A-10 Thunderbolt II

[tinlail]

I'll try to post some picture this weekend of work so far, and a mock up of what I intend to do. I will admit to being some what fuzzy on exactly how a launch bar works, and what stress are placed on it.

[Gary]

I had done this with the poor quality Matchbox kit.



By the sounds of it, you'll have something even better. Looking forward to your version!  

[SinUnNombre]

You know, I've been thinking more and more of just doing an up-and-over fold. A little further from the sponsons than the one Gary posted, and then jog the cut back in to perserve all the flap area. If I did an up-and-over, should I put another break at the wingtips? A forward strut on the nose gear sounds like a good idea too. And there looks to be room for it in the existing well. Here's where I get a bit silly.....What USMC squadron markings should this beast be in?

Jon

[elmayerle]

You know, I've been thinking more and more of just doing an up-and-over fold. A little further from the sponsons than the one Gary posted, and then jog the cut back in to perserve all the flap area. If I did an up-and-over, should I put another break at the wingtips? A forward strut on the nose gear sounds like a good idea too. And there looks to be room for it in the existing well. Here's where I get a bit silly.....What USMC squadron markings should this beast be in?

Jon

For where you're putting the fold, I doubt you'd need another one at the tips.

I'd suggest looking at the F-18's nose gear for an idea on the necessary struts you'll need, though the F-14's nose gear should work as well.

As for a Marine squadron, I'd pick one that was flying A-7s.

[Jschmus]

Didn't Radish start a discussion awhile back about an alt-world naval A-10, built as the "Armstrong-Whitworth Nemesis"?  I seem to remember the talk, but can't locate the thread.

Edit:

Found it!

Armstrong-Whitworth Nemesis

I also found this one:

Naval A-10

[SinUnNombre]

I'd suggest looking at the F-18's nose gear for an idea on the necessary struts you'll need

Like I said in my first post, I planned on using a spare F-18 nose gear from my 1/48 kit, but I realized when I got home that this was a 1/72 kit. I'm debating wether to keep trying to kitbash it or just scratchbuil the extra strut onto the existing gear. I may have a piece from an A-7 that would work, but I dunno. We will have to see.

Jon

[MAD]

I had done this with the poor quality Matchbox kit.



By the sounds of it, you'll have something even better. Looking forward to your version!

Do the wings of your model fold right over on one another i.e. Grumman S-2 Tracker style to give greater hanger clearance??
Any chance of a head-on view of this nasalized A-10 model of yours

M.A.D

[r16]

wonder if it would be feasable to use an Hellcat type wingfold to get the wings between the tails .

[Blacklion213]

how about a A-6 style fold or S-3

[tinlail]

Here is my mock up. The launch bar is on the center line the nose gear is totally separate. I made it a triangle so that it missed the center line antennas. When I make if for real I'll use something straighter than the soldering wire, I used here.

The tailhook would be much the same.

[LemonJello]

I like what your doing, keep the updates coming!  

Eventually, I hope to take a crack at this same idea; folding wings, tail hook, whatever else to "navalize" the A-10 for carrier service with USMC markings, maybe for the Black Sheep?  

I have considered using the new Hobby Boss 2 seater as my base kit, but I think with all the cutting that'll go on, I'm going to use one of the cheaper, older kits and leave it a single seater...

Instead of a cat shot, could the A-10 get off the deck using a RATO?

[MAD]

I like what your doing, keep the updates coming!  

Eventually, I hope to take a crack at this same idea; folding wings, tail hook, whatever else to "navalize" the A-10 for carrier service with USMC markings, maybe for the Black Sheep?  

I have considered using the new Hobby Boss 2 seater as my base kit, but I think with all the cutting that'll go on, I'm going to use one of the cheaper, older kits and leave it a single seater...

Instead of a cat shot, could the A-10 get off the deck using a RATO?

Being carrier-based, I think a radar would be a good idea!

As to the need for RATO for take off?
The heavier Lockheed S-3 Viking had enough power to get of a carrier-deck using the same engines!

[elmayerle]

I keep thinking of a navalized 2-seat A-10 with a radar antenna in the nose, radar boxes in what was the ammo bay, and carrying some form of Phoenix ER missiles, either with a booster stage (a return to the Eagle) or with the rocket moter replaced by an integral rocket ramjet engine (might still bits of Vought's LVRJ test vehicle) under the wings as a missileer concept.

[LemonJello]

As to the need for RATO for take off?
The heavier Lockheed S-3 Viking had enough power to get of a carrier-deck using the same engines!

That's WITH the cat throwing it into the air.  I want to know if it would be possible to do a RATO launch of an A-10 without the catapult.  Maybe a longer run down the flightdeck?  Just looking for a way around some of the issues mentioned with the off-center front gear...

[tinlail]

I admire the idea of a warthog Missileer, though I would think that a warthog wing would not be well suited for the altitudes that a such a plane would want to patrol at.

What equipment does a ASW aircraft need? Could it fit on a A-10?