Fairchild A-10 "Warthog"
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A-10 models in 1/72 scale, modelling report 
 

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The Fairchild A-10 is a ground-attack aircraft designed for close air support (CAS) missions. The aircraft was first introduced in 1976 by Fairchild Republic Company (now part of Northrop Grumman) for the United States Air Force (USAF).

The A-10, also known as the Warthog, was designed specifically for the role of providing close air support to ground forces. It was built around the 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon, which can fire 3,900 rounds per minute and is capable of destroying tanks and other armored vehicles. The aircraft also carries a variety of other weapons, including bombs, rockets, and missiles.
During its service, the A-10 has seen action in a number of conflicts, including the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. It has been praised for its ability to survive in a hostile environment, thanks to its heavily armored cockpit and redundancy in critical systems. The A-10 has also been credited with saving the lives of countless soldiers on the ground. Despite facing criticism and attempts to retire the aircraft, the A-10 remains in service with the USAF as of 2023, and is considered by many to be one of the most effective close air support aircraft in the world.

Several A-10 models in 1/72 exist, the first one came from Monogram way back in 1977, later from Airfix/Heller, Hasegawa, Academy, Matchbox and others 

 

The Monogram 1/72 model (no. 5405) is simple but is quite a nice representation given its age.

box

bag

Add enough weight in the nose first, than assemble. You need some putty, especially on the engine nacelles and the model will benefot from detailing the undercarriage and cockpit. Also, add the wing LE guide vanes on the inboard wing, as these are fitted to production aircraft, this model being based on a "pre-production" version.

An open panel was added as a detail, along with the supplied crew access ladder and some stores from a Hasegawa weapons set. 

.A-10 sideview

forward view



The colourscheme has the light grey finish. Decals are best replaced by eg. another set, such as from Microscale. 
rear view

upper view

 

 
Another Monogram A-10 model was finished in the "European One" camouflage scheme of Fed.Std  FS36081, FS34092 and FS34102 airbrushing Humbrol enamel paints Hu32, Hu149 and Hu117.  
cockpit
Another kit I have is the one of Academy in 1/72, but I still need to build it. Is seems to be a nice kit (copied from Hasegawa?...)  

side view European A-10  

 

a-10

az-10  

a-10 european scheme

a-10 tarmac    

 
 
 
The Airfix A-10 1/72 kit no. 6005 was used as a basis for the conversion into the NA-10 two-seater variant.

a-10 airfix
  
contents

This was envisaged as all weather A-10, with special vision equipment. It never came into series production.
NA-10
The conversion needs:
- larger tailfins (from card)
- new canopy (made from clear sheet)
- adapted bulged shape at the cockpit (card)
- vision pod

The length and the basic wing are as for the normal A-10.

I also, besides the conversion, added:
- the detailed canonbay and doors, including the canon itself
- a detailed engine 

Basic overall colour airbrushed was FS36118 dark grey with Humbrol HU125 enamel.

front

upper view NA-10

forward fus

engine detail with opened hatch

cockpit NA-10  

  tail

the instrument panels and NAW-10 cockpit


The model was finished in simply overall FS 36188. Decals came from an A-10 sheet.
 


 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Also check out the 1/32 Trumpeter A-10 kit here... 
     

Back to 1/72 Models


References:  
- Air international Vol 16, page 270
- Scale aircraft modelling, 98/11 , 78/12
- A-10, Airpower Volume 16 spring 1994
- A-10 in action, squadron signal
- A-10 walk around, squadron signal
- FineScaleModeller, kitreview Sept 2001


INTERNET:
IPMS.NL A-10 walk around of my modelling friend Cees Hendriks
 

 
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Created December 2000