+++FINISHED+++ Tim's 1/48 Fairchild Republic A10A Thunderbolt II (AKA Warthog!) - 81TFW, RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk, UK,1980's

[Tim Moff]

Dont get me wrong, the triple Maverick rails used to be a rare thing and its cool to see them with just a pair of missiles each in actual use. Just a personal preference re light loads - maybe stems from seeing them regularly with nothing on at Donna Nook.

I have a single triple AGM rack spare if needed, the other seems to be missing from the box.

The Kinetic F-16s have rather nicer Mavericks as well as single rails I believe, I have a pair here for mine and theyre much better than the Tamiya offerings. Maybe worth a wanted ad?

ps - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-World-Power-Journal-Vol-Spring/dp/1874023360/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464539008&sr=8-1&keywords=world+air+power+journal+vol+16I might have just bought a copy myself...

Ps - I bought the World Air Power A10 special...waiting for it to drop through the letter box!!

[RMP2]

I'm thinking in spirit of the GB that the aircraft will be armed as per heightened tension between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, so on a war footing (like in the book we can not mention the name of !!).

Hence a warload similar to Desert Storm.

Thanks for the kind offer.

Have to think about the dual AGMs on the triple launchers or going down the single missile per station route. The MK20s are in - the major threat and tactics from the 'Reds' was armoured thrust deep into Germany - I remember training to fight it...the A10 was the main weapon to counter this thrust - hence the thinking behind the weapons.

Aye, but theres that little gun too. All those SAMs and AA will require some high G stuff - Got To Survive To Make The Kills... (or some other catchphrase...)

Tricky when theres so many options to nail on the things.

Oh, and cool re the book/mag. Hopefully its as good as the volume with the Frogfoot feature.

Edited May 29, 2016 by RMP2

[Tim Moff]

Engine mount on, after much filling, sanding etc to try to rid the mount of (my nemesis) seams....not sure if it has, will see when I prime.

The HUD glass was one of the parts already painted when I acquired the kit, not much I can do with it.

Bit more filling and sanding before the wings go on. Have dipped the windscreen/canopy in Klear, will get on with masking them up.

Weapons wise, may have come to a solution. Found this WIP below, the guy just chopped the rails of the triple Maverick launcher - I may do the same, to craft the LAU-117's, allowing 2 x single AGM65D hardpoints. Then some MK20s and MK82s. ALQ-119 and DRA for a pair of winders.

http://imodeler.com/groups/work-in-progress-aircraft/forum/topic/an-a-10-project-in-48th-scale-revell-and-tamiya/

[Tim Moff]

Some more sanding to do on my nemesis, the seams.....soon be ready to add the wings, canopy and prime. Goining for a grey primer, I think the black base will not be as effective with such dark camo.

Will look at a lighter post fade in some areas.

State of play:

Weapons choice made - 2 x AGM65D, 4 x MK20 Rockeyes, 2 x MK82, (EDIT - World Air Power explained that only 1 type of bomb was carried at a time - so now its 4 MK20s)....AQ-119 and DRA with 2 x AIM9M's

I hate seams....

I really do hate seams!!

But we are getting there!

Edited May 31, 2016 by Tim Moff

[RMP2]

My WAPJ hasnt arrived yet.

The single bomb type sounds just like the Su-25 (only two types of A-G weapons can be used at one time) which is down to software limitations for aiming n stuff, is it the same for the A-10?

Im half pleased and half upset - that revised load out is exactly what I was going to go for. Terrible times indeed.

Do you know if the green vs white AGM-65s denotes the version of the missile or was it just "fashion"?

[Tim Moff]

My WAPJ hasnt arrived yet.

The single bomb type sounds just like the Su-25 (only two types of A-G weapons can be used at one time) which is down to software limitations for aiming n stuff, is it the same for the A-10?

Im half pleased and half upset - that revised load out is exactly what I was going to go for. Terrible times indeed.

Do you know if the green vs white AGM-65s denotes the version of the missile or was it just "fashion"?

It did not explain why it only carried a variety of 2 A2G munition types, if it was a technical thing or just mission reasons.

Looking into the AGM65s, (also the MK20s), they were initially painted white, but Olive Drab started to come in during the mid 80's, now they are grey.

You can tell the type of missile by the seeker head, the clear lens (AGM65D) being the Imaging Infra Red, the goldish head (AGM65A/B) being TV Magnification.

Looking at the loads, the D's were used at night as well as day (mixed loads, 1 type per wing), where as the A/B's could only be used during the day.

Got these today via E Bay, to help with the stenciling etc, as the Tamiya kits are not too good, the Xtradecals only have the unit stuff.

Wings and canopy/windshield on!

Thats most of the main assembly done. Although an old kit, the Tamiya fit, I have to say, is really good.

And this arrived, great for references!!

So onwards to priming and shading!!

[modelling minion]

Great work so far Tim.

Really looking like an A-10 now.

[Tim Moff]

Primer on - frames first:

then the main grey:

Off for a bit of family time in Devon tomorrow, so preshade etc will be either Sunday or maybe next week(end?!).

[RMP2]

Yup, thats an A-10 is that.

Really making me want to make a start on mine now!

And yes, I went with the Tamiya too - I know theres nay sayers about accuracy of an aerial or something here n there, but the fit looks great (for an A-10 kit).

Cheers re the Mavericks too, looks like a nice special edition mag youve picked up, Ill keep an eye out for a copy.

Youre going with the Euro/Lizard camo arent you? Id be interested to see how the preshading comes through the dark camo colours. I found black preshading only just showed through the green of RAF grey/green camo.

Happy hols!

[Jabba]

Coming along nicely.

[PaulR]

Fantastic build thread, and exactly the spirit of this GB! Am tossing up between a 1/72 A10 or a BT coded F-15C once I get my sparkvark done; this may decide it!

Cheers, Paul

[mirageiv]

Very nice Tim, look forward to the Euro 1 scheme (if it is that!), one of my fav camo jobs.

[Tim Moff]

Got the paint on over the weekend....

A bit of pre-shade:

Main Paint job

The lighter green seems a bit bright, and some of the contrast/pre-shade looks a bit stark, but under some gloss coat and then matt coat, think it will be fine.

Free hand with Mr Color paints.

[RMP2]

Yup. Nailed it.

[modelling minion]

Certainly did, that looks great Tim.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Don't forget the 81st carried the AIM-9s and jammer on opposite sides to everyone else. AIM-9s to starboard.

Triple racks are correct, but only two Mavericks per rack (middle and outer). Pictures of three are 'promotional'. Another point is the centre pylon (No 6) is not used with a warload. Long range tanks are not a 'combat' fit - only for ferrying. Only 4,6 & 8 are 'wet' pylons.

Amuses my to see what some people hang under a Hog at times.

Edited June 14, 2016 by bentwaters81tfw

[Tim Moff]

Good point - can you let me know what when where Port/Stbd

Lol just read it - Aim9 Stbd ta !!

[RMP2]

Don't forget the 81st carried the AIM-9s and jammer on opposite sides to everyone else. AIM-9s to starboard.

Triple racks are correct, but only two Mavericks per rack (middle and outer). Pictures of three are 'promotional'. Another point is the centre pylon (No 6) is not used with a warload. Long range tanks are not a 'combat' fit - only for ferrying. Only 5,6 & 7 are 'wet' pylons.

Im going to dare question some of that...

AIM-9s and the ALQ pods could be carried either side, yep.

According to World Air Power Journal regards the triple Maverick rails - during Iraq stuff when carried in pairs they could go in any configuration with TV guided together on one wing and IR/IIR under the other.

Regards wet pylons, I think you mean pylons 4,6 and 8? I found a photo to back me up with that one!

I await my flaming and horse dismounting!

[helios16v]

Watching this. I used to have some of these birds (out of New York & Massachusetts) fly directly over my house almost weekly while growing up. They certainly left an impression on me. I've got a 1/48 Monogram in the stash w/ a Verlinden update kit. I just have to keep my eyes open for some decals from either the NY or MA units (good luck there).

Keep up the good work. Cheers.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Good spot, yes, my error on the wet pylons, 4,6 & 8. As for the Mavericks, using the inside rail on the TER caused an operational problem, I believe it was after they fitted flare dispensers to the rear of the gear pods. Whether the missile exhaust could trigger the flares, I'm not sure, but certainly the war fit is middle and outer.

[RMP2]

Hmm. I did some digging re the 65 fitment, all I found was concerns regarding tyre scorching from the inner rail. Will have to look at the Journal again, maybe I misread.

[helios16v]

Hmm. I did some digging re the 65 fitment, all I found was concerns regarding tyre scorching from the inner rail. Will have to look at the Journal again, maybe I misread.

That would actually make a lot of sense considering the main gear wheels don't fully retract into the wing...and an inner rail launch would be just adjacent to the gear.

[RMP2]

I did misread regards the Maverick fitment, the paragraph before it was talking about Mk83s being carried in pairs on TERs in and configuration - slant or horizontal, it was that I was thinking of. Doh.

[Col.]

This one is going well Tim. A complicated camouflage scheme and lots of research into the weapons load but your hard work will be repaid in full once done

[mirageiv]

wow Tim that Euro 1 scheme is really well done, the blend between all the colours is very realistic.