Great Wall Hobby S7210 - 1:72 USAF A-10C 75th Anniversary Idaho Air National Guard 2021

A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in Idaho Air National Guard anniversary markings, plastic model kit in 1:72 scale

Great Wall Hobby S7210 is a limited edition kit of the A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft dedicated to one specific machine: serial 78-0618 of the 190th Fighter Squadron "Skull Bangers", part of the 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard, based at Gowen Field near Boise. The aircraft was painted to mark the unit's seventy-fifth anniversary, the scheme recreating the colours of the P-47 Thunderbolts flown by the 405th Fighter Squadron from western France in 1944.

The kit uses the new 1:72 A-10C tooling developed by Great Wall Hobby in 2025. Besides the plastic sprues the box contains clear parts, a photo-etched fret, a turned metal part and a metal nose weight, together with an extensive set of external stores and pods. Catalogue numbers with the S prefix indicate a special, limited release from this manufacturer.

What's in the box:

• Injection-moulded plastic sprues
• Clear sprue (canopy and transparencies)
• Photo-etched fret (including formation lights)
• A turned metal part and a metal nose weight
• External stores and pods: AGM-65 Maverick missiles, AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, GBU-39/B SDB bombs, AN/AAQ-28 Litening and AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pods, an AN/ALQ-184 electronic countermeasures pod and a full set of pylons
• Decal sheets with markings and stencilling
• Full-colour illustrated assembly instructions

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: S7210
• Manufacturer: Great Wall Hobby
• Finished model length: approx. 226 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 243 mm
• Release: limited edition (S series), 2025 tooling
• Marking option: A-10C 78-0618, 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho ANG, 2021
• Skill level: intermediate

Please note: this kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The A-10 has an unusual layout in which the engine nacelles, twin fins and long fuselage must be aligned with care — the finished model's characteristic silhouette depends on it. Because so much mass sits at the rear of the airframe, the kit includes a metal nose weight; fitting and securing it before closing the fuselage halves is advisable, as access is lost afterwards. The cockpit, with its seat and instrument panel, also needs painting before the fuselage is closed. Small photo-etched parts, including the formation lights, are easiest to attach with cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers.

The anniversary scheme is built around olive drab upper surfaces, light grey undersides, a white nose and white bands on both fins, complemented by black-and-white invasion stripes and historic US star-and-bar insignia. Exact paint codes and marking placement are given in the instructions. The large, high-contrast decals are best applied over a gloss coat with the help of setting solutions — this reduces the risk of silvering where the bands cross panel lines. Display and anniversary aircraft are usually kept in very good condition, so restrained weathering and a satin or matt finish capture their character better than heavy service effects.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for photo-etched and metal parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Airbrush or brushes in a range of sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decal application and satin or matt varnish for the final coat
• Decal setting and softening solutions
• A modelling wash to emphasise the panel lines

About the aircraft – Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II:

The A-10 grew out of the experience of the Vietnam War, which showed that fast jets performed poorly in low-level support of ground forces. Fairchild Republic designed the aircraft around the GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm cannon — a seven-barrel weapon firing 3,900 rounds per minute and occupying almost the entire forward fuselage. The YA-10 prototype first flew on 10 May 1972 and the type entered service in March 1976.

The design is subordinated to battlefield survivability: the pilot sits in a titanium armour bathtub, the flight controls are duplicated, and the engines are mounted high at the rear of the fuselage between the tail surfaces, which limits their exposure to ground fire and eases operation from rough strips. The distinctive twin fins allow flight to continue even after losing a substantial part of a rudder. The aircraft can return to base with severe airframe damage — a quality that earned it a nickname in the flying community referring to a famously tough animal.

The A-10C is the result of the Precision Engagement programme carried out from the mid-2000s. The analogue cockpit was replaced by a modern one with two colour multifunction displays and full HOTAS controls; a digital stores management system, moving map, GPS receiver and datalink were added. The most easily spotted external difference is the absence of the characteristic glareshield "eyebrows" above the instrument panel. The A-10C gained full integration with LITENING and Sniper targeting pods and the ability to carry precision weapons including JDAM and GBU-39 SDB.

Original aircraft specifications (A-10C Thunderbolt II):

• Length: approx. 16.26 m
• Wingspan: approx. 17.53 m
• Height: approx. 4.42 m
• Maximum take-off weight: approx. 22,950 kg
• Crew: 1 (ACES II ejection seat)
• Powerplant: two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans, approx. 40.3 kN thrust each
• Maximum speed: approx. 676 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 13,600 m
• Combat range: approx. 1,280 km, effectively unlimited with air-to-air refuelling
• Internal gun: GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm cannon, 3,900 rounds per minute
• External stores: up to approx. 7,260 kg on 11 hardpoints
• Prototype first flight: 10 May 1972
• Entered service: March 1976
• Production: ended in 1984, over 700 aircraft built

About the manufacturer – Great Wall Hobby:

Great Wall Hobby is a Chinese model manufacturer active since the late 2000s, originating from the circle associated with the modelling accessory maker Lion Roar. The company specialises in aircraft kits in 1:48 and 1:72 scale, with particular emphasis on modern combat aircraft and Second World War types. Its kits are characterised by finely engraved panel lines, well-appointed cockpits, included photo-etched frets and a broad selection of external stores and pods. Catalogue numbers with the L prefix indicate standard releases, while the S prefix is reserved for special and limited editions, usually carrying commemorative decal sheets. Great Wall Hobby consistently develops its tooling families by releasing successive versions of the same aircraft, allowing modellers interested in a particular type to build a coherent collection of its variants.