1:48 A-10A/A-10C Thunderbolt II details upgrades

The real subject

The Thunderbolt II is a ground-attack aircraft built around a single task: to support soldiers on the ground and survive being hit while doing so. Hence its shape, which nobody mistakes for anything else, the pair of engine nacelles high on the fuselage, the boxy tail surfaces and the cannon barrel projecting from the nose. The designations A-10A and A-10C distinguish two versions of the machine, the C being the later of the two.

What the accessory set is for

Accessory sets of this kind replace selected elements from the kit with parts that are finer in 1:48 scale and have sharper edges. The modeler thus refines exactly the places where the difference is apparent at first glance, without having to rebuild the whole model. The work with them is short and the result shows mainly in a close-up photograph, where the small shapes of the finished model are most visible.

Building and painting tips

• Before you start cutting anything away, compare the new parts with the parts from the kit and think the order of steps through.
• Remove the original elements gradually, preferably in several passes rather than with a single cut.
• The parts are not polystyrene, so make the joints with super glue or epoxy.
• Cut excess material and production marks away with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest.
• Before painting, wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water, let them dry and apply a primer.
• Fit the tiny parts only after the whole model has been sprayed; they will not break off then.

Terms of supply

The accessory set alone is supplied. The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Check the fit of the parts and any modifications against the manufacturer's instructions.