1/72 Academy A-10A Thunderbolt II (Warthog)

by Bob Herbert

--------------------

 

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.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

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

Click on images below to see larger images

  

Photos and text © by Bob Herbert