Hobby Boss 1/48 N/aw A-10 - Got One!

[Spellbinder99]

Picked up one at my local purveyor of all things weird and wonderfull yesterday (Roy at Southern Skies Models) and I have to say it seems to be all the good things said about it online so far.

A bit up there in price (about $80 Aus retail, $72 after my regular customer discount) but a quality job for all that with a decent selection of weapons, great detail in the engines with seperate see-through fan blades and of course the added weird/WIF potential of being a one-off two seat example.

Somewhat strange things include a fully detailed 30mm cannon but no removable panels and weapons such as the GBU-8, unseen previously outside the Hasegawa weapon sets.

As to what I am going to do with it, well.......

RAAF maratime patrol and strike springs to mind. As the A-10 was considered in the late 70's as part of the Mirage replacement I am thinking a weapon fit of four Harpoon anti-shipping missiles and an external tank for extended range. Roy has the resin 1/48th scale Harpoons in stock from Red Roo I think, so that is out of the way as I don't believe the Harpoons are much about in that scale apart from maybe as a loadout in one of the early F-18 kits?

Anyhoo, in the box it looks a good kit with plenty of modelling bang for the buck so I am happy. The small details that are "wrong" according to those more knowledgable in the ways of the A-10 I can live with for what I want it for.
Will look cool with a 75 Sqn top hat and cane on the fins I think...

Cheers

Tony

[GTX]

RAAF maratime patrol and strike springs to mind. As the A-10 was considered in the late 70's as part of the Mirage replacement I am thinking a weapon fit of four Harpoon anti-shipping missiles and an external tank for extended range. Roy has the resin 1/48th scale Harpoons in stock from Red Roo I think, so that is out of the way as I don't believe the Harpoons are much about in that scale apart from maybe as a loadout in one of the early F-18 kits?

Go for it!

Regards,

Greg

[John Howling Mouse]

Yep, I was VERY excited and pleasantly surprised when I got mine.
My intent for the kit was posted here:

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...=two-seat&st=45

Looking forward to seeing your idea above come to fruition, too!      

[elmayerle]

I admit to being tempted by one - downsize the cannon and add a good radar in the nose and carry an assortment of missiles under the wing (mix of any of Phoenix ER, Phoenix, AMRAAM, and Sidewinder or ASRAAM as loadout) as a standoff, Missileer - type, platform capable of A@G sceondary roles.