Cold War Front of the Korean Peninsula With the end of World War II the tension between U.S. capitalism and Soviet communism deepened and split a rift between the countries of the world. The forefront of this rift was on the 38th parallel in the Korean peninsula. On opposing sides of the rift was the Democratic People's Republic of Korea supported by the Chinese, and Korea supported by the U.S. On June 25, 1950 war finally erupted when the armies of North Korea made the initial offensive and occupied Seoul, driving the American lead U.S. forces all the way to Pusan. In September of that same year, a U.N. counter-offensive met with success when U.N. forces recaptured Seoul after the battle of Inchon, and pushed further north to take Pyongyang, the Capitol of North Korea. The following month, the Chinese Army swarmed into the Korean Peninsula to support the North Korean forces, overwhelming the UN forces with sheer numbers. By January 1951, Seoul was in the hands of North Korea once again. After the UN forces went on the offensive again in March and reclaimed Seoul for the second time, the battle came to a standstill along the 38th parallel. The end to the drawn out series of advances and retreats finally came 3 years after the start of the war, when a cease-fire was reached in July of 1953. Red area indicates the area occupied by North Korea Blue area indicates the area occupied by Korea (U.N.)

19 Countries at War The United Nations was formed in October of 1945. A UN security bill drawn-up over the Korean conflict was passed 5 years later, stating that armies from a total of 14 countries lead by the United States of America would vow to support Korea. On the other side, the communist countries of the Soviet Union and China, which would send a volunteer corps, vowed to support North Korea. From both sides a total of 19 countries would clash in war White lettering represents UN Forces Yellow lettering represents North Korean and Chinese Armies

Many AFVs were on the move ! When the Korean war occurred, Armored vehicles the Korean Army have had were just only some 50 M8 Greyhound and U.S. Military did not stationed in Korea. North Korea had a lot of Russian T34/85 tanks and enter them to the war. Thus, North Korea took advantage at the first period of the war. Getting into the scrape, U.N. force sent many tanks; M4 shermans, Cromwells, M26 Pershings and Centurions one after another to launch the counterattack. Number of U.N. tanks entered to the frontline became hundreds at last. There was a severe tank battle between M26s and T34s during the war. There are many models of armored vehicles that joined the Korean war in the line of Tamiya Military Miniature series. Choose your favorite... Making dioramas and comperison of the vehicle designs looking on the models will also be interesting. Click on pictures below for enlargements and explanations

Rivals in the sky high avobe the Korean Peninsula The first air combat between jet fighters was taken place at the Korean war. MiG 15, the latest Russian jet fighter with swept wings gave the U.N. Military a terrible shock. Having superiority in climbing power and speed, MiG 15s overwhelmed F-84G Thunderjets with straight wings and other U.N. aircrafts. Against MiG 15, U.S. air force entered swept-winged F-86F Sabre to get back the mastery of the air. Old-fashioned reciprocating-engine-powered aircrafts also entered to the front line and showed their performance as ground striker with their superior low altitude stability. F-51D Mustang should be the most famous one of them. MiG 15, F-84G and F-51D are now under producing from Tamiya. Click on pictures below for enlargements and explanations

Introducting the next member of the 1/16 R/C Tank Series Continuing in the line-up of Tiger I Early Production and M4 Sherman 105mm Howitzer is the next 1/16 Radio Control Tank, the M26 Pershing. The U.S. Medium Tank M26 Pershing has been described as the source of American modern tanks. This phenomenal R/C kit features engine sound, track clanking sound and cannon firing sounds digitally recorded from an actual M26 Pershing. And what's more, all of these sounds are synchronized with tank movement. Workable break lamps and other action features such as recoil, make this the ultimate R/C tank kit. *Click here for more detailed information