A-10A Thunderbolt II 1/72 Academy Build
Reference photos gathered online
Fishing weights squished and epoxied under cockpit
Filling and sanding required for the nose
Made a template for the Academy Aero display stand
Kit isn't designed for wheels up so had to fill around nose gear door
Used poster tack to hold wheel and gear doors up.
All set for primer!
Had to fill punchout holes
Found missile decals on eBay and also used Hasegawa 1/72 weapons decals
Worst part of the project: These holes in every single 500lb bomb
Filled with putty...
...sanded... and sanded... and sanded
Primed index card to arrive at desired Peanut scheme colors
Ready for gloss coat
Found more after market decals on eBay to use for warthog face
Comentarii
2 12 November 2019, 00:57
Greg Baker
I've got this kit, so I'm happy you posted up a WIP album. Looks great!
I've got this kit, so I'm happy you posted up a WIP album. Looks great!
12 November 2019, 01:32
James White
Thanks! I got interrupted while uploading pictures so I have more to put up and also to add comments. More to come. 🙂
Thanks! I got interrupted while uploading pictures so I have more to put up and also to add comments. More to come. 🙂
12 November 2019, 15:34
James White
@Gerald, the places where I bumped into some fit challenges were on the nose and the landing gear housing on the leading edges. Quite a bit of filling and sanding there. Also, since I did this in a wheels-up configuration and it doesn't appear the kit was designed for it, I had to do some filling and sanding on the gear doors, too.
@Gerald, the places where I bumped into some fit challenges were on the nose and the landing gear housing on the leading edges. Quite a bit of filling and sanding there. Also, since I did this in a wheels-up configuration and it doesn't appear the kit was designed for it, I had to do some filling and sanding on the gear doors, too.
12 November 2019, 16:03
Augusto
This is one of my favorite AC! I built this kit a while ago, and I can remember that the exhaust nozzle`s fit were also bad. Did you have any problem with it too? And I also remember been disappointed with the weapons details. Not even some decals ... =/
This is one of my favorite AC! I built this kit a while ago, and I can remember that the exhaust nozzle`s fit were also bad. Did you have any problem with it too? And I also remember been disappointed with the weapons details. Not even some decals ... =/
12 November 2019, 17:44
James White
Thanks all for your kind comments. @Augusto, the exhaust nozzles fit OK for me. Weapons details were utterly absent and between that and the punchout holes from the mold on all the 500lb bombs and the Mavericks, this is where I spent the most time on filling/sanding and even some money on the after-market decals (which I found on eBay by doing a search for 1/72 weapons decals). I learned so much doing this build. Even though it was difficult it was a lot of fun. I believe all these challenges are why I was able to buy this kit for US$15. Every time I look at it I see a new little error or some place I missed filling (like on the right leading edge, which may be what @Harry is referring to).
Thanks all for your kind comments. @Augusto, the exhaust nozzles fit OK for me. Weapons details were utterly absent and between that and the punchout holes from the mold on all the 500lb bombs and the Mavericks, this is where I spent the most time on filling/sanding and even some money on the after-market decals (which I found on eBay by doing a search for 1/72 weapons decals). I learned so much doing this build. Even though it was difficult it was a lot of fun. I believe all these challenges are why I was able to buy this kit for US$15. Every time I look at it I see a new little error or some place I missed filling (like on the right leading edge, which may be what @Harry is referring to).
12 November 2019, 20:23
Jim J
Well done! Love the detail on the weapons and the camo job is excellent. 👍
Well done! Love the detail on the weapons and the camo job is excellent. 👍
13 November 2019, 06:11
James White
Wish it had come with a pilot. Come to think of it, I probably should have tried to find one given all the other parts I dredged up for it! 🙂
Wish it had come with a pilot. Come to think of it, I probably should have tried to find one given all the other parts I dredged up for it! 🙂
13 November 2019, 16:16