This Model was gifted to me by some good friends along with an A-6 Intruder, both 1/72 scale. This scale is not my favorite as my eyes aren’t as good and my fingers are to fat! I almost gave up on this one as it seemed to fight me every step of the way (maybe ‘cause I don’t like 1/72) In the end, I was reasonably satisfied with the results and was pleased to add a few RBF Flags for a little further detail to the kit. I might have gotten a bit carried away with the weathering but the research that I did indicated that these birds got pretty dirty while in action.

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This version of the Warthog is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 30 April 2003, USCENTAF issued Operation Iraqi Freedom: By the Numbers, a declassified report about the aerial campaign in the conflict. Sixty A-10s were deployed in Iraq ; one was shot down near Baghdad International Airport by Iraqi fire late in the campaign. Of the A-10s deployed, 47 were Air National Guard Aircraft, and 12 were from the Air Force Reserve. The A-10 had a mission capable rate of 85% in the war, and fired 311,597 rounds of 30 mm ammunition. The A-10 also flew 32 missions in which the aircraft dropped propaganda leaflets over Iraq.

Bob

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