A-10A Thunderbolt

By Mike Wren

Italeri, 1:72

After the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet A light attack aircraft was cancelled in 1978 due to technical and political problems the United States offered West Germany the Fairchild Republic A-10. A total of 90 A-10 aircraft were delivered to JBG-34, -41 and -43 from 1980 onwards, replacing obsolete Fiat G-91 and Lockheed F-104 Starfighter aircraft in the close air support role.

In time of war the Thunderbolts would have operated from dispersed Forward Operating Locations, and in conjunction with USAF A-10s and RAF Harriers the aircraft would be tasked with blocking any Warsaw Pact armoured offensive through the Fulda Gap.

Nicknamed 'schwein' (hog) in German service, the rugged A-10 would later serve with distinction as Forward Air Control aircraft in operations over Bosnia and Kosovo".

The model is the Italeri A-10A, straight-from-the-box. Finished in the standard 1970s/80s grey/green West German splinter scheme, German markings and stencilling came from Hasegawa and Modeldecal sheets (F-104G and F-4F items) with the JBG-34 unit badges from the Italeri 1/48 Tornado.

I've got plans for a couple of other international A-10s - Japanese and South Korean, and maybe one day I'll get round to building a 'real' USAF one...

Text and photos Copyright © 2002 Mike Wren

Page created August 19 2002.