Trumpeter 1/32 A-10 Preview by Steve Filak, Sr.

The 'sacred cow' of 1/32 jet builders - Trumpeter's 1/32 A-10

Here's a look at the long-awaited Trumpeter 1/32 A-10 kit. After many months of speculation, rumors, pushed back release dates, and so on, it's finally here in the States, and should be shipping out as you read this.

All I can say is that this kit has to be seen to be believed. There are a few areas of the kit that that were a disappointment, the cockpit being one of them, but the kit kit more than makes up for it in other aspects (and Black Box is doing a cockpit set for it anyway, so take heart!)

The box is somewhere on the order of the Tamiya F-15E kit in terms of size, and to protect the parts, the box is partitioned off, and each sprue is individually bagged. First, the kit is molded in gray plastic (a definite plus over the Euro I dark green plastic of the Monogram kit), with recessed panel lines throughout.

Looking inside the box can only be described as 'overwhelming'.

The fuselage is molded in four pieces (broken down in such a way as to facilitate the N/AW version in the simplest manner possible), and is utterly huge. Panel lines all appear to be where they are supposed to be on initial inspection, and are not overly deep. And yes, the model is replete with raised rivet detail on the aft fuselage and vertical tails! Check out the photo below on the right for proof of this.


Forward Fuselage	Closeup of rivet detail on the rear fuselage

The GAU-8A Avenger 30 mm cannon is represented with a beautiful 30 piece assembly. One thing that I did notice is that the ammo belts are represented as open belts instead of flex chutes, but some modification in this area can probably still represent the flex chutes (are you listening, Eduard?) The gun is completely represented from the muzzle all the way back to the ammo drum, and is really nice. If you're planning on displaying the gun access doors open, be prepared for some work - these access panels are not open on kit, and will have to be cut out by the modeler (with some detail added to the inside of the bay with sheet and strip).

The GAU-8's 30+ piece assembly

One really nice feature about this kit that I gleaned from reading through the instructions are that the Fowler flaps are completely movable (that's both flaps on both wings!) In addition, the decelerons are movable as well.

Overall impression of the canopy is that all appears to be accurate in terms of shape and outline. My sample did have some shallow scratches on the forward windscreen, and there is a seam line that you'll have to remove on the canopy, from the forward edge to about a half inch back.

For the modeler who was asking, the chaff/flare dispensers on the undersides of the gear sponsons are there, and appear to be of the correct type, although the ones on the sponsons appear to be slightly undersized. Also, you have the option of opening the refueling receptacle on the port side sponson, and the refueling receptacle is included with the kit. The Pave Penny pod is included, and FINALLY, someone has included a clear piece for the seeker head of the pod! The chaff/flare dispensers on the undersides of the wingtips are also present, and well detailed.

The TF-34 engines are very well represented by one piece resin castings, and the modeler is provided with clear parts for the engine nacelles and fan blades, a la the 'Phantom Mustang'. Optional position (movable?) engine doors are also a feature.

The inner engine covers and fan blades are molded on clear sprues.

(Oh, and by the way, the bird is EGI/LASTE equipped. If you're modeling a Desert Storm bird, get out the sanding sticks).

Note the LASTE antennae on the outsides of the vertical tails

As I said before, the cockpit is the only real downer of the kit - it has almost no detail at all, save for a fairly nice ACES II seat (in multi piece injection, not resin as previously speculated). The instrument panel is represented by a decal, as previousl speculated. The control stick and throttle are inaccurate, and would be best remodeled with a section of brass tubing for the control stick, and styrene sheet/strip for the throttle. No rudder pedals are included. Also, the HGU-55 helmet on the pilot is going to need some work to be corrected.

OK, so maybe I'm not thrilled with the level of detail on the cockpit parts, but you can't have everything. This, to me, is an acceptable trade off for all of the other 'goodies' included in this kit.

Weapons provided include AIM-9L/M on DRA, and ALQ-119 ECM pod, X2 BLU-27 napalm canisters, X2 Mk. 20 Rockeyes, X6 CBU-52s, a GBU-10 Paveway I, GBU-8 and GBU-15 TV guided bombs, X6 AGM-65 Mavericks, and X12 Mk. 82 LDGPs (which are best left in the box, IMHO). Basically, if you're familiar with the ordnance in the 1/48 Tamiya and Monogram kits, there are no surprises here, save for the pair of Sidewinders and DRA. The kit also comes with a pair of MERs. Now, if I recall correctly, the A-10 is not authorized to carry MERs, except to carry and deliver 25 lb. practice bombs, so unless you're doing a training loadout, leave these in the box as well. As an alternative, you can use the MK 20 Rockeyes found in the Tamiya F-15E kit, Mk. 82s from the Revell F-15E kit (both of the aforementioned kits have plenty of ordnance left over which is in better shape than the stuff provided with the kit), as well as TERs from the Hasegawa F-16 kit. Also, you could consider using CBU-87s from Flightpath, Mk.20 Rockeyes, or Mk. 82 AIR from CAM as well. Just my opinion.......


CBU-52, napalm, and ferry tank	Mavericks, ALQ-119, pylons, and sway braces

Also, the kit does not provide an ALQ-184 or ALQ-131 ECM pod for later Hogs, although you could modify the ALQ-119 to represent a 184 by lengthening the lower gondola.

Decals are provided for two aircraft: an Eglin bird (80-209), and an New Orleans AFRES bird (77-272). I haven't had time to look over the decals in much detail, but I'm going to use my TwoBobs sheet anyway, so it wasn't a priority for me.

So, is the Trumpeter A-10 a picture perfect kit? No, but what kit is? Am I happy? You bet! In spite of the lack of detail in the cockpit, this is shaping up to be a great kit, and I personally can't wait to get started on it! Sure, it's a little pricey, but if you've wanted a 1/32 A-10 for as long as I (and many others) have, it's worth it - with a little work, this kit can be the centerpiece of your collection!

My sincerest thanks to Mike Bass of Stevens International for providing the review sample, and for making this in-box preview possible!

For an additional review on this kit, check out Terry Ashley's excellent in-box review at the Perth Military Modeling Society website.