The Ultimate A-10 (1:9 scale)

A-10 introduction 

The A-10 was designed to be able to survive in an intense anti-aircraft environment including anti-aircraft guns, radar-guided and infrared missiles, and be able to absorb battle damage and keep flying. In fact, the A-10 is probably the most difficult plane to shoot down ever built, due to its extreme maneuverability, electronic countermeasures, self-sealing fuel tanks, widely separated jet engines, twin tails, manual backup flight control system and redundant wing spars. The pilot and vital flight control elements are also protected by 1" thick titanium armor plate. A total of 713 A-10's were built through 1984, at a cost of only $20 million each, and about 300 will serve with the USAF until 2015.

A-10's were widely used in the 1991 Persian Gulf War Where they demonstrated their ability as the greatest tank-killing aircraft in history. A total of 144 A-10's were deployed to the Gulf and they flew 8624 missions with only five aircraft being lost. They destroyed a total of 967 tanks, 1026 pieces of artillery, 1306 trucks, 281 military structures, 53 Scud missiles, 10 aircraft on the ground and two aircraft in the air. Pilots often flew up to three missions per day and in all A-10's accounted for destroying 1/4 of Iraq's entire arsenal. Several aircraft survived direct hits from heat-seeking missiles and managed to return to base.

This A-10 is an early production aircraft built in 1977. It served with the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, until 1982 and then with the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Grissom AFB, Indiana until 1992. It spent its last two years as a battle damage repair training aircraft. It is now in the markings of Captain Michael Baltzer of Albertson, who flew 33 A-10 missions during the Gulf War.

Nicknames

The A-10 Thunderbolt II received its popular nickname "Warthog" from the pilots and crews of the USAF attack squadrons who flew and maintained it. The A-10 is the last of Republic's jet attack aircraft to serve with the USAF. The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was nicknamed the "Hog", F-84F Thunderstreak nicknamed "Superhog", and the Republic F-105 Thunderchief tagged "Ultra Hog".A less common nickname is the "Tankbuster

Since the A-10 flies low to the ground and at subsonic speed, camouflage is important to make the aircraft more difficult to see. Many different types of paint schemes have been tried out. These have included a "Peanut scheme" of sand, yellow and field drab; black and white colors for winter operations and a tan, green and brown mixed pattern.

The two most common markings applied to the A-10 have been: 1) The European I woodland camouflage scheme using FS34092 Dark Green, FS34102 Medium Green and FS36081 Dark Grey was intended to help the A-10 blend in with the typical European forest terrain. This scheme was used from the 1980s to the early 1990s when most A-10 units left Europe after the end of the Cold War. 2) A two-tone grey scheme was adopted after the early 1990s. This consists of FS36320 Dark Ghost Grey and FS36375 Light Ghost Grey. The dark color is normally on top, while the lighter color is usually on the underside of the aircraft. This paint scheme is harder to see in the desert/mountain terrain A-10s tend to fly over today, making it easier for the aircraft to blend in with their surroundings.

Colours & Markings 

Many A-10s also have a "false" canopy (black) painted underneath the aircraft, just behind the gun. The idea of a false canopy is to try and confuse the enemy, just like some animals that have similar markings on their head and tail.

A-10 (1:9 scale) introduction 

This 1:9 scale A-10 kit is produced by Chris Graham. It can be powered by either a twin turbines or twin 100-120mm EDF. Just make known to Chris and you will send you suitable size of engine nacelle for your application.

I have decided to go for a twin Stumax EDF setup on this A-10 as I have all equipment ready. However, If i go for a twin turbines, I will need to purchase another P-60 for it.

This A-10 Kit does not comes with any installation manual. Hopefully my build log pictures are able to help and guide those who are building this A-10 by Chris Graham.

Specification of A-10 (1:9)

Wingspan: 72 inches,1.8 meters

length: 65 inches, 1.65m

Fan: 2 X Stumax 110mm 

ESC: 2 X 120HV

Batt: 6S4P5000mah