SapperSix

I got back a little earlier than I thought I would. I have been doing a lot of research over the last couple days as I looked towards a A-10C upgrade from the current A version. I have found a ton of information including the tweaks list from this site and much builder information. I had no idea of the undertaking I had set about on. In the end I decided on a LASTE upgrade but found even that took significant change for the current kit. Because of my job/time/family/money coefficient I have neither the will, money or time to make all the required changes. This is not to even mention the munition issues. So my focus will shift from a bolt counter perfect aircraft to a modeling test bed, saving as much reality as I go. I will call it an A-10F "F" for Frank, my first name. I have many other kits that I can use to make my bolt counter special. With those I see that my research and decision making will have to happen well before construction begins. A more recent kit will help my upgrade capability in terms of after market upgrades and reference books. I made the error of following some build examples I saw on the net. Some builders had incorrect information, like minor placement error of the formation lights, which i followed. Hence the importance of good reference material. I have learned a ton about the life of the A-10. And much about model company kit issues and the quest for that real world model. I always build for fun and had always in the past just sat down and started building. But I feel the need to go deeper in to the kit and the machine. I started building when I was six years old and have had a few breaks during that time. When I came back to the hobby this time the market made drastic leaps in technology. And so has my need to dig deeper. I appreciate all the help that has been offered from fellow members. Please keep it coming. Thanks for information and thank god for all the other information and builds on this site that offer so much information and experience. I hope to be able to return the kind favors as I move forward with this hobby. Off to start painting engine compartments and detailing the engine itself.

Some of the latest work from the last few days. Rear landing gear was ground down as per directions for the Eduard Exterior detail set. Making the small photo etched pieces has been a real trail. I need to figure out some better practices for bending and working with very small bits. The Mavericks are coming together despite my attempts to sabotage some of my work. I will be out for a while. I will be back mid July ready to get in my zen state and work on my plastic bits. You all be well in the mean time.

That is an amazing amount of dirt/smug on that plane. Thanks for the picture, I will absolutely use that as a reference during weathering.

Steve, I have decided on he grey scheme. If you look at this build. You will see what I am aiming for, for the most part that is. I might change out 2 of the inner stations with GBU's. I was thinking of more of a current day configuration but may not want to wait for newer munitions to be ordered and built. So I might lose some load out / plane version accuracy due to my impatience and willingness to buy yet more aftermarket stuff for this plane. I would lean towards a CAS load out that might be seen in AFG in current operations. Certainly, I would appreciate any advice you may offer. -Frank

Give this a shot http://www.trumpeterkit.com/

I have been studying your work. Its clear that I have much to learn. Your models are way out of my league...but I am chasing you! Very Nice work!

Thanks for the info!

Dang I missed this post. Thank you ever so much for the information! Just in time.

The latest work on munitions has proven to be a bit of a challenge. The kit doesn't come with enough decals if you are running max ordnance for MK82's. Lucky I had saved some decals from the Trumpeter 1/32 Harrier I did late last year. The color of yellow used on the decal is many shades different. When I started this kit I was going to go for as much real world accuracy as possible. While I know I am entering the world of the dreaded bolt counter, I saw it as an opportunity to step up my game. This model has a ton to over come to be "real world". So I will drive on hitting the points I can in the time frames I can. I still am at odds with my AGM's as I will have to make some decals. To do will really mess up some time frames for me as time is always an issue not being home very often. Getting AGM info has been rough to get version markings. I ill probably go with my own version of AGM. Still putting decals on those. I have chose to get color variation on my MK-82's using a wash. I have experimented with it and received a fair amount of success. I have been using the home made sludge wash made of dish-soap, water and acrylic base paints.

So this just came in today. I am horribly excited. It was an early fathers day gift from my wife. I have to hand it to her, she hates the time I take away from her to build, but she supports my hobby non the less.

If I get AGM-65 decals made for 1/32 who would be interested in also using them? I am also guessing that as I proceed with the Trumpeter supplied decals I will be making others as well.

Excellent point, right now I was going to put everything I could on it for the coming apocalypse. May be I need to bring it down a few notches....

No luck there, in fact it has a TOW down as an AGM...

I have been focusing on munitions as I decide the planes paint scheme and version. As I have moved along I realize that the kits munitions are great for the A-10A but a few of the munitions included with the kit are too old for current or modern day use. When talking about the AGM-65 the decals seem to be too few and oversized for the kit. Based off what little investigations I have done I have concluded that I need to look for aftermarket decal sets to make a more accurate AGM-65. I might need a whole new set of munitions. Below is the only Maverick I have put decals on....The side I put the decals is according to the directions. Looking at external sources shows me that the main Air Force decal can also be on the other side of the Maverick, or both sides? Also the Yellow HE stripe has been in a few places based on images I have found on the net. Although, mostly they are just above the leading edge of the wing surface. Below is the example I am using as the "master". Who makes after market Decals for the AGM-65 at 1/32? Google has not served me well during my searches for decals. Is there a munitions site that has graphics/walk arounds?

It sat in my stash or a very long time. I actually started it years ago but moved and didn't get back to it. Its been a fun build.

Some body work got done. The over all fit and finish of the model was pretty good. I have seen a few better and many far worse. Using Mr Dissolved putty to do the filling of the body lines and flaps as the gaps are very small. Adding in some of Eduards panels and vents. The top of the fuselage fit pretty well. Testing the fit and finish of the new photo etched Instrument panel cover. Adding the new Flare/Chaff dispensers. You can also see some of the unfinished fill work on the main wing and flaps/aileron.

Updates are slow in coming with my schedule. My focus has shifted a bit on munitions as I was waiting on Plane decals (Thanks to the guys at Reid Air Publications / Speed Hunter Graphics) and formation lights decals. I also was looking very closely at what color scheme I was going to use. Which, I might add, is still out to jury. In the meantime I read up on Olive Drab. As I have traditionally used Testors OD and moved to Tamiya OD I was unsure at the the very noticeable shade difference. I have found, thanks to past discussions, that there are shading variations for many reasons. Just looking at the photo below shows many possible variations in shading for the MK82. I will work on creating variations of shade on my munitions. This should be interesting and something I have never done. The below photo just shows the work I have done over the last little while. I have started on the GBU-8 as it has a few different colors to make up the body of the munition. The amount of information that I am getting from this site and help from other members has been much appreciated. Thw shear amount of information has been amazing.

Thank you very much. I will do a bit of experimentation with this.

I know what my next purchase is now!! Wonderful!

Absolutely incredible!!

This kit was purchased with the Big Ed kit many years ago. I had read a bad review of the kit and let it sit until I was confident I had warmed up my skills. I build kits for the fun and the quest to get better. I have found this kit to be rewarding and fun. I often build many kits at a time so I don't ever have to stop building while a kit drys or is waiting for parts. Some of my goals for this kit are to add wiring in the landing gear bays and gear it self. Increased ordnance detail. Generally a greater push toward realism than ever before. I have decided to build an A-10 similar to what I have seen in action during the current conflict(s). This has required a few changes, such as the addition of formation lights. And some different decals. An initial cockpit picture....

Perfect!! Thank you very much for this info!

Gents, I have the BIG Ed kit for the 1/32 Trumpeter A-10. While the kit doesn't come with formation lights the Big Ed kit comes with etched parts for the addition of formation lights. I bought some after market decals that unfortunately didn't have formation light decals. I have experimented with painting the photo etched formation lights. While I have the act of painting them down, what I cant get is the mixture of colors to replicated the off yellow the formation lights are. Has anyone tried to mix paint for this purpose? Is there a 1/32 decal set that will solve this problem? Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

What a life saver. Started my A-10 a few weeks ago and didn't like the out of box options. Ordered mine today, Very Happy...I have the Big Ed kit for this beast and have been working on making my best build ever.