Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: billb on June 10, 2013, 09:12:17 AM
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Hi all, and thanks for the invite GTX!
Only one of these N/AW A-10B aircraft was ever actually built and it was an unfortunately unsuccessful sales tool for such a cool beast of a plane. However, it's perfect for a what-if based on the assumption that the US did buy it and use it, instead of the F-15E. The markings (mainly from Revell's F-15E) have this aircraft from US 335th Fighter Sq (Chiefs), based out of Seymour Johnson air base. In real life, they were the first sqn to use the F-15E so they would have been the first to use the N/AW A-10 (that and I had the decals to hand).
As time went on the A-10B would have gotten some of the single seater's upgrades but not all. Why add colour screens for the pilot when the guy in the back seat has a huge plasma TV screen of his own to watch the footy on and the FACES pod is a handy GPS if you get lost on the way to the pub!
The weapons load is modern with the Sniper and FACES pods and the high precision GBU-38s and 12s. While the kit has a really wide range of weapons the ones I've used come from a variety of boxes. The load is supposed to represent a close air support patrol type load in a target rich environment (think what Europe could have been if things went wrong but non-nuclear and all that Eastern Bloc armour came rolling through). The aircraft just circles around until it's needed. & when it's needed nothing does CAS better than an A-10 with a dedicated weapons operator in the backseat blowing stuff up!
Overall the kit builds up very nicely. There are some fit issues around the engine doors but it's good other than that. Extra scratchbuilt stuff detail was added for the main wheelwells which are empty, the rear engine face which doesn;t actually exist and the cockpits which always need extra detail. I also used Eduard zoom sets for the cockpit panels and kit seats. The biggest weakness however is that there's no canopy opening gear at all. The instructions just tell you to glue the canopies shut! The prototype airframe had side-opening canopies which I think look rubbish. The real life production design was to have a single clam shell canopy like the F-14 or -18D/F/G but my skills just aren;t up to making a new canopy from scratch. So I compromised and scratched the required bits and pieces to get it to open like an F-4. All in all there's a fair bit of plastic strip, wire etc in there but hopefully you can't really tell where.
This has been building for some months so rather than repost all the in-progress stuff into one huge post here's a link to a summary of the in-progress if you're interested. http://www.zone-five.net/showthread.php?t=22198 (http://www.zone-five.net/showthread.php?t=22198)
Anyway, enough talking, here's some pics, all comments/ critiques welcome!
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_045_zpsa79c103f.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_044_zpsa22bf5b2.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_042_zpsa5dd1ebf.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_038_zps6f29a994.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_041_zpsff8a979c.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_040_zps91e843c6.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_039_zpseeff365c.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_043_zps689e76f8.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_051_zps02af6fe5.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_049_zpsd0447b5b.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_050_zps99ac9fa1.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_048_zps4b7e86b3.jpg)
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/bbfrms/N%20AW%20A-10/20130506_A10_047_zps04a23898.jpg)
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Wicked cool! :) What a way to make an entry! Welcome! :)
Until I looked at your in-progress thread, I thought I was looking at the Trumpeter 1/32 job! :icon_surprised: Love the way you have the canopies open Phantom-style. :-* Looks really cool!
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Umm, wow!
Can't really think of anything else to say
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...as an A-10 it MUST have ordnance...
I couldn't agree more!!! Definitely a great entrance sir, you'll fit in nicely around here 8)
Any excuse to add parts and/or influence from an F-4 is ALWAYS a good thing and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise ;)
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Glad you accepted my invite mate. Damn fine work! :)
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Outstanding in every way ... :-* :-* :-*
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geeze, thanks all for the comments! Very very welcoming :)
My next build isn;t a wif so won;t fit in here, Cliffy B might be interested though as it's the Academy F-4.
We'll see what happens after that though! I've got a cheap 1/48 Italeri EA-18G on the way, half an Academy F-15I, the Academy F-4 has huge amounts of spare parts and I've got a nice set of Shadowhawk -18G decals or the -15I Israeli ones. I've never tried a frankenbuild before...
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Sweet, sweet machine! Wonderful & believable! :)
8)
Guy
PS: I've always preferred the twin canopy system, anyway. ;)
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My next build isn;t a wif so won;t fit in here
Yes it will! We welcome both whiffs and real world builds.
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Yes it will! We welcome both whiffs and real world builds.
Cool, good stuff :)
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Lovely job - well done. :)
One of these years I'll get around to an RAF version of the 2-seater....
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A real looker! (http://www.doomisland2.com/images/avatars/wub1.gif)
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Nice work, Bill! Welcome aboard!
Brian da Basher
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Indeed a very impressive build ... !!!!!! FYI , watch BdB there ... He will have you putting spats on your A-10 !!!!!! LOL !!!!
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always thought this was one of the coolest shoulda beens. great build, welcome aboard!
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Awesomely awesome! A great What If/Shoulda Been. I now can not build another of mine too! That surpasses what I'd have done.
Alvis 3.1
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Any A-10 is a cool model, but this one is absolutely gorgeous! Great work and welcome aboard!
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As said by all above...... and WOW :o
Each panel and rivet is right on for a two seater :)
Quality of finish is tops :-*
Hint: Greg did drawing of two seat A-10. Bet you could build it.
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& again, thankyou all very much! It's great to see that I'm not the only one who thinks that the 2-seater A-10 so should have been used across the known world!
& spats.... hmmmm
maybe spats that retract up into themselves, on a steampunk WWII medium bomber... Go go gadget spats
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Excellent build! Excellent concept :)
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Nice work! I built an operational two seater way back when out of the old Monogram 1/72 kit. Yours is much nicer. I like the load out too!
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Wow how cool, realistic and sweet is that for a model!!
M.A.D
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Awesome...
(http://smileys.sur-la-toile.com/repository/Respect/applaudissements-185.gif)
SvR
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critiques ?! You jokin ?!
Its AWESOME WORK !!
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Damn, that's a gorgeous piece of work!!
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I plan to do one in ARA service similar to this (with the 30mm cannon replaced with a 20mm one):
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/Greater%20Australia/OA-10CIndonesia.jpg)
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Real or not, that is awesome 8) :-* It would've been one very bad beast in the real world if only ............ mmmmmmm >:D ;D
Love the RAAF version profile, that is a definite Whiff to be one day ........ 8)
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I plan to do one in ARA service similar to this (with the 30mm cannon replaced with a 20mm one):
Interesting: my idea for the RAF 2-seater is that it has an Oerlikon KCA (same ammo as the GAU-8) and a 150rd box mag to make space for some serious SEAD electronics. The concept is that the single-seater take on the tanks, while the 2-seaters block for them by suppressing/destroying the SPAAGs and SAMs.