My A-10 Warthog Project
 

At long last, my A-10 Warthog project is moving forward. I bought the George Miller 1/9th scale plans about two years ago and after that, for various reasons, the project was put on hold. Even though I'm in the very early stages of contruction, I thought I'd go ahead and start posting progress. More details are on my web site (link below), but here's a synopsis.

I started with the empennage as it gets integrated with the fuselage (a former goes right through the middle) and has to be nearly complete before you can start on the fuselage. Also, I wanted to start with items where I could see some quick results. ;) The rudders are ready to be glassed; the fins are well along as is the horizontal stabilizer.

I get a lot of questions off of my web site regarding this project. Actually, I have more questions than answers, but I'll be happy to answer what I can.

Here's my web site:

http://home.mindspring.com/~pdmarsh/...10project.html

Thanks,
Paul

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I started with the scale missiles since I couldn't start the plane itself. Those are well along, also.

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Things are moving along. The empennage is nearly complete and I have started on the fuselage. I'll post some representative photos here, but more photos and details are on my web site.

Paul

http://home.mindspring.com/~pdmarsh/...10project.html

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Were the sidewinders tough to make? Yours look fabulous!

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Hi Nony,

Thanks. They weren't all that difficult to make. I used off-the-shelf model rocket tubes and balsa nose cones that were close to the final shape. I cut the fins from ABS plastic. The wide collars were also made from ABS, sanded thin. The smaller collars were made simply from thin masking tape wrapped to the right thickness. The rest is paint.

I actually contacted Raytheon directly, trying to get design details. While I did get a simple brochure, I was told "they aren't authorized to give out such information" and that I needed to contact the Air Force. I figured that if model manufacturers like Revelle can get details, I could, too, but not so, I guess. I found other documents on the web that I used as guides.

Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Thanks Paul..I will definitely be following this thread. The A-10 is one of my favorites. (had a .46 pusher version waaaay back when...). The need for that second turbine is the biggest reason keeping it off my to-be-built list....In the meantime, I will enjoy the work of others, such as yourself...

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

How much did they charge to laser cut the plane for you?

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Paul, love to see her when you are done. Bring her out to the field to fly. here's a pic of the first one I built. Dave.

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

FOShowNoClass,
I sent an e-mail to you on this.
Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Hi Dave,

It may be a while, but I'm anxious to get her done and out to the field. Very nice job on your model. That will be a tough act to follow.

Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Dave,
Was your A-10 built from the same plans that Paul and I are using? Sure is pretty. The nose art and color scheme are awsome! Do you have any more pics you can share?

Doug

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Hey guys, nope. This one is a Mibojets model. Roger Shipley imports them. I think I can find some more pics. Thanks, Dave.

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Beautiful, Dave. Just gorgeous. Do me a favor and leave that one at home when mine is out! Mine will pale in comparison.

Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Here is a George Miller A-10 I finished for a guy in our club a few years ago:

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Hi Terry,

Very nice! I'm not sure, but I think we may have traded e-mails on your A-10 way back when I started this project so long ago. Now that you've reminded me that you built one from the same plans, I'll probably badger you with questions.

Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

For those who might be interested, another person (Doug) is building a Miller A-10 and is posting progress over on the "Scratch Building" forum. The link is below.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_24..._1/key_/tm.htm

Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Paul,

Hey man it's good to see that you are back working on the A-10. I also see that you have moved up north! Send me an e-mail or PM and we can catch up on whats been going on.

Regards, Bill

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

wher can i get the miller plans?

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Scale RC Models

http://www.scalercmodels.com/rcplans.html#2

Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

This is an awesome project. Good Luck.

I am tempted to build one for twin Wren MW44 power. Having searched around a bit it looks like this used to be available as a kit. Anybody know if you can still get kits or kit parts? Or of any other similar size kits for small turbines?

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

The George Miller kit line was purchased by John Craig, who now owns Iron Bay (the old Byron kit line). I don't think he still produces any of the Miller kits but it might be worth a try to contact him.

http://www.ironbaymodelcompany.com/index.html

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Except for managing to break two formers through stupidity, the fuselage is coming along nicely. I also had a little trouble getting the bottom panel to warp up to the side panel curve. It came up only so far. I guess I could have soaked it even more, but I'll just fill in the gaps with scrap balsa and carve the nose to shape after I attach the nose plug. I don't know, but my fuselage is looking ugly. It's going to take some serious work to get it to look like the finished beauties posted above in this thread!

I'm beginning to discover the hidden flaws within the George Miller plans. It's nothing that can't be worked around, but they are annoying nonetheless. This is my first project being built from plans, so maybe some of this is to be expected. Still, I contacted both the owner of the plan copyright, Scale RC Products, and the laser-cutting outfit that scanned them for me, Tank's Hangar Aircraft Modeling. Mike at Scale RC is aware of the flaws and apologizes for them. He was instructed when he initially got the plans that he was not allowed to alter them in any way. Now that he owns the copyright, he's going to try to make corrections. Tank's is working on their own corrections now so that any more laser-cut packages will be better.

The basic problem is this: the individual patterns for ribs and other parts don't match the plan views of the built up sections. Specifically, here's what I've found so far:

1. Three sets of fin ribs, when cut from the patterns, come up short relative to the fully drawn fin. I had to recut these.
2. The main spar for the horizontal stabilizer, when cut from the pattern with rib locations marked accordingly, comes up short relative to the plan view. Also, the rib locations are all wrong. I had to make the spar twice as a result.
3. None of the spar slots in the center wing section ribs line up. When the ribs are stacked together the slots should form a nice straight line. They form a "V". I fixed this by using the two identical 1/4" ply ribs as masters, held all of the other ribs against one of those and widened the spar slots to match the master. I had to use little balsa wedges to fill those gaps when I glued in the spar. Also, the ribs are different widths from top to bottom. I cut down the wide ones, but a few are thinner. The sheeting should still go on OK, though. So far, the ribs for the outer wing panels seem OK. Foam cores are an option, but not one I plan to go with.
4. The inboard flap ribs don't match, especially the 1/4" balsa ones. I intend to pick one and recut the others to match. The inboard flaps are even. The outboard flaps taper. I haven't checked those ribs yet.
5. After assembly, the bottom fuselage panel former locations didn't match the side panel locations. This may have been my mistake, but I don't think so. I followed the patterns very closely. Fortunately, I glued the formers to the side panels first. Had I started with the bottom panels I would have had some alignment problems.

None of this is intended to discourage anyone from building this plane. If I can work around this stuff, trust me, you can, too.

Paul

http://home.mindspring.com/~pdmarsh/...10project.html

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Things are moving along...

After fixing the ribs I was able to assemble the center wing section. The ribs for the outer wing sections seem to have been drawn, and therefore cut, better. I'm about ready to join all three sections. I built the nacelle hatches, and the cockpit kit and canopy arrived. The wingtip in this picture has been started, but not completed.

Paul

http://home.mindspring.com/~pdmarsh/...10project.html

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Here's what you do when you have more time than money, and a whole lot of scrap balsa--you make stuff rather than buy it. I decided to try to make the engine nacelle inlet nozzles instead of buying the pre-made fiberglass versions. To get the most out of my scrap 1/4" balsa, I made 1/4 ring patterns, cut the wood with a jigsaw, then glued them together to get seven rings which, when stacked, give me the full depth of the nozzle. The inside diameters are the same, which makes for easy alignment, and the outside diameters closely match the final shape. It worked out pretty good, so the second nozzle is underway.

Paul

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

The irresistible mock-up...

RE: My A-10 Warthog Project
 

Nice work, real nice...