[bandit95]

So yesterday i went down to my local hobby shop and guess what!? they had the HM F-4D (Steve Ritchies) I fell in love and bought it and it is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best F-4 ive seen. Anyway, they had a couple of HM's A-10's too! I went to buy one but then noticed that alot of things were a bit off. (these being small details but none the less kept me from buying one.) I noticed that the A-10's they had were missing alot of bumps and antennaes and the Chaff and Flare dispensers. The new A-10C upgrade program is scheduled to be completed within the next six months...this means all of HM's current A-10's will be outdated. Now all of the older A-10's are perfect and I am going to get one of those. The thing is is we need a MODERN A-10C!!!!! So i found a few pics of what I am talking about to show you what I mean. These pictures come from FENCE CHECK AND AIRLINERS.net!!!!


In this first photo I have circled the problem areas in red. I know that the two bumps on the tail have been covered in the newest A-10 but not in the others. Yout can clearly see the new SAT COM antennae on the top of the A-10 along with the GPS blister and a few smaller ones. I know a few but not the SATCOM (this is very new) or the GPS have been covered by HM. Also, the nose of the A-10's have a small bump and the belly has a few new anntenneas on the front and back.


In the second photo you can see the undersinde antennae and the chaff and flare launchers.

and in the third photo is a closeup of the new SATCOM (again this is a very new addition) and GPS. THESE ARE MAJOR UPGRADES!!!!

Now I know HM can add small details as some have been added and removed for different models. It would be soooo awesome if HM could produce at least one A-10C with all the new bumps and blisters and what not. A good scheme to do would be the OT hogs from the 422 TES based at nellis. I do agree that HM has some of the most awesome aircraft ive ever seen. However, I do belive that their A-10's could use a little fine tuning to make litterally the Best 1/72 A-10 ever, this including ANY plastic or diecast aircraft. The last one is the 422nd TES HOG

[William]

Hi,

Thank you for your photos and informations.

HM has sold probably most A-10s we would want to make. Perhaps we could add a "Bob Swain" version and a UK Woodbridge based version next year and that's all.

To make the new A-10C we would like to include some more updated weapons set and perform some re-checking of the landing gears height, etc. It will take a while but we hope to bring the best possible A-10 to the market in the future.

[David Hingtgen]

Actually, most of the things circled are associated with the "late" A-10A---which is everything after Desert Storm. Only a few are A-10C specific. The HM A-10 is actually a 70's-80's A-10A, and thus a bit off for most of the schemes they've done I think. IMHO they should have based their mold off the Revell/Italeri one----then it'd have 100x MUCH better weapons, and be a 90's to early 2000's A-10A.

[William]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Actually, most of the things circled are associated with the "late" A-10A---which is everything after Desert Storm. Only a few are A-10C specific. The HM A-10 is actually a 70's-80's A-10A, and thus a bit off for most of the schemes they've done I think. IMHO they should have based their mold off the Revell/Italeri one----then it'd have 100x MUCH better weapons, and be a 90's to early 2000's A-10A.

Hi,

We have received many comments on the weapon set. In fact, HM is considering changing A-10's weapon set after our latest "shark mouth" version.

The company you mentioned also released an upgrade set including a stand alone cannon. Anybody interested in having one in the future in finished form?

[smartd]

Originally Posted by William

Hi,

We have received many comments on the weapon set. HM is considering changing A-10 weapon set after our latest "shark mouth" version.

Thank you for remaining us on this. The company you mentioned also release an upgrade set including a stand alone cannon. Anybody interested in having one in the future in finished form?

A stand alone cannon would make a super display companion to the model.

[bandit95]

WOW! William are you saying there will be another shark mouth A-10? Also will we see an upgraded weapons set with this aircraft. It would be by far the best A-10 on the market if it had all of the dorrect anntennaes of the new C model and it had a good weapons set. Just a hint the A-10's are flying with the new SNIPER XR targeting pod, GBU-12's, GBU-38's and the LASER AGM-65 now too. These are among the cutting edge weapons that us modellers WOULD LOVE TO SEE!!!

[William]

Originally Posted by bandit95

WOW! William are you saying there will be another shark mouth A-10? Also will we see an upgraded weapons set with this aircraft. It would be by far the best A-10 on the market if it had all of the dorrect anntennaes of the new C model and it had a good weapons set. Just a hint the A-10's are flying with the new SNIPER XR targeting pod, GBU-12's, GBU-38's and the LASER AGM-65 now too. These are among the cutting edge weapons that us modellers WOULD LOVE TO SEE!!!

Hi,

I mean a possible new weapon set in the future with the next new livery.

But since our distributors still have some older stock on hand, this may not come in the very near future. All I can say is that the faster the old stock can sell, the quicker we can expect this to come.

[edkao]

Originally Posted by William

Hi,

I mean a possible new weapon set in the future with the next new livery.

But since our distributors still have some older stock on hand, this may not come in the very near future. All I can say is that the faster the old stock can sell, the quicker we can expect this to come.

William,

Is it possible to have the main gear door fixed? It should be in the open position when the gear is down.

Thanks, Ed

[bandit95]

How bout a davis monthan A-10 from afghanistan? Id like to see some more modern schemes. Ones from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its too bad we wont see an upgraded version for a long time if we even see one at all.......

[William]

Originally Posted by edkao

William,

Is it possible to have the main gear door fixed? It should be in the open position when the gear is down.

Thanks, Ed

Sure thing in the future.