WT Forums

<font face='Tahoma'>Hi,

Having now got as far as thinking about what weapons my Revell 1/48th hog should be carrying, I've cut all the relevant bits off the sprue to find they're awful, with great big misalignments in the halves - particularly on the fuel tank.

I've also heard (somewhere) that the weapons configurations that are shown in the instructions are incorrect for modern useage, so I'm looking for a little guidance.

While I'm at it, I was wondering whether anyone knows where I could get hold of some more details aftermarket weapons that I could sling under the wings of my A-10?</font id='Tahoma'>

For the mis-alignments, what you can do is drill-out and enlarge the alignment holes, or just shear the allignment pegs off, and carefully align the halves with your fingers or tape when they dry. Then, use a filler such as Squadron, Milliput, or Tamiya to fill the seems and sand to smooth.

For the weapons configurations, I'd recommend picking up some A-10 books and searching for images on the net, including this website, as they'll show the most commonly used ordinance and stations. For more specific mission loads, you might want to give details of what you're trying to model under what circumstances the aircrat was involved in at the time.

Hasegawa has some very nice 1/48 aftermarket weapons sets. I'm not sure if they've released any that are especially modern (last ten years development) like they have for 1/72 scale aircraft. Most of the munitions can be readily kitbashed and brought up to date, however.

Here's a link with info you can use to find out more about the weapons sets:

http://www.rollmodels.net
Do a search, and use weapons and 1/48 scale.

Brainwashing couldn't get the tough stains out.


Edited by - Horrido on Nov 07 2004 12:53 PM

<font face='Tahoma'>Thanks for the advice.

Needless to say, I've been doing some digging of my own, and come up with quite a good result. A small company over here in the UK do an A-10 update set for the Monogram kit, for less than 25 GBPs. They're called Flightpath, and it's a mixed media kit - it arrived yesterday, and this is what you get.

It comprises 4 frets of brass. The 1st of the two larger frets covers updates to the cockpit & canopy area, various airframe mods, the flight lights on the fuse, tail & wingtips.

The second large fret provides a mix of details for the aircraft, and a set of turbine blades for the engine to replace the godawful kit parts (which I spent ages making look really good!).

The other two smaller frets are detail parts for the various munitions that come with the set, and realistic dimensioned fins for the Mavericks. There is also a dual rail adapter for 2 sidewinders cast in white metal, with etched parts for the fins & details.

There are two versions of the ECM pod, described as "deep", and "shallow". The main part is cast white metal, while the detail & finishing are photo-etched. The final part of the set comprises two resin cluster bombs, with photo-etched spinners & detail.

This update set will tax most modellers (myself included), and is not for the faint hearted. It does bring up the quality immensely & should compliment the Verlinden cockpit update set that I've already purchased.

I had a look at the Hasegawa weapons sets, and for the price they weren't worth considering, as each set had a few of the weapons I needed, but the majority would have been consigned to the bits box for a LOOOONG time, as I don't model much in the way of modern jets. I just love the A-10 for it's individuality ;o)

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If you are able and willing, it would be great for you to take a series of photographs throughout your build and post the progression of your model with your impressions and commentary.

Brainwashing couldn't get the tough stains out.

<font face='Tahoma'>Cue long pause with intervening car crash, broken washing machine, injured cat & injured self. I'm back.... Willing and able, but sometimes forgetful when it comes to taking pictures of the work in progress.

I'm also having trouble finding the time to get sat down at my workdesk with various birthdays etc. going on, but I'm hoping to get some quality modelling time done over the next week or so.

I've just taken delivery of a new Etch-Mate, which has already been a godsend when it comes to accurate & painless forming of complex PE shapes. Last night I was experimenting with it, and managed to form a launch rail & the cowling for an ECM pod in what seemed like only a few minutes. I took the precaution of ordering the longer folding blades at the same time, which took the cost to over 70 GBPs, but will be well worth it when you consider the time I'll save & the PE I won't ruin.

I constructed one of the PE/cast metal missiles without it & am going to make the other one up using the tool to see how much difference it makes. It should be interesting.

Having seen my Dad struggle for years to save a few quid (slang for GBPs) by not buying the correct tools for the job, I decided to always have the right tools. This is a great case in point, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Go forth & spend!
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Been there, done that, I hear ya. LOL!

Show what you can, when you can, because every little bit helps others out there.

Brainwashing couldn't get the tough stains out.

one really good way to hide a lot of small manufacturing flaws really depends on the amount of ching$$ ya wanna spend. if you go to any hobby store, you can fin airbrush kits for decent prices. then, some paints you can but for the kits are slightly textured and hide small inmperfections very well. as far as the halves not being aligned, i agree with the filler concept, they make type of filler that acts almost like a car bondo, it's great, you put it on...smooth it and then paint.
hey if you find any good sites to buy some bigger models than 1/48 can someone let me know, especially if you can find some Massachusetts decals

just sit back, and let the 30mm do the work!!!

<font face='Tahoma'>Well - my initial impressions of the Etch-mate just doesn't do it justice. Apart from the occasional loose grip on the tines furthest from the securing bolt, it's made PE a dream & much much easier to do.

Over the weekend I fabricated the ECM pod using PE & cast white metal, which has some real fiddly little pieces to bend & fit. I also made up a SUU-66 cluster bomb, which has a resin bomb "core", and PE fins & attachments. VERY tricky - each fin comprises 4 pieces to portray the fold out "wings" on the rear of the bomb. The rear of the bomb has 5 additional pieces to re-create the "spinner" for want of a better word, which I've yet to tackle. Aligning 5 cicular pieces of PE that are no more than 5mm in diameter requries a steady hand!

A quick comment on the instructions that came with the Flightpath update set. The CAD style instuctions are up to the job for the most part, but occasionally leave a bit to the imagination, and that's where you need those reference photos, or the email of Mr Parkins, the guy that sells them. I'll be dropping him a line shortly to solve a query over one of the parts on the Maverick launch rails - does it sit flat, or do I form it to the shape of the rail to which it attaches?

Once I've finished most of the munitions, I'll get back to detailing the cockpit, which I've been avoiding for ages, as I wasn't sure of the color scheme. Latest info & a walk-around book I've got seems to imply a mid-grey base, with black instuments. If anyone can add to that, I'd be grateful.

I'll try & get some photos together of the various bits this week & email it to the person whose name I can't remember right now S.
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