amason61

Update #2: Got the Aires cockpit painted up. NOTE: the IP on the Aires pit is NOT accurate for an A-10C, but if you are knowledgeable enough to know that from looking at it, then you'll probably see other flaws/shortcomings in my build as well. I decided to live with what Aires had to offer. The only modification done to the pit was to remove the A/C duct piping along that sidewalls as this was removed on later Warthogs. Otherwise, this is what you get with the Aires pit: I also cleaned up and reworked the front vent areas and placed some mesh screen behind the openings. I also removed the molded in GPS dome in favor of the Shull GPS dome.

My latest project is to build a HobbyBoss A-10 and throw all kinds of AM and some scratchbuilding at it to bring it up to a modern A-10 standards. In addition to the using the HB A-10, I plan to add: 1) Sierra Hotel resin inlets 2) Aires resin cockpit 3) Royale Resin wheels 4) SuperScale decals #48-1201 for the main markings depicting the 184th FS/188th FW "Flying Razorbacks"; Afterburner decals #48-047 for everything else on the jet! 5) Shawn Hull (Shull) A-10 resin update set. So here we go! First thing is to remove the built-in "bumps" from the HB tails and replace them with better "bumps" from the Shull update set. (Also added slime light panel). Next, removed the vent covers from the forwad fuselage as later A-10s no longer have the doors that HB molded in: More surgery included drilling out the APU exhaust hole under the engine nacelle that would accommodate the updated resin "eyelid" that is installed to direct the hot exhaust flow away from the bottom of the nacelle. I also removed the molded in antennae from the bottom of the forward fuselage which is moved further aft on update Warthogs. A molded in panel was sanded smooth and replaced with a new resin panel. Up next: tackling the Aires resin pit......

Mr. Color paints Aires exhaust Royale Resin nose AirMaster pitot tube/AOA sensors FloryModels dark dirt wash Afterburner decals

Final stages . . . just have to get the bang seat and IP installed.

Got down to some business on the business end of this jet! Using a mix of Alclads (Pale burnt metal, White Aluminium, Jet Exhaust, Gunmetal) until it looked right to me. I still have to weather the inside of the cans, but she's coming along nicely.....

Exhaust update: Okay, so I'm working with the Aires resin exhaust for the Aggressor build and - surprise! - the Aires part is noticeably smaller than the piece it is replacing, mainly where the exhaust attaches to the fuselage. searching modeling forums for a possible solution I found another modeler who cut the donut off of the Airest part and trimmed the kit fuselage-exhaust part and - Shazaam! - the Aires is a drop fit! And the best part is there is the perfect fit on the back end. Now I just gotta get some more painting/weathering done and then we can install.

A few more decals, landing gear, intake lip and flaps installed.

yep, that's right . . . another Aggressor . . . one of my all-time favorites on the Viper, the "Fighting Fulcrum." This is the Tamiya F-16C with Royale Resin nose, Aires P&W exhaust, Aires ACES II seat, and Afterburner decals!

I used a custom Tamiya mix that matched perfectly with the Eduard PE cockpit color. There is a lot of variation in the cockpit shade of "blue-green" that I found in my research . . . but this was the color I settled on.

Other than a scratch-built air scoop on the tail and the canopy hinge and intake/exhaust covers from TwoMikes, this one is OOB. Tamiya, citadel, and MM paints. Iraqi markings stolen from the Eduard Su-25 kit.

Closing in on the finishing line . . . .

It builds up rather nice - a good bang for the buck! It's not the most accurate Su-25 on the market, and the kit intakes are a joke (mine will have intake/exhaust covers to hide this shortcoming. Otherwise, not a lot of parts, good fit on most assemblies and a quick, enjoyable build. If you can snag one with a 40% off coupon from HL, I'd go for it!

Been working on this one for the past week . . . ready for a gloss coat and then some decals . . . .

Kit: Hasegawa Scale: 1/48 Decals: Afterburner "6 Hikotai F-2A/B AM: Shawn Hull GE F110 Exhaust Paint: Mr Color (airframe camo) and Tamiya paints Having built 5 Tamiya F-16s, I was ready to be disappointed with the engineering of Hasegawa's F-2A. Instead, I was pleasantly surpised at the similar breakdown of construction and parts as well as the precise fit of most of the assemblies. A little tidying up of the wing joins and getting a seamless intake were the only places that needed a touch of putty and a little extra work. The F-2 is really a joy to build. I used Mr. Color paints for the first time -- and LOVED them! I used the colors called out on the Afterburner decal sheet and thinned them with Mr. Leveling Thinner and they went down smooth and dried rock hard. Afterburner's F-2A decal sheet has an enormous amouont of stencils to cover the F-2A airframe -- they even include my favorite: decals for the raised white lettering on the tires! I spent several sessions applying all of the tiny markings, but the end result was worth it. The only other addition to the kit was the Shawn Hull GE F-110 exhaust, which is a true work of art! Too bad Shawn recently indicated he is taking a sabbatical from producing his resin otherwise he'd have multiple orders from me! On to the pics:

Wow, there really ARE a lot of decals on this thing! But the Afterburner decals are silky-smooth and are a pleasure to work with. But I have to admit, the decals have got the best of me for tonight!

Got started applying the fantastic Afterburner decals. Looking at all the stencils on the sheet brings two songs to mind: 1) I've only "Just Begun" and, 2) The Long and Winding Road." But it's starting to look wicked good!

I'm using Mr. Color 14 (Navy Blue) and Mr. color 72 (Intermediate Blue) as called for on the Afterburner decal sheet. It's my first time using Mr. color paints and I must say they do lay down nice! I'm using Mr. Hobby Leveling Thinner with them, btw.

Just a little something I've been dabbling with over the past couple of weeks. Got the gloss coat on today and should be ready to add the BEAUTIFUL Afterburner decals starting tomorrow!!! The Shawn Hull GE set is a work of art (I still have some detailing to go on it . . . but I'm liking how it's going so far!).

Honestly, it's a good "3-footer" but upon closer inspection a few of the decals decided not to play nice with the Solvaset and are permanently wrinkled and a few other bits that I'll do differently on my next Crusader build. Even with it's warts, it still looks good in my display case.

Looks like a Gulf War Hero to me, Peter! Fantastic job!

Hasegawa 1:48 Aires Cockpit Aires Wing Bay Aires gear wells SuperScale decals Model Master, Tamiya and Citadel paints Here she is. Not my best effort, but still enjoyable and will be the first Crusader in my display case.

That's really looking great, Peter. Keep up the good work.

Major work all done. Now I've got to figure out how to arm this Crusader. I'm thinking some heavy iron and Zunis. Last pics until she's all done:

Got a little more done today.

I finally decided on markings -- going with: