Subject: Re: O/A-10A 1:32
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Christian Gerard" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:35:00 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Christian Gerard 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 6:51 AM
  Subject: O/A-10A 1:32

  Gallery Template #05

  Spangdahlem O/A-10A in 1:32

  by Christian Gerard
  --------------------

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  I am glad to present here my first submission for ARC with my Spangdahlem O/A-10A Thunderbolt in 1:32 scale. The kit is from Trumpeter, what else. It is the only O/A-10A in 1:32 available and unfortunately has a couple of errors, which are fixable. Since I am living in the Mosel valley, which is not far away from Spangdahlem AB and seeing the Spang´ jets almost every day flying, the decision for the model markings was an easy one. 

  The construction of this model took approx. 500 hours, this kit is everything else than a quick built. My hardest headache came, after I noticed the mishappen shape of the front fuselage section in this kit. I reconstructed it with the aid of plasticcard and a lot of epoxy putty. Combined with this effort was the construction of a new windshield. I built a template and thermoformed a new one over it. I got the rivets on the windshield frame after punching those from plasticcard and glued piece for piece on (120 parts). My choice for an aftermarket cockpit was the Black Box one. The fit was o.k. after some trimming and sanding. I took some more attention to the turtledeck and refined it with some tubing and small bits. An other error of the kit are the location of the fan blades, which must be placed further inside the gondolas. This was a lot of work, since I had a large gap has to be filled. Since this area is easily visible, very careful work has to be done here. Other detailing sets, which I have used are the Cutting Edge Exterior Detailing Set, the CE AIM-9 dual launcher, the CE resin wheels, both Eduard PE sets (interior and exterior) and the Flightpath AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod. The two Maverick missiles are coming from an Academy F/A-18C and the single AIM-9 is from Cutting Edge.

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  The representation of the recessed panel lines on the Trumpeter model are somewhat heavy here and there. Here I decided to rescribe those. I have dropped the flaps, but here again, some reconstruction and refinements according to close up shots were conducted. I airbrushed the model with Modelmaster Enamels and after 3 coats with Polly Scale Clear Gloss, I put on the decals from ASTRA/ Daco.

          
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  All in all, the Trumpeter O/A-10A in 1:32 is a welcome kit and to my opinion a good one. In general, I am not loosing too much time to complain endless about kit errors, I rather use the time to correct those. Out of the box, the result can be a very attractive model. With some work, it can be the centerpiece of any 1:32 aircraft collection.

  Christian Gerard

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