Trying to decide how I want to arm my 1/72 Italeri 1/72 A-10A/C. The first step is identifying what comes with it, and then deciding what I want to keep or go shopping for replacements for. None of the hardware is called out by name in the instructions, and there’s one type of bomb that I’m having trouble identifying.
They’re definitely too squat for mk-80 series bombs. Sort of similar to an old M-117 which wouldn’t really make sense and the shape’s not quite right anyhow. Short extended fuzes are an interesting feature, as are the short tail fins, and the long taper of the rear section.
I’m leaning towards a cluster bomb of some sort but the internet has not been terribly helpful. Either a lot of people are mislabling pictures of bombs, or else for any given model number (ie “CBU-100”) there are several different versions with fairly different shapes. So, it’s time to ask the experts. Any thoughts?
Looks like it’s supposed to be a SUU-30 dispenser. It’s sometimes called CBU-58 or something like that, depending on the exact type of bomblets loaded in the dispenser. There are several sub-types of the SUU-30 dispenser, too, with slight modifications to the fins and two types of a tip - one is more rounded, the other one is more sharp. Hasegawa Weapons II has 6 pcs. of similar dispensers.
Hope it helps, good lck with your build and have a nice day
Thanks! I see that the Hasegawa Weapons II ones (which came out in 1980) look virtually identical. However, the rounded nose version seems far more common, as does the other fin shape. If there’s a resource that details what it all means (older mod versus newer? Different manufacturers?) I’ve yet to find it, so I think perhaps I’ll send these to the spares bin and pick up something more straightforward.
The kit comes with two pods - one shorter, one longer - and lists each one as optional, but does not label either. So at some point I’ll have to sort that out as well.
I have already decided I’ll be equipping it with a heavy but plausible load. Which is to say, perhaps not something exactly accurate to known loads from actual combat missions, but something it could carry. Normally I try to match something that was actually flown in combat, but it would be a shame to let all those hardpoints go mostly empty.
I have yet to come across a photo of an A-10 ever carrying them. For CBUs, A-10s usually carry later models such as the Rockeye or other types. The ECM pod is an ALQ-131 type.
There appear to be several configurations flown with up to six SUU-30s - mostly one per hardpoint, but also one configuration with two out of three spots on a Triple Ejector Rack loaded with SUU-30s. I don’t think 3x SUU-30s on a TER has ever been used on A-10s but it should be possible.
A few other tidbits I’ve gleaned from internet searches on A-10 loadouts and how they relate to modeling:
Some kits like to give you a pair of Multiple Ejector Racks with 6 mk-82s each, but as far as I can tell no A-10 has ever flown MERs on a combat mission. I saw one source claim that TERs weren’t “supposed” to be used outside of training either, but they bent that rule when the shooting started.
a load of six AGM-65 mavericks, 3x each on two LAU-88 triple launchers, is commonly offered in kits and you can see real aircraft in museums and air show displays with this load, but apparently there was concern about the inner missile’s rocket engine damaging the nearbye landing gear when it fired, so for real missions AGM-65s were always carried one per pylon, or two on a LAU-88 with the inner spot left empty.
Yup. A-10s occasionally had MERs hung on them during testing, but they were never officially certified to carry MERs.
I know that hanging a lot of ordnance on an A-10 is possible by weight, but apparently drag is a major concern on that aircraft. Can’t imagine why on such a “slick” airframe. LOL
