This second commission build is the Academy 1/72 A-10A from “Operation Iraqi Freedom” I will be using the kit decals for the aircraft from the 75th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd wing. This will also be mounted in a display case. It will be mostly “out of the box” build with the exception of using Master Model’s brass gun barrels and pitot tube.
I started the week off by assembling and detailing the cockpit. I used some scrap photo etch parts for the ejection handles, some other details, and some 3M cloth tape to make the seatbelts. The cockpit tub, the nose gear bay walls and the engine housing all had some rather deep mold marks which required putty to fill.
The cockpit was attached to the nose gear bay section and mounted into the fuselage. The fuselage had a few areas requiring putty as well. The fit was pretty close but some areas had minor gaps. This was prevalent on the top side of the nose. While the putty was drying on other sections I measured the brass gun barrels housing and drilled out the barrel shroud just under the nose to fit the barrels inside the shroud.
I am currently building up the wings, tails, and engine assembly. I should have the aircraft mostly together so I can the base coats of the light ghost grey and dark ghost grey of paint.

You can see all the photos and details from start to finish in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-72-a-10a-from-operation-iraqi-freedom/

8 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Very nice entry and ditto start, David @davids_models

Excellent modifications done, David @davids_models
Progressing nicely.

Regardless of what people say about the looks of this bird, I have always liked the way the A-10 looks, kind of mean and purposeful. A real beauty in its own way. The work you have done sounds about par for the course on this kit. Sounds like you have it under control. Everything looks great so far.

As the third week of the A-10A finishes I completed the base coat of paint. I then worked on the landing gear. For the nose gear there are two landing lights. These were just molded flat. O drilled them out a bit and used acrylic gel to create the landing light lenses. The landing gear was assembled with the landing gear doors then everything was installed on to the aircraft. I also installed the brass gun barrels under the nose.

Next I applied all the decals. The decals all went one very well. The aircraft was then painted with the matte top coat. While the air craft was drying I turned back to the weapons. I received a comment for a fellow modeler and veteran who worked on the A-10’s on what the typical load out was on them during Operation Iraqi freedom. The weapons supplied in the kit are not very accurate. SO I will be using only two of the Maverick’s, two JDAM’s and will be adding two AIM-9 missiles. The AIM-9’s are resin versions from ResKit. Instead of the ECM pod I am going to add a Litening Pod. This was not available back then but the pod has a connection to the client so I am adding it and using the Eduard resin accessory.

I trimmed the nose off the Mavericks to make the sensor heads using acrylic gel. I then filled the lenses on the Litening pod turret with acrylic gel and later will color them the correct shades. I am now working on finishing up the aircraft. The canopy, HUD, windscreen, and a couple of other touch ups and then I can install the weapons. Once the aircraft is finished I will be starting on the display case over the next week and hope to have this build completed by end of week.

You can see all the photos and details from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-72-a-10a-from-operation-iraqi-freedom/

10 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Superb progress, David @davids_models.
Great start on the armament as well.

Superb finish, David @davids_models
She looks great on the headlines.