Netherlands Navy EA-10H

[anthonyp]

Here's that old Academy 1/72 A-10 I was working on earlier this year to become part of the Finnish navy.  It fell as I was completing it, and I put it aside.  After I put it aside, one of my parts boxes fell onto it, and as I was cleaning it out, I noticed an old TARPS pod that was laying upside down right next to the A-10.  I put it onto the underside of A-10, but it didn't look right, so I put it on the back, and an idea struck me.  What if not only was the A-10 carrier capable, but what if it was a dedicated EW/Wild Weasel type of plane?

This thing got painted up in another paint scheme and was going to become part of the German Navy, but the paint scheme just didn't sit well with me.  After I'd painted the F9F and the F-4K for the Dutch navy, and liked how they turned out, I took this long tormented model and repainted it one last time.  It's finally found its home, from where it can wreak havoc in my AH.

This particular example flies off the Karel Doorman and provides EW support in the same way (but not as effectively) as the USN's EA-6B.  It also undertakes the Wild Weasel defense suppression mission, though not as effecitvely as other types.  The 30MM GAU-8 cannon was replaced by a 20MM M61, with the extra space being taken up by electronics.

In addition to the Dutch Navy, this type and the dual seat EA-10L is operated by the USN, German Navy, and Israeli Navy.

[anthonyp]

rear view

[anthonyp]

Armaments

[jamakni]

What's With the thick paint lines on the canopy frame, inexperence (I havent built in a while so I can understand) or was it deleberate to suggest an uparmored canopy?

Wouldn't it have been better to build a twin seater with a second crewman to operate the electronics?

Just my $0.02

[anthonyp]

What's With the thick paint lines on the canopy frame

Inexperience?  I've probably been modeling longer than you've been alive.

In all honesty, painting while sufficiently inebriated is not recommended.

Also, this was the fourth paint job for this thing and I just wanted it done.  I'm just lazy that way.

It's not a two seater because I didn't have a two seater.  This is the single seat version, whereas the EA-10L would be the two seater.

[Eddie M.]

I like the canopy because it give that armored car look. Cool paint job too. B)
  Eddie

[John Howling Mouse]

I like the canopy because it give that armored car look. Cool paint job too. B)
   Eddie

Yep, I had presumed you did them this way for the very same reason Eddie mentioned.

And it certainly suits the subject aircraft to be so well protected.

And, as for modeling while inebriated, boy, does that bring back memories!
I don't drink but, as a teenager, the "adult" JMN next door did and he was a NASA freak.

Building a 1:144 Saturn-V one night in my basement, my drunken neighbor squeezed out an entire tube of Testors glue and he just sat there with a dazed look while he watched it slowly stream down the entire length of his partially assembled first stage!

So, Anthony, your Warthog's looking pretty damn good by comparison!    ^_^

[anthonyp]

Thanks!

Seriously, the only time I ever model after I've over-served myself is on models that seriously tick me off.  These are models that have been sitting on the "unfinished" part of the shelf for more than three weeks, or have had more than their fair share of indecision about final operational status (ie, what decals am I going to use on them?  No, these don't really fit, I'm going to repaint it) and are deserving of my attention.  This A-10 has been sitting on my "Please, for the love of God, finish me!!!" shelf since last year (along with one other plane that is almost done), and it needed some "inspired" modeling to get it done.

Can't say I've ever squeezed out an entire tube of glue, though I have dripped paint onto my bare foot (multiple times), which I can't seem to clean totaly off for about a week after spilling the paint.  I don't do it often (mainly because I'm fearful of the results), but when I do, it's to complete one model that's making me angry because I can't seem to bring its true form out of its unfinished state.   :dum:  

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

Your A-10 looks great!!

And even if she hasn't the jamming abilities of a EA-6, she has greater payload !!! And I like that!!

[noxioux]

Very cool.  I have often wanted to do a USN/USMC A-10, just because it's such a wicked CAS/COIN critter.  How hard could it be to navalize something that's already tough as nails?

It also makes one think of the possibilities of a navalized Sukhoi Su-25.  Hmmmm. . .

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

It also makes one think of the possibilities of a navalized Sukhoi Su-25. Hmmmm. . .

Some navalised Su-25 are already in service on the Kusnetsov

[Davey B]

Yes, but they're only trainers.  An armed version'd make a good A-6 counterpart  

Great stuff, mate!      

[Joe C-P]

This is awesome! Great idea behind it, too.  :ar:  

[Gary]

You know this means I'm gonna have ta dig out my A-10 and do the thingy I was thinking of.

Rats, Not enought time as it is. Better quit the day job so I can build models.