Ron Sorobey

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His grandparents immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 1899 and 1912. His interest in model making had its roots in his Father's service in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. During the war Ron’s Father took dozens of photos of ships, aircraft and military vehicles that filled two albums. Ron became fascinated with military hardware and began building models at the age of ten. Initially he built US and British ship and aircraft models. At this time, he began to expand his interests into military vehicles and figures.

In 1970’s, Ron was a serving officer in the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa.

Being of Ukrainian ancestry and an avid amateur historian, Ron was always looking for models that featured Ukrainian subject matter. However models with a Ukrainian theme were virtually nonexistent. Nevertheless, it was occasionally possible to find one, made outside of Ukraine.

More recently, in independent Ukraine, established model companies began to produce Ukrainian war miniatures. Among two of the best examples of these new model companies are ICM and Roden of Ukraine. It is possible now to make figures of Cossack, Ukrainian MiG-29's and Ukrainian soldiers on UN peacekeeping duty.

Ron’s only problem now is finding time to build these new kits. He is active in the UCPBA of Ottawa, Knights of Columbus Council 9557, Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Shrine and other local Ukrainian organizations.

He also spends time on his other interest: researching and writing articles on Ukrainian military history. These include:

Konowal VC: A Canadian Hero in 1996 (co-authored with Lubomyr Luciuk Professor of the Royal Military College)

'Filip Konowal, VC: The Rebirth of a Canadian Hero,' Canadian Military History 5, no. 2 [Autumn 1996]: 44-56.

'Cossack Pirates of the Black Sea', June 2003 issue of Military History

'Ukrainians Fight for France', September 2004 issue of World War II Magazine

Ron is a Senior Program Advisor in the Tariff Policy (Customs) Directorate of the Canada Border Services Agency. One of his current Areas of responsibility is preparing classification policies on military vehicles, aircraft, ships and weapons.

 
Contact mail address for interested model hobbyists: 1011-475 Elgin St., Ottawa, ON, K2P 2E6
 
 
 
 
Photographs by Bohdan Malyna: 
 
1. Ukrainian cavalry trooper, Premier Batallion Ukrainien, French Army
of Interior, August - October 1944. 
In August 1944, over 1200 Ukrainians who had been forced to join the 30 Waffen SS Division, switched sides and joined the Allies. They were instrumental in blocking the German Army's main escape route until the main Allied forces reached Eastern France.
Plastic kit - Chinese origin available through most model stores.
 
2. Cossack Colonel and Rota Master (colonel of light cavalry) – (1650)
Made in USA and Great Britain, resin
 
3. Zaporozhian Cossack One, Zaporozhian Cossack Two, Zaporozhian Cossack Three – (1700)
Resin, made in UK.
 
4. King Danylo Romanovych - 1250
Resin kit - made in USA
 
5. Saint Volodomyr the Great - 988
Metal - made in France
 
6. Ukrainian MiG-29 - 1993 
Plastic kit - made in USA
 
7. Ukrainian Dr-biplane Hetmanate Skoropadkyj period – (1919-20)
Plastic, made in Canada
 
8. Ukrainian (UN) peacekeepers - Bosnia - 1994
Made in China, plastic
 
9. Ukrainian Knight and Mongol Warrior - 1251
Resin, made in USA
 
10. Ukrainian Knight vs. Teutonic Knight - 1380 Ґрюнвальдом 15 липня 1410 року
Resin, made in USA.
 
11. Ukrainian knight - 1000
Resin, made in UK