A-10 guys I need a little help. I’m trying to figure out an ordnance load for my A-10 based on what I have and what is available as aftermarket. My main concern is finding a loadout that is realistic. Not necessarily one that specifically WAS carried but one that COULD HAVE been carried during OIF.
The model is a 1/32 A-10 painted and decaled for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The kit itself is based primarily on Desert Storm so a lot of the stores are from that time frame.
Here’s what I’ve got to work with:
AIM-9 with DRA
AGM-65
ALQ-119 ECM pod (but I’m trying to convert one of them to the shorter ALQ-184)
BLU-27 napalm canister
MK-20 Rockeye cluster bombs
MK-82
CBU-52
GBU-8
GBU-10
GBU-12
GBU-15
I also have a bunch of stuff left over from my F-105 but it’s Vietnam era so it’s probably not realistic.
I need some LAU-68 pods with HE and WP rockets but there don’t seem to be any aftermarket versions available in 1/32 scale. Cobra Company makes some 7-round launchers for helos that are supposed to be similar though.
Here’s what I’m thinking about:
Station 1: AN/ALQ-184 (modified ALG-119) or possibly an ALQ-130 since they are available in resin
Station 2: MK-20 or CBU-52 (need a LAU-68 with HE)
Station 3: AGM-65
Station 4: MK-82
Station 5: GBU-12
Station 6: Empty
Station 7: GBU-12
Station 8: MK-82
Station 9: AGM-65
Station 10: MK-20 or CBU-52 (need a LAU-68 with WP)
Station 11: 2xAIM-9 on DRA
Is this a legit loadout or is there something better I could use?
MusicCity;
Form being with an A-10 unit that flew in Iraq & Afghanistan this is the typical load
OIF
Station #1: AN/AGM 119 or 184 ECM pod
Station #2: SUU-17 7 Folding Fin Rocket Pod carrying 7 White Phorsphus tipped rockets
Station #3: AGM-64 I/R Maverick (after May 1 2003 these where optional, used if mission required them)
Station #4: MK-82 General Purpose Bomb
Station #5: MK-82
Station #6: Not used during combat, but is use for 600 Gal external fuel tank when ferried
Station #7: MK-82
Station #8: MK-82(after 1 May 2003 this station also carried GBU-12 Smart Bomb if A/C was atteched to the 442 FW Deployed to Kirkuk AB Iraq)
Station #9: AGM-64 (if attached to the ANG A/C from Barns AB PA or USAFR A/C from Whiteman AFB MO this station carried the LITENING II I/R Targeting pod through out the full deployment)
Station #10: SUU-14 4 Tubed Folding Fin Rocket pod carrying 8 FF I/R Flares
Station #11: Not Used - the Iraqi AF did not launch any sorties during the campain
OEF
Station #1: AN/AGM-119 ECM Pod (only used if A/C was flying out of Al Jaber AB Kuwait)
Station #2: SUU-17 Rocket pod
Station #3: AGM-64(same with stattion #1 but on mission requirements when flown out of Bagram AB Afghanistan)
Station #4: MK-82
Station #5: MK-82
Stattion #6: Not used
Station #7: MK-82
Station #8: Mk-82
Station #9: Same as Station #3
Station #10: Same as Station #2
Station #11: DRA w/2 AIM-9’s(see Station #1 notes)
Hope this will hep you out with the weapons loads
Trigger74;
that website just covers the basics of what the A-10’s can carry but not the actual loads that are still being carried when the A-10’s are in the AOR
Odd coincidence indeed. While reading this thread I idly flipped open my scanner and found an Eduard PE set in it for the 1/32 Trumpeter Hawg. Don’t know why it was there, and I don’t have the kit nor do I build in that scale.
But since we’re speaking of “what it could carry as opposed to what it did carry,” I think this three-fret set is made just for the kit ordnance, not realistic modern load-outs. Still, it really is nice. There are parts for the gun muzzle, very nice parts for the AIM-9L’s (I don’t know if they carried Sidewinder Mikes or Limas in the recent conflict), jigs for new Mk.-82 and other fins, the details for the old AGM-65, and what Eduard erroneously calls the “ALG-119” ECM pod has some of the best detail parts of all, removing the lumpy kit detail and replacing it with metal for the various protrusions along the length of the pod. There is also a pile of detail parts for various CBU’s and this, um, blast from the past: a BLU-27 napalm cannister.
There’s more, but the point is, if you’re looking for stuff to dress up your OIF or OEF A-10, there’s not much here. But if you want to have a good all-round ordnance detail set for 1970-199? in 1/32, for any US attack aircraft, you can’t do much better than this.
TOM
Thanks guys. Cuda, Dice, Sharkskin, and Trigger. I really appreciate the help.
Sharkskin I have the Eduard PE set, but not the whole 3-fret set. I got the exterior detail set as well as the Cutting Edge resin exterior detail set. It looks a TON better with it to!
Dice, I’m building KC’s bird 81-0987 (75 squadron, 23 TFW), but before it was hit. I’m not showing the damage. I like TwoBobs decals and wanted to use his. His decal sheet shows what the load is supposed to be but some of the stuff just isn’t available.
If I Remember right, and I’m doing this from memory because I’m too lazy to go downstairs to get the decal sheet, he showed on the sheet that it carried:
Stn 1: AN/ALQ-184
Stn 2: HE rockets (presumably a LAU-68 or SUU-17 as Cuda mentioned)
Stn 3: AGM-65
Stn 4: Mk-82
Stn 5: Mk-82
Stn 6: Empty
Stn 7: Mk-82
Stn 8: Mk-82
Stn 9: WP rockets (again like stn 2 presumably)
Stn 10: AGM-65
Stn 11: 2xAIM-9
The problem is that nobody I can find makes an ALQ/184 or LAU-68 or SUU-17. I can’t even find pictures of an SUU-17 so I can try to scratch one up.
MusicCity, I guess your best bet without the rocket pods would be go with the MK-82s on 2/10. If you’re not worried about if they carried the load in OIF/OEF I would also go with the GBU-12s on 4/8 and the rest of the load you stated in your first post.
Thanks Dice, and all the rest of course. It’s a compromise I realize. I also realize it isn’t historically accurate, but sometimes we just have to go with what’s available. Also, it isn’t permanent and I can always pop them off the pylons when I run across something more accurate.
I’ve got a question to add to this as well: I’m about to build an A-10 Hawg specifically for ground-attack/fire-suppression missions. It’s for a ‘what-if’ build so I’m not really worried about realism of the mission so much. My question is this: what’s a good heavy load-out for an A-10 designed for ground-attack? Would it be like a Wild Weasel type load?
Cheers,
John
True, it’s probably based on a 25 year old DoD document. It’s good for a starting point. But that’s the benefit of having guys like you around here - people who’ve worked with these machines before. Thanks for the correction.
MusicCity;
Not to attack Dice but if the loads where to heavy for the mission then we leave the 4 & 8 pylons empty or not fly with the AGM’s but for the missions flown during OEF & OIF, and we never carried bombs past the 4 & 8 pylons(even though we could but never did), we carried the SUU’s with full loads of flare & Wisky Pete’s, because we had the fast movers upstairs who where acheing for a piece of the action, or better yet leave stations 2 & 10 empty and they’ll be ready for the correct items when available
Without getting defensive (but you know how we pride yourself on our knowledge) the reason I suggested this load, and the reason I asked which unit MusicCity had modeled, was to see which would be the best for the kit built.
I suggested the MK 82s on 2&10 because of the problem with finding the rocket pods and they were carried on stations 1/11&2/10 during OEF by Pope AFB NC.
I would like to modify my suggest, bearing in mind you said you don’t care if this load was carried or not but if it could be carried, would be to replace the MK-82s on station 4/8 with CBUs. This load would show a lot of the major munitions which can, and has been, carried by the Hawg in combat. It would look like this…
Stations
1/11 AIM-9s/ECM pod if you can find the right one
2/10 MK-82s
3/9 AGM-65s may one IR and one EO
4/8 CBUs
6 not used
5/7 LGB-12s
Guys you just don’t know how much help you are. We’d be lost without you, and I am not kidding.
I think what I’m going to do is use Dice’s load but at the same time not permanently attach them to the pylons. Probably just use white glue or something I can pop off later when I find the proper stores. While I like your suggestion Cuda, I just think a display model would look better without empty stations and Dice’s recommendation with the CBU’s works well for a model.
Dice, you show LGB-12’s on 5 and 7. Did you mean GBU-12’s or is there something I don’t understand? (I know the GBU’s are laser guided, just not sure if there is actually an LGB series)
Dice;
I’m not trying to attack you or your knowledge, heck you taught me a few things on the Hawg’s but you know the weight restrictions on the Hawg’s especially in hot climates or high altitudes, also I know people like to load their planes with tons of hung weapons loads but most people don’t know this information, like the F-16 Lawn Darts only carry 4 GBU-12’s on the TER’s not 6 as they can hold but only 4 due to it’s weight restrictions and it’s the same for all A/C operating in the AOR, and I, as most likely, kind of like to see some of the pylons empty it’ll make an intresting conversation piece and make people ask why isn’t it loaded up,
MusicCity;
for the SUU pods, if you have built it, the Revell 1/32 UH-1D “Attack Huey” the missile pods that are in that kit are very close to the A-10’s SUU pods if you want to work them out
Understand Kuda, I was just keying in on MusicCitys statement he didn’t care if the loads were carried during OIF/OEF only if they could be carried. I known the A-10 rarely carries MK-82s on stations 1-11 or 2-10 but, Pope did during OEF and that’s why I posted the picture I did, to back-up my point.
I think I’m a lot like you, a stickler for “realistic” loads or load which where carried during these two conflicts but, that’s not what was requested in this case. Maybe my day at work (not a good one) colored my above post but I was only trying to “back-up” my suggestions to MusicCity.
You’re good with me and I respect your knowledge and experience on the Hawg and don’t mean to get into a “knowledge pissin contest” just happens sometime.
I’ll come up with something. It may not be perfect, it may not be historically correct, but it also won’t be permanent. As I find the correct components I need I can always swap them out.
SPARKYVARK, it’s about 3/4 done now. Other than the stores it’s mostly detail items like the canopy, HUD, some antennae, etc. Lots of construction photos on my web site at This Link
