A-10 Warthog 1/48

I've got the Italeri A-10 Blacksnakes kit, while the kit claims that it is the A-10C, it is not, the instrument panel is wrong, as are several of the sensor and antennae. These are easily fixed by AM parts that you can find. The biggest issue I've ran into, other than the incorrect cockpit, is the fit of the wings to the fuselage. There is a huge step where the fuselage meets blends into the rear of the main wing. I've set this kit aside and I havent done anymore work on it. I'm sure it could be a nice looking kit when finished and most people that looked at it wouldnt know the difference between the A-10A+ and the A-10C. It is a bit tricky in spots, but then again, I had issues with the Revelogram as well.

Yeah, I've got that old Tamiya Warthog. It has the raised panel lines, which means it's pretty danged old. I've been wondering myself how well it builds up.

The Tamiya 1/48 A-10 is an older kit from when the A-10 was first entering service in the late 70's and not on par with their more recent kits. It actually is older than the Monogram/Revell kit. Hasegawa does not make a 1/48 A-10 of their own, but offers a boxing of the Monogram kit. In 1:48 there are also an older Revell kit (late 70's vintage) molded before the merger with Monogram, an ESCI kit (oldest 1:48 A-10 kit) which was most recently  reboxed by AMT, as well as the newer Italeri and Hobbyboss kits, and a Hobbycraft kit of unknown heritage. 

I don't think anybody makes a true "shake and bake" 1/48 A-10. All reportedly require some modeling skills to one degree or another.

Hi,
I did put the Monogram kit together myself some 20 years ago (green plastic for those who remember), it looked beautiful in the box but fit was not very good and I eventually gave up on the engine  to fuselage assembly.

Never had the Tamiya, I omitted the kit since at the time (this was when NATO was bombing in Jugoslavia) the version was outdated. Same goes for the Hasegawa.

Unfortunatley it looks as i the community is still waiting for a new tool, accurate and price worthy option.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/78108-tamiya-148-a-10-thunderbolt-ii/

I have not put the HobbyBoss together myself but most revues seem to agree with Nathan that this is a kit that goes together well.

Looking forward to your build report.


Regards
Johan

Have you put this kit together yourself?

You want the Hobbyboss kit 

Yes I am wanting the best FITTING kit.

Yea I dont know about those kits.

I just want a good fitting kit as I am still new to modeling to be able to deal with a kit that does not fit well.

Thanks everyone that helped.

I asume that the 1/48 Monogram and Revell kits are from the same molds. I have two Revell kits from Michael's for about $10 each with coupons (It is no longer in the on-line catalog, but might be on the shelf)! Hobby Lobby has it for about $20 with a $40% coupon. Neither of the kits, #5521, have tiger or shark mouth decals.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-48-Monogram-A-10-Thunderbolt-II-Warthog-Plastic-Scale-Model-Kit-Complete-1991-/112301963377?epid=1701538750&hash=item1a25b7f871:g:AQYAAOSwTuJYoT88

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Revell-Monogram-1-48-Republic-A-10-Thunderbolt-II-Warthog-NIOB-/152284984751?hash=item2374e475af:g:B7kAAOSwPCVYBX8t

Two examples.  Also, if you find a different kit, the decals are out there...Two Bob's puts a lot of decals out there for the Hog.  Down here in LA, at Barksdale AFB, there's a Warthog unit and they have the warthog mouth on the overall gray paint scheme:

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev2/1901-2000/rev1959-twobobs48156/00.shtm

Don't know if you are only interested in the hog mouth, or if you just want something different, but here's a one-off that was done by the CT ANG on one of theirs:

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev1/401-500/Rev406-TwoBobs48065/00.shtm

Hope this helps

I remember building the Monogram A-10  for an aviation class I took in highschool ( I got a B )  but that was 1982 so I dont know if your going to find that kit.I know Revell re-poped it but with different decals. I had no problems with it and the last time I looked (2003 ) it was still on display on my teachers desk. So I must have done "something" right.

Thats the kit I would recommend.