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A couple of A-10 questions for ya.

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Green Bay, WI USA
A couple of A-10 questions for ya.
Posted by echolmberg on Friday, May 26, 2017 1:00 PM

Howdy everybody!  TGIF, too!

I'm working on an A-10 for a friend of mine and was wondering something about the ordnance.  During OIF, what would the proper colors of the AGM-65s have been?  The instructions call out for white or the option of Olive Drab.  In pictures on the 'net, I've seen them grey just as well.  

My other question is this:  What color is used inside the speed brakes?  Red, white or airframe color?  Not sure if this will matter or not but I'm building the 1/48 Revell A-10 in the all grey scheme with the "Let's Roll" artwork under the cockpit.

Thanks!

Eric

Tags: A-10 , AGM-65

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, May 26, 2017 1:04 PM

For OIF, the Mavericks would be OD or Light Ghost Gray. White missiles are old, and probably all fired up in training due to age among other reasons. 

I cant say definitively on the color of the insides of the air brakes. But a SWAG says airframe color for tactical reasons.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Friday, May 26, 2017 1:09 PM

White or ghost grey for the ordanance, saw A BUNCH leave CV-61 during ODS, as for the inside of speed brakes ours in the Navy where red, IMHO red or white would make sense as if there were a maintenance issue a crew chief could easily identify if they were fully closed or open. Hope this helps.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Green Bay, WI USA
Posted by echolmberg on Friday, May 26, 2017 1:33 PM

Thanks for the responses, guys!  Was there a reason for the change in the missile color(s)?  I can only assume it was for tactical reasons as Armornut mentioned but I was just curious.

Thanks again!

Eric

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Friday, May 26, 2017 1:42 PM

White are a b*tch to airbrush.... LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Green Bay, WI USA
Posted by echolmberg on Friday, May 26, 2017 2:29 PM

That's not true!  Why, after 10 or 11 layers, it starts to almost look good!  Whistling

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, May 26, 2017 5:00 PM

Looking at photos, the interior of the speed brakes were red when they were originally built. But when they went to the ghost gray scheme, they painted the interiors gray as well.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, May 26, 2017 5:28 PM

echolmberg

Thanks for the responses, guys!  Was there a reason for the change in the missile color(s)?  I can only assume it was for tactical reasons as Armornut mentioned but I was just curious.

Thanks again!

Eric

 

As far as the missile colors went, in the late 70s there were numerous studies and experiments in aircraft camouflage for all of the US services. Then all the low visibility schemes started to appear. Pretty much anything that drew attention colorwise was toned down, including flight helmets. During the early 80s missiles began to be built in Light Ghost Gray instead of white as they had been in the previous three decades. Although certain missiles like the Air Force's IIR guided Mavericks were in OD. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: 29° 58' N 95° 21' W
Posted by seasick on Sunday, May 28, 2017 8:48 PM

I read that missiles returning to the depot to have work done on them were being repainted in light ghost gray by the mid 1980s and white missiles were becomming rare by ODS and were gone by OIF. Also black bombs were being repainted oilve drab at the same time. This made my day because I hate white paint.

Chasing the ultimate build.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, May 28, 2017 10:21 PM

Bombs have been OD since 1942 or so, not black. Missiles have a shelf life, and after that time is up, they are used up in live fire exercises. Not to mention that earlier models are phased out and replaced. If they are sent back to a depot, certain ones can have areas swapped out such as seeker heads, rocket motors, or warheads. Many missiles are modular in construction. But not simply for repaint. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Colorado Springs
Posted by mawright20 on Sunday, May 28, 2017 10:50 PM
Toooo true!!!
  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Nampa, Idaho
Posted by jelliott523 on Monday, May 29, 2017 2:08 PM

The A-10c's based here in Boise all have the inside of the speedbrakes painted airframe color.

On the Bench:  Lots of unfinished projects!  Smile

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Green Bay, WI USA
Posted by echolmberg on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 11:04 AM

seasick

 This made my day because I hate white paint.

 

 
Oh man!  You just said a mouthful!  I hate it, too.  In some way, I think that's why I've tended to shy away from those early 1980s Navy jets with the white undersides and control surfaces.  White paint and me...we just don't get along.  (Translation:  I've never acquired the skills to do a good white paint job.)
 
And Stik, thanks for the great insight AND the picture of that open speedbrake.  
 
Thanks to EVERYONE for the help!!!
 
Eric

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