1-300 Decals Communist China Bars

1-300 Communist China / PLAAF Bars
 
These 1-300 Communist China / PLAAF Bar decals reproduce the distinctive red star-and-bar national aircraft insignia used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of the People’s Republic of China. The marking features a red five-pointed star outlined in yellow, containing the yellow Chinese characters “八一” (8–1), with red horizontal bars extending from either side. It has become one of the most recognizable military aircraft markings of Communist China.
 
The People’s Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949, following the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force was formally established on November 11, 1949, initially operating a mixture of captured Nationalist aircraft and equipment inherited from the preceding conflict. Early Communist aviation units had flown aircraft such as P-51 Mustangs, PT-19 trainers, and de Havilland Mosquitos before the PLAAF rapidly transitioned to Soviet-designed aircraft.
 
The centerpiece of the PLAAF insignia is the “August 1” or “Bayi” star. The characters 八 (eight) and 一 (one) refer to August 1, 1927, the date of the Nanchang Uprising traditionally regarded by the People’s Liberation Army as the beginning of the Communist armed forces. The red star with the “8–1” characters was formally adopted as the PLA military emblem in 1949.
 
When used as an aircraft marking, the Bayi star is combined with distinctive horizontal red bars outlined in yellow. The insignia has been carried on the wings, fuselage, and vertical tails of PLAAF aircraft, with exact size and placement varying according to aircraft type and period. Modern PLAAF aircraft may also carry low-visibility versions of the marking in place of the traditional bright red-and-yellow design.
 
During the Korean War, the newly formed PLAAF gained its first major combat experience, primarily operating Soviet-built MiG-15 fighters. Over the following decades, China produced large numbers of Soviet-derived aircraft such as the J-5, J-6, J-7, H-5, and H-6, all of which became closely associated with the red PLAAF star-and-bar insignia.
 
The same basic national marking continued through China’s later development of indigenous combat aircraft, appearing on types such as the J-8, Q-5, J-10, J-11, J-16, J-20, and numerous bombers, transports, trainers, and support aircraft. The continuity of the insignia makes these markings useful for representing Chinese military aircraft from the early Cold War through the modern era.
 
Product Features
Designed for 1-300 / 6mm Chinese military aircraft miniatures
Reproduces the distinctive People’s Liberation Army Air Force star-and-bar insignia
Features the traditional red star and bars with yellow outlining
Includes the characteristic yellow “八一” (8–1) markings within the central star
Represents the August 1 / Bayi emblem of the People’s Liberation Army
Suitable for Cold War through modern PLAAF aircraft
Appropriate for aircraft such as the MiG-15/J-2, J-5, J-6, J-7, J-8, Q-5, H-5, H-6, J-10, J-11, J-16, J-20, and other historically appropriate Chinese aircraft
Suitable for fighters, attack aircraft, bombers, transports, trainers, and other PLAAF aircraft
A separate PLAAF Low Visibility version is also available for appropriate modern aircraft.
Printed on thin waterslide decal paper
Decals must be individually cut from the sheet before application
 
For wargamers building Communist Chinese or modern People’s Liberation Army Air Force collections, the red Bayi star-and-bar is the essential national marking. From Korean War-era MiG-15s and Cold War J-6s and J-7s to modern J-10s, J-16s, and J-20s, these decals provide the distinctive identification needed for a 1-300 Chinese aircraft force.