it ended its operational life in 1972.

-Function: Basic Training Plane

-Source: United States.
-Crew: Pilot and Student
-Dimensions: Length: 8.83m, Wingspan:12.81m, Height: 3.57m
-Weights: Empty: 1823Kg, Maximum takeoff: 2381Kg.
-Power Plant: One Pratt&Whitney radial engine R-1340-49 Wasp of 600 hp.
-Perfomance: Maximum speed:338Km/h, Cruising speed: 233Km/h, Maximum range: 1191Km; Ceiling: 7400m.
-Armament: Two hard points on each wing for unguided rockets and .30 caliber machine gun pod.

The Kit used was Monogram 5306 in 1:48 scale.
Decal from Aztec Models.
Colors: AlcladII Aluminium (ALC 101), White Aluminium (ALC 106)
Tamiya colors: Flat Black, Red, Blue, Yellow, Dark Yellow, Khaki.
Model Master Colors: Interior Green, Stell and Gunmetal.

Republic P-47D Thunderboldt "RAZORBACK"

The P-47D was equipped with an R-2800-59 engine featuring a water injection system, and could generate up to 2300hp in emergency combat scenario. The first versions were caller "Razorback", because of their sharp-edge dorsal fin running from the canopy to the upper fuselage.

The P-47D was equipped with eight 12.7mm machine-guns, this prototype was able to reach 633km/h. the P-47 came to be used for accompanied the bombers and ground attack missions because of its robustness and its 1ton payload capacity.

The Kit used was ARII Plastic Model 1/48 scale.