Franklin Mint B11E201 1:48 MiG-17F 3020 North Vietnamese Air Force Colonel Tomb Vietnam War
We are currently away on holiday until Friday, 2 October. Orders can still be placed as normal. Dispatch resumes on Monday, 5 October.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
- Description
- Condition
- Grading
- Shipping
- Returns
A striking and substantial 1:48 scale diecast representation of North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-17F aircraft 3020, one of the most recognisable Vietnamese fighter aircraft associated with the air war over North Vietnam. Released within the Franklin Mint Armour Collection under model code B11E201, this retired collector model is traditionally marketed under the famous “Colonel Toon” or “Colonel Tomb” story.
The MiG-17 played a major role in the Vietnamese People's Air Force during the Vietnam War. Although already an older design when confronted by increasingly sophisticated American fighters, its agility at lower speeds and relatively small size allowed experienced Vietnamese pilots to challenge aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II, F-8 Crusader and F-105 Thunderchief.
Aircraft 3020 became particularly well known through photographs showing its distinctive North Vietnamese camouflage and numerous red victory markings. It was associated with the 923rd Fighter Regiment and was flown by several Vietnamese pilots during its operational career, including experienced MiG-17 pilots such as Lê Hải.
Franklin Mint and many older collector references describe 3020 as the personal aircraft of the mysterious North Vietnamese ace “Colonel Toon”, also known as “Colonel Tomb”. Post-war research has established that no such individual ace existed. The legend appears to have developed among American aircrews during the conflict, with the victory stars carried by aircraft such as 3020 mistakenly interpreted as the personal score of a single pilot.
North Vietnamese practice meant that victory markings could represent successes achieved by several pilots while flying the same aircraft. This makes 3020 historically interesting in its own right, even without the Colonel Tomb legend, as the markings reflected the operational history of the aircraft rather than one individual's combat record.
The aircraft represented by the model is generally described as a MiG-17F, although 3020 is also identified historically as a Chinese-built Shenyang J-5, the licence-produced development of the Soviet MiG-17. Externally the aircraft retained the familiar swept-wing configuration and compact appearance which characterised the MiG-17 family.
The MiG-17F was powered by a Klimov VK-1F turbojet with afterburner and carried a particularly heavy cannon armament comprising one 37 mm cannon and two 23 mm cannon. Rather than relying on guided missiles, MiG-17 pilots had to manoeuvre into relatively close range before opening fire, placing considerable emphasis on turning performance and pilot skill.
Its combination of swept wings, high-mounted horizontal stabilisers and circular nose intake gave the MiG-17 one of the most distinctive fighter profiles of the early Cold War. During the Vietnam conflict, the type demonstrated that a comparatively simple subsonic fighter could remain dangerous when employed effectively against faster and technologically more advanced opponents.
This retired Franklin Mint Armour Collection release has considerable display presence in its large 1:48 scale. The model combines heavyweight diecast construction with the distinctive camouflage and markings of aircraft 3020, detailed cockpit treatment, swept wings, prominent cannon installation, external fuel tanks and detailed undercarriage.
Fact Sheet
Brand: Franklin Mint
Series: Armour Collection / Precision Models
Scale: 1:48
Model Code/MPN: B11E201
Aircraft: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F Fresco-C
Historical Type: Shenyang J-5 / MiG-17F type
Aircraft Number: 3020
Operator: Vietnamese People's Air Force / North Vietnamese Air Force
Associated Unit: 923rd Fighter Regiment
Associated Pilot: Lê Hải and other VPAF pilots
Collector Attribution: “Colonel Toon” / “Colonel Tomb”
Historical Note: Colonel Tomb is now regarded as a wartime legend rather than an identified North Vietnamese pilot
Conflict: Vietnam War
Country: North Vietnam
Role: Fighter / interceptor
Armament: One 37 mm N-37 cannon and two 23 mm NR-23 cannon
Status: Retired collector model
Country of Manufacture: China
Material: Heavyweight diecast metal with detailed plastic sub-components
Special Features: Authentic aircraft 3020 markings, distinctive North Vietnamese camouflage, victory markings, detailed cockpit, swept-wing configuration, cannon detailing, external fuel tanks and detailed landing gear
Dimensions
Length: Approximately 9.25" or 23.5 cm
Width (Wingspan): Approximately 7.9" or 20.1 cm
Model Condition - Mint (10/10)
- The model is in mint condition overall.
Box condition - Excellent (8/10)
- The box is in excellent condition overall for its age, with some shelf wear present.
Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.
Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Grading Criteria
Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.
Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.
Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.
Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.
Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.
Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.
Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.
Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.
If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.
For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.
Holiday dispatch update
We are currently away on holiday until Friday, 2 October. Orders can still be placed as normal. Dispatch resumes on Monday, 5 October. Please see below for further general information.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Dispatch & Tracking
Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.
If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.
Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.
UK Delivery
-
Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.
-
Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.
-
Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.
International Delivery
We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.
-
Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.
-
Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.
Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.
If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.
Import Duties & Taxes
For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.
Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.
If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.
We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.
Returns
You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.
Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.
We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.
To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.
Choose options
- Description
- Condition
- Grading
- Shipping
- Returns
A striking and substantial 1:48 scale diecast representation of North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-17F aircraft 3020, one of the most recognisable Vietnamese fighter aircraft associated with the air war over North Vietnam. Released within the Franklin Mint Armour Collection under model code B11E201, this retired collector model is traditionally marketed under the famous “Colonel Toon” or “Colonel Tomb” story.
The MiG-17 played a major role in the Vietnamese People's Air Force during the Vietnam War. Although already an older design when confronted by increasingly sophisticated American fighters, its agility at lower speeds and relatively small size allowed experienced Vietnamese pilots to challenge aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II, F-8 Crusader and F-105 Thunderchief.
Aircraft 3020 became particularly well known through photographs showing its distinctive North Vietnamese camouflage and numerous red victory markings. It was associated with the 923rd Fighter Regiment and was flown by several Vietnamese pilots during its operational career, including experienced MiG-17 pilots such as Lê Hải.
Franklin Mint and many older collector references describe 3020 as the personal aircraft of the mysterious North Vietnamese ace “Colonel Toon”, also known as “Colonel Tomb”. Post-war research has established that no such individual ace existed. The legend appears to have developed among American aircrews during the conflict, with the victory stars carried by aircraft such as 3020 mistakenly interpreted as the personal score of a single pilot.
North Vietnamese practice meant that victory markings could represent successes achieved by several pilots while flying the same aircraft. This makes 3020 historically interesting in its own right, even without the Colonel Tomb legend, as the markings reflected the operational history of the aircraft rather than one individual's combat record.
The aircraft represented by the model is generally described as a MiG-17F, although 3020 is also identified historically as a Chinese-built Shenyang J-5, the licence-produced development of the Soviet MiG-17. Externally the aircraft retained the familiar swept-wing configuration and compact appearance which characterised the MiG-17 family.
The MiG-17F was powered by a Klimov VK-1F turbojet with afterburner and carried a particularly heavy cannon armament comprising one 37 mm cannon and two 23 mm cannon. Rather than relying on guided missiles, MiG-17 pilots had to manoeuvre into relatively close range before opening fire, placing considerable emphasis on turning performance and pilot skill.
Its combination of swept wings, high-mounted horizontal stabilisers and circular nose intake gave the MiG-17 one of the most distinctive fighter profiles of the early Cold War. During the Vietnam conflict, the type demonstrated that a comparatively simple subsonic fighter could remain dangerous when employed effectively against faster and technologically more advanced opponents.
This retired Franklin Mint Armour Collection release has considerable display presence in its large 1:48 scale. The model combines heavyweight diecast construction with the distinctive camouflage and markings of aircraft 3020, detailed cockpit treatment, swept wings, prominent cannon installation, external fuel tanks and detailed undercarriage.
Fact Sheet
Brand: Franklin Mint
Series: Armour Collection / Precision Models
Scale: 1:48
Model Code/MPN: B11E201
Aircraft: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F Fresco-C
Historical Type: Shenyang J-5 / MiG-17F type
Aircraft Number: 3020
Operator: Vietnamese People's Air Force / North Vietnamese Air Force
Associated Unit: 923rd Fighter Regiment
Associated Pilot: Lê Hải and other VPAF pilots
Collector Attribution: “Colonel Toon” / “Colonel Tomb”
Historical Note: Colonel Tomb is now regarded as a wartime legend rather than an identified North Vietnamese pilot
Conflict: Vietnam War
Country: North Vietnam
Role: Fighter / interceptor
Armament: One 37 mm N-37 cannon and two 23 mm NR-23 cannon
Status: Retired collector model
Country of Manufacture: China
Material: Heavyweight diecast metal with detailed plastic sub-components
Special Features: Authentic aircraft 3020 markings, distinctive North Vietnamese camouflage, victory markings, detailed cockpit, swept-wing configuration, cannon detailing, external fuel tanks and detailed landing gear
Dimensions
Length: Approximately 9.25" or 23.5 cm
Width (Wingspan): Approximately 7.9" or 20.1 cm
Model Condition - Mint (10/10)
- The model is in mint condition overall.
Box condition - Excellent (8/10)
- The box is in excellent condition overall for its age, with some shelf wear present.
Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.
Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Grading Criteria
Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.
Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.
Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.
Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.
Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.
Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.
Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.
Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.
If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.
For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.
Holiday dispatch update
We are currently away on holiday until Friday, 2 October. Orders can still be placed as normal. Dispatch resumes on Monday, 5 October. Please see below for further general information.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Dispatch & Tracking
Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.
If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.
Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.
UK Delivery
-
Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.
-
Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.
-
Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.
International Delivery
We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.
-
Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.
-
Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.
Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.
If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.
Import Duties & Taxes
For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.
Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.
If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.
We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.
Returns
You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.
Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.
We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.
To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.
Suggested links
Recently added models
Browse Sold Archive
Browse previously sold diecast aircraft and collectable models from The Collectables Vault. This archive shows past stock, rare releases, and examples of the models that may return in future collections.
Free Express UK Shipping
On orders over £100.
Satisfied or refunded
Building and maintaining our customers’ trust.
Top-notch support
Reliable and customer focussed service
Secure & Flexible Payments
Pay with multiple secure payment options