As previously mentioned, I decided to add a little more to the little kit. I purchased the detail upgrades for the cockpit and landing gear. Here are the instructions for the cockpit detail set:

Lets take a closer look at the parts. In the first photo you can see the little green block representation of the seat which is the kits entire cockpit. The gray resin detail parts are shown beneath it; there is a cockpit tub, detailed seat, instrument panel, and control stick. Overall, I am really pleased with the after-market upgrade as the is really no comparison to the simple kit piece. The scale of the kit and the even smaller sizes of the resin make them difficult to cut, trim, file, and fit. Care must be taken not to remove too much of either the kit or the resin. This will be fun...

I decided to make a mini diorama with air brakes, rudder, flaps posed; possibly one or two access panels open, and the pilot steps extended. Then I was going to get some 1/144 people to add to the foray as ground support members. Add in the detail kits for the cockpit and landing gear, the hardstand base, updated decals, and this could be really fun on a micro scale....

After studying many photos of actual aircraft I have not found any photos of all the maintenance bays open while with full armament. Since I want to display it with a full weapons load, I need to limit the open panels to the following; the pilots access ladder, the left leading edge fuel panel, the canopy, the electronic test / COMM panel, and one of the critical systems support panels on the right front of the fuselage just behind the cockpit. My logic behind this is that the ground is normally still attached until just prior to deployment. Likewise, the access panel for the support systems (COMSEC, Navigation, etc.) on the right side could still be receiving updates prior to the next mission. The pilots ladder, COMM panel, and canopy are obvious.

I'm only going to open one of the panels, not all.

Just a small snippet, the ejection seat. The colors are based on photos...

- gray frame
- OD bottom cushion
- dark green back cushion
- medium gray headrest
- light gray top
- yellow ejection handles
- zinc chromate green ox. bottle
- gray belts

FYI: Just to keep things in perspective, the actual seat is around 1/8 in. wide and less than 1/2 in. tall.

Your feedback / remarks are encouraged...

Ben

As for the posed wing and rudder controls, I can only find one photo that support the rudders or elevators in anything other than a straight position while on the ground; I may modify them, I may not. I have seen a few pictures with the split air brakes / ailerons open and the fowler flaps deployed, though it does not appear very common.

This shows both the fowler flaps deployed and air brakes (closed):

And here are the air brakes being deployed while landing.

Here is the main wing with the air brakes removed. I still need to remove the fowler flaps:

I am quickly learning the difficulty on modifying 1/144 models. Here are the modifications:

- created and added the fowler flaps

- removed tip of left wing pylon to show as opened

- opened access panel for pilot ladder

- opened test / com panel by left wing root

- opened electronics panel on right of aircraft and created internals

- created speed brakes / alerions in open position on wing

- fitted the painted cockpit to the fuselage (less seat).

- assembled fueslage, wings and engines

Your comments are welcome here....let me know what you think....

Ben

Zounds! That's a lot going on in a tiny package.

All of your construction is looking really good. The only thing that comes to mind is that the molded panel lines look gigantic in context. If it were me, I'd think about trying the Budzik method of filling them and scribing the paint for the sharpest possible line:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRnKEwsQSaQ

Most impressive!  Especially in 1/144.

Your friend, Toshi

Nice work - not sure what I admire more: your detail work or your eyesight!

That is great!   I wanna go find one and try it!

John

Wow, I never knew that about the A-10.  Are the split flaps/ailerons active in the air, or only on the ground.  If in the air, how do you control roll with them deployed?

Don, here is what is said about it in wikipedia:

The deceleron, or split aileron, was developed in the late 1940s by Northrop originally for use on the F-89 Scorpion fighter aircraft. It is a two-part aileron that can be deflected as a unit to provide roll control, or split open to act as an air brake. Decelerons are also used on the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II and the Northrop B-2 Spirit flying wing. In differential use they impart yaw moment, potentially obviating the rudder and vertical stabilizer control surface, although requiring active flight control.

Don, from everyting I have seen, they are not fully deployed except just when landing of slowing on the runway. I have seen numerous photos of them being used as both the aileron and a partial separated deceleron (speed brake) simultaneously. 

Neat though right?

Ben

WOW!!! I wouldn't even try to do even 10% of that in 1/144th! It's like painting the toenails on a gnat!!! 

Kudos and good luck!!! 

Here is a little more progress.....

base coat (rattle can), camoflage (Model Master FSN Codes), and gloss clear coat (Future acrylic); now waiting for the after-market decals. 

Work away from the camera has me painting the AGM65 Maverick missles, Mk20 Rockeye cluster bombs, and Mk84 2K lb GP Bombs. 

Oh! Almost forgot... I could not find any of the Tomyco 1/144 products available for ground support personnel or equipment, so I purchased some Bandai 1/144 figures to modify and add to the scene:

I've begun painting them in the 1970-80 USAF pickle suit and flight suits. The actual ground support equipment is minimal and will have to be scratch built.

v/r,

Ben

I am currently on my third attempt at making a pilot ladder in scale and it appears to be working out. This kit has given me new respect for those making accurate 1/144 kits. I am also planning out the figure locations. Here are a couple tease photos of the base with the mostly finished aircraft. Many of the aircrafts features have been modified. The decals are not from the kit either (more on this in the next e-mail); the panel lines are by lead pencil; and weapon stripes are hand painted. I will still be adding wheel chocks, ground personnel, support equipment, pilot ladder, etc. 

My next photos I hope will be of the completed diorama, thanks for looking.....

v/r,

Ben

Update: Created USAF generator trailer, created oxygen and nitrogen cart, created pilot ladder (numerous attempts to get it right). I also modified one of the 1/144 Bandai figures to appear as a pilot climbing the ladder (not shown). 

Comments welcome....

More to come...

FINALLY DONE!

This took way longer than I thought it would and has cut into some of my Group Builds. Anyway, here is the mini diorama of an A-10 with ground support. The base is from the UK by a company called Coastal Kits. The figures are modified from 1/144 Gun-dam/Bandai. The kit decals from LS were terrible. They were very, very thick and would not go on anything other than something completely flat (regardless of the setting solution). I purchased decals from Print-Scale (a Ukrainian company). The covered very well, were very thin, and though a challenge really help the kit. The small flat trailer on the right of the fuselage came from Shapeways via a 3d printer. The single canopy was cut apart to show the after-market cockpit from RetroWings (some cutting and test fitting was required). The landing gear is also from RetroWings and was a big upgrade from the kit parts. If you read the whole thread you would notice that I repositioned the ailerons, fowler flaps, speed/air brakes as well as opened the pilot ladder, electric test panel, avionics access panel, and left sponson nose piece. All of the repositioned and cut aways were created from scratch. Since A-10'a normally do not require any large ground support devices I scratch built a small European portable generator as well as a rack for nitrogen and fire supression. 

In the scene the flight officer is barking out orders. The pilot just completed his walk around and is climbing into the cockpit for pre-flight checks. The chock blocks have been removed and the crew chief is wired into the comm. and running last tests. Another crew member is removing the ground strap and securing the left sponson cap while another is inspecting one last time the mounting of the weapons, and there is the crew member standing on a trailer running a last update/patch on some of the avionics. In less than 10 minutes she will be in the air. 

While a big challenge for me (in 1/144), it was also very fun. Every product from the providers mentioned worked very well. I could've continued tweaking this SMALL kit but enough is enough... for me at least. I hope everyone enjoys it and as always, your comments are encouraged.

v/r,

Ben 

Oh that's fantastic Drums!

Love the extra work you put in there to move and open the control surfaces and access hatches! And the decals look fine to me!