QuickBoost

1/48 A-10A Thunderbolt II Correct Fan Blades For the Italeri A-10

Stock Number: QB 48 173

Reviewed By  Charles Landrum, IPMS# 26328

MSRP: $8.49 www.quickboost.net Italeri's new tooled 1/48 A-10A has been decried as unbuildable by A-10 fanatics primarily due to three issues - the nose profile, the spare cockpit and the incorrect number of turbo-fan blades. I was able to acquire copy of the kit at a great price and began to scrutinize the alleged flaws. The nose is easily corrected with a sanding stick, the cockpit best replaced with the True Details (heck I replaced the one in the accurate Monogram A-10), which leaves the fan blades. They are wrong and are impossible to repair. As you would expect, Quickboost has stepped up and answered the call. In this package are two crisply cast seamless and cowling assemblies. The set not only corrects the number of blades, but provides a more realistic depth to the fan assembly in the intake. These parts are drop in assemblies, once you remove the odd interlocks on the side of each fan (since these do not correspond with anything on the kit, I am unsure of their purpose.) I have provided two images that show the QB fans in comparison to those of the Italeri kit and those of the Monogram A-10. Clearly the QB fans offer not only much crisper detail but a better shape to the hub and as mentioned more realistic depth. While meant for the Italeri kit, I could not but help compare them to the Monogram kit. They are noticeable wider than those of Monogram and that is because the cowl of the Monogram kit has a more pronounced curve at the front and is therefore narrower at the opening. I think that Italeri and Quickboost have it right, but this is based on photo interpretation and not measurements. Measuring at the base of the cowl the fan assemblies are very close in diameter to the Monogram engine pod. With a careful cut at the same panel line, it looks like you could adapt these to the Monogram kit.

Once again Quickboost has delivered an inexpensive upgrade set that not only corrects the Italeri kit, but improves its appearance. Highly recommended and worth giving the Italeri kit a second look.

Information, images, and all other items placed electronically on this site are the intellectual property of IPMS/USA ®.