Painting Early A-10s

[AD-4N]

With the advent of the Caracal decal sheet covering early A-10s, I am asking the mottling experts on how to recreate the finish on early A-10s before Euro One.  And because I don't build Nazi Messerschmitts, saying "Paint it like a Bf 109 is not helpful."  At least not to me.  

 

I know the full size airframes where painted  black or dark gray and then white or very light gray were painted in a mottling pattern over different parts of the airframe.  I suppose I should use the techniques I have seen on later USN F-14 and F-18 builds?  Has anyone built one of the early mottled A-10s?  How did you do it?  Anything to watch out for?  This is the look I am going for.  

 

Thanks in advance.  

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZF060-jtFY/T0QJ2-Go9NI/AAAAAAAABSg/qhFm6Rvhnbk/s1600/31668_A10_12.JPG

[ikar]

When the A-10 first showed up in the late 70s we had one of the first production models come through Little Rock AFB on its way to its first assignment.  It was being escorted by the aircraft it was replacing, an A-37.  Its color was light grey.

Not long after that some pictures showed up at a firepower demonstration for NATO.  It showed an A-10 painted like a spotted frog doing a pylon turn around a tree as it lined up for another kill on some Russian tanks set up in a field.  The paint scheme didn't last very long and they were back to light grey.

There were a picture or two in the Squadron in action book from back then.

If I remember right, somebody did that paint job on the Tamiya model by punching some random holes in a piece of paper of a couple index cards and held them just above the aircraft.  Just move the masks around randomly, I'm pretty sure that pattern was not in my old copy of T.O. 1-1-4.  I'm guessing the spots were about 10-12 inches across.

[paulsbrown]

I'm no mean hand with an airbrush but managed to do this early scheme ok.

If you sturdy lots of photos you'll see the aircraft themselves had a lot of overspray, mottled schemes were refreshed and altered. I think the holed paper stencil sounds like a lot of trouble.

[Wild Weasel V]

While the answers above refer to the JAWS exercise schemes, the OP is referring to one of the early evaluation schemes as used on aircraft 73-1668 and 73-1669. This is the picture of 73-1668 linked in the first post (73-1669 had an assymetric scheme with the right wing darker than the left and only the lightest grey on the forward fuselage):

 

 

As has been mentioned these were created by applying white at various densities over a black layer. The Detail & Scale book 'Colors & Markings of the A-10 Warthog' Vol 24 has lots of information on the early schemes and has the patterns for both 73-1668 & '69 along with the levels of spray over and paint thicknesses. These are (lightest to darkest):

 

60% Grey (1.0-1.1 mils white thickness)

50% Grey (0.5-0.7 mils white thickness)

40% Grey (0.25-0.33 mils white thickness)

 

These aren't the same as the MASK 10A greys used on the early production A-10s which were based on a reflectance value of 30% and 50% to achieve solid grey tones. These were unique to the A-10 and didn't have Federal Standard numbers, being specified by Fairchild Republic themselves. When the scheme was re-adopted to replace Euro 1 the nearest equivalent FS 'Ghost Grey' shades were used.

 

I've often wondered how to achieve the different shades and thought of trying the same approach by misting white over black to build up the desired tones, but haven't drummed up the will to tackle it. As mentioned, the approach used for weathered TPS is probably the way to go to get to the finished look.

 

HTH,

 

Jonathan

[Scott Smith]

Oh wow. And I thought modelers came up with the black basing technique.  I always thought the first A-10’s were green.  
 

Here’s a Tomcat I painted using the black basing. Of course I wasn’t going for the heavy patterning like the A-10 above. 
 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Scott Smith

[paulsbrown]

On 10/7/2023 at 2:15 PM, Wild Weasel V said:

While the answers above refer to the JAWS exercise schemes, the OP is referring to one of the early evaluation schemes as used on aircraft 73-1668 and 73-1669.

My bad, I got excited with the topic. 

 

On 10/7/2023 at 2:15 PM, Wild Weasel V said:

I've often wondered how to achieve the different shades and thought of trying the same approach by misting white over black to build up the desired tones, but haven't drummed up the will to tackle it. As mentioned, the approach used for weathered TPS is probably the way to go to get to the finished look.

 

 

I have considered this scheme with another Tamiya that I have been preparing. I thought that the white over black could be gently built up with the airbrush but to avoid the soft 'look' of airbrushing (and those airframes' paint jobs had a rough and weathered look) one could do some fine grade sanding over the layers of white. Perhaps starting with a good strong lacquer type black primer base with a weaker acrylic white sprayed on top to aid in the 'roughing up' process and losing the fuzzy all airbrush look.

[Buckmeister]

The final settled-on scheme (after a lot of trial and error) for production A-10As was called the MASK-10A scheme.  It consisted of two shades, one of which, in most lighting conditions, looked every bit like RAF Sky Type S.  After a few dozen had been delivered, the wrap-around Euro-I scheme came along and all remaining A-10s were delivered in that scheme.

[Bozothenutter]

On 10/7/2023 at 3:15 PM, Wild Weasel V said:

While the answers above refer to the JAWS exercise schemes, the OP is referring to one of the early evaluation schemes as used on aircraft 73-1668 and 73-1669. This is the picture of 73-1668 linked in the first post (73-1669 had an assymetric scheme with the right wing darker than the left and only the lightest grey on the forward fuselage):

 

 

As has been mentioned these were created by applying white at various densities over a black layer. The Detail & Scale book 'Colors & Markings of the A-10 Warthog' Vol 24 has lots of information on the early schemes and has the patterns for both 73-1668 & '69 along with the levels of spray over and paint thicknesses. These are (lightest to darkest):

 

60% Grey (1.0-1.1 mils white thickness)

50% Grey (0.5-0.7 mils white thickness)

40% Grey (0.25-0.33 mils white thickness)

 

These aren't the same as the MASK 10A greys used on the early production A-10s which were based on a reflectance value of 30% and 50% to achieve solid grey tones. These were unique to the A-10 and didn't have Federal Standard numbers, being specified by Fairchild Republic themselves. When the scheme was re-adopted to replace Euro 1 the nearest equivalent FS 'Ghost Grey' shades were used.

 

I've often wondered how to achieve the different shades and thought of trying the same approach by misting white over black to build up the desired tones, but haven't drummed up the will to tackle it. As mentioned, the approach used for weathered TPS is probably the way to go to get to the finished look.

 

HTH,

 

Jonathan

That actually almost looks like well worn whitewash!

[AD-4N]

Thanks everyone for their input.  I might experiment on a tail fin by spraying in black and then using micro brushes with small amounts of white to build it up.  Like what was done, sort of, on the 1:1 bird.  

[Bozothenutter]

12 hours ago, AD-4N said:

Thanks everyone for their input.  I might experiment on a tail fin by spraying in black and then using micro brushes with small amounts of white to build it up.  Like what was done, sort of, on the 1:1 bird.  

I'd go the other way, use a black enamel or laquer  then cover with acrylic white. 

Then rub with a glassfibre pencil.

[Spinnaker]

What about an A-10 in the MASK scheme with an AN/ALQ-119 in the JAWS spots? 
 

 

Edited October 17, 2023 by Spinnaker

[habu2]

18 hours ago, saralopez said:

To recreate the mottled finish on early A-10 aircraft before Euro One camouflage, follow these steps:

Start with a dark primer coat, typically black or dark gray.
Use an airbrush or stippling technique to apply a lighter color (white or very light gray) over the primer in a random mottling pattern.
Reference images of the specific A-10 you're modeling to mimic the pattern and intensity accurately.
Layer different shades of white or gray to capture the variation in the mottling pattern.
Weather your model using techniques like dry brushing, washes, and chipping for a weathered appearance.
Practice the mottling technique on a test surface before applying it to your model.
Masking tape with a low tack adhesive can help in creating soft edges around mottled areas.
Seal your work with a clear coat after achieving the desired mottling effect.
Apply the Caracal decal sheet for early A-10s for added authenticity.
Be patient and precise, as recreating a realistic mottling pattern may take time and attention to detail.

 

Agree,  this - and their reply in the canopy/ lacquer post - read like chatbot replies. 

[paulsbrown]

4 hours ago, Spinnaker said:

What about an A-10 in the MASK scheme with an AN/ALQ-119 in the JAWS spots? 

Good photo and another scheme(?) it seems if my photo below is the same aircraft. 

I'm more likely to build this scheme highly weathered than the mottled finish.  This time add differently spotted Maverick and AN/ALQ-119.