1:48 A-10C Thunderbolt II Canopy & Wheels Paint Mask Set /G.W.H./

The A-10C Thunderbolt II: cabin and wheel masks in 1:48

The hinged canopy of the attack aircraft is largely formed by a single bulged surface, around which a narrow frame runs. It is precisely that which is painted miserably freehand. The base of this set is a thin masking tape, which is laid from the outside and the inside, so the frame looks equally good with the canopy closed and open. Besides the glazing there are shapes for the wheels on the sheet and in addition masking for the targeting pod which the machine carries under the right forward part of the fuselage. The tape is semi-transparent, after spraying it comes off cleanly and will take more than one use.

Something about the real subject

The Fairchild Republic A-10 came about in the 1970s around a seven-barrel cannon of thirty millimeter caliber as an aircraft for the direct support of ground forces. The pilot is protected by a bathtub of titanium armor, the engines are set high above the fuselage and the machine is able to fly slowly and low over the battlefield. The upgrade to the C standard brought new onboard displays, digital buses and the ability to carry precision-guided munitions; until then the aircraft was predominantly a machine for unguided weapons.

Advice on the work

Stick the inner shapes on before you seat the canopy, and with the outer ones wait until the shade of the cabin has cured. Mask the pod separately from the airframe, because it is sprayed in a different color. The gray shades of the attack aircraft are applied in thin layers and it is advisable to press the edges of the masks down before spraying, so that paint does not run under.

The set suits

• the build of a modern American attack aircraft
• modelers who want a clean canopy frame
• separating the wheel rims from the tires
• those who are dealing with the underslung targeting pod as well