Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => Canadian GB => Topic started by: apophenia on October 19, 2026, 09:31:19 AM
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A bit of moderator silliness ...
Since the more right-libertarian leaning of our southern neighbours occasionally refer to "Soviet Canuckistan", I though I'd run with it. (JP Vieira also touched on an alternative communist Canada.)
So, here are a pair of MiG interceptors belonging to the Air Forces of the Canadian People's Army (AF-CPA) ...
Note that AF-CPA aircraft were grouped in a Soviet V-VS style - ie: in a lettered Flight (of 3 to 4 aircraft) in a numbered Squadron (of 12 to 15 aircraft). Those, in turn were grouped in a Regiment (of 3 x squadrons) within a geographically-situated Aviation Division (of 5 to 6 regiments) under an Air Army (of 3 to 10 aviation divisions plus SAM and radar units). Collectively, interceptor and fighter units were also organised under FAR-NAD (Fighter Aviation Regiments of National Air Defense).
In AF-CPA usage, all aircraft were given popular names in one of the two official languages of the Canadian People's Republic. Both fighters and interceptors were assigned popular names beginning with the letter 'F'.
Top: A MiG-21F-13 Férocité-C of 'A' Flight of 222 Squadron belonging to the 20th Interceptor Regiment [1] home-based at CAB (Canadian Aviabase) Bagotville in the Laurentien Oblast. Detachments from 222 would regularly be dispatched to reinforce CAB Camarade Gagné [2] or CAB Greenwood (whilst on loan to the Maritime Air Army District).
'Bleu 06' wears standard AF-CPA markings over an unpolished natural metal airframe. The 'Socialist Maple Leaf' roundel appears in 6 x locations - upper and lower wing surfaces plus vertical tail fin. The lark badge under the cockpit refers to 222's nickname, 'les Alouettes'.
Bottom: A MiG-25PD Foxbat of 'C' Flight of 701 Squadron belonging to the 73rd Interceptor Regiment [3] which was home-based at CAB Cold Lake in the Athabascan Oblast. Detachments from 701 Squadron routinely deployed to CAB Whitehorse in the Yukon Oblast (or south to CAB Coalbanks) to counter criminal US overflights. [4]
This unit was often referred to as the 73rd Mixed Aviation Regiment, justified by a small number of attached recce Foxbat (and 2-seat MiG-25PU conversion trainers). However, that pretense was later dropped when the available MiG-25Rs were transferred north to CAB Yellowknife.
'Blue 55' wears the Bear's Paw emblem of the 73rd Interceptor Regiment on its forward fuselage. The 'speedbird' symbol of the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau appears on the side of the intakes.
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[1] 'Les Alouettes' were part of the 2nd Aviation Division assigned to the Eastern Air Army District. The squadron nickname was 'liberated' from the imperialist-era RCAF's 425e escadron.
[2] Formerly Aéroport de Sherbrooke, this aviabase was renamed to honour Hero of the Canadian Socialist Revolution, Édouard Adélard Gagné. 'Cé Gé' ('Say Zhay' en anglais) became the major interceptor base in the comté of Cantons-de-l'Est/Eastern Townships County.
[3] The 73rd was part of the 7th Aviation Division assigned to the Northwest Air Army District. The AF-CPA proudly reappropriated the NATO codename 'Foxbat' for its own use.
[4] The Albertan town of Coalbanks had been renamed for worker-exploiting capitalist, William Lethbridge. By order of the Supreme Soviet in Ottawa, the name of that bourgeois speculator was expunged and the original name restored to the city (and to its aviabase).