This is the first model I've built in almost a year (having graduated from college, started a career, and moved out of my parent's house in the mean time), so I used this kit as an opportunity to get back into the swing, before tackling the 1/32 Academy Hornet I got from my loving mother for Christmas=)

My only prior experience with a Trumpeter model came about three years ago when I purchased the 1/48 SU-37 "Versatile" (did they mean "multi-role?") being the only affordable kit of that particular aircraft in that particular scale (and not being able to afford the expensive conversion resin kit for the Academy 27).  A month of blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention cursing) later, I swore that H*** would freeze over before I ever blew money on another Trumpeter kit. 

How quickly things change!

I stumbled upon this kit while scouring yahoo! for Trumpeter's 1/32 A-10.  Having been extremely bored at work, I found myself easily distracted and wound up staring at this infamous Soviet missile.   I've always been a huge fan of this particular missile (its wicked angles, the sixteen razor-sharp fins, the face-hugger-like launcher, c'mon, it just LOOKS evil!) so I couldn't resist (Credit card?  Sure, it's free money, right?).

Click on images below to see larger images

Anyway, this kit comes with 159 parts (118 in olive drab, 40 in gray, and one piece of copper wire), all with nicely recessed panel lines and some with god-awful ejector pin scars.  The pieces, however, fit together almost flawlessly, needing just a few dabs of super glue where I mangled things myself.

I painted this sleek dagger with Model Master Enamels (both the pre-shading and final layer) and shaded her with the typical chalk-pastel-and-water mix (a trick I learned from Steve Bamford's article in the "Tools 'n Tips" section.  Thanks!!!).  The decals are thin, beautiful and legible (well, I can see distinct lines and shapes, whether it's really Russian or not is beyond me) and went on over the gloss cote like a charm.  A final dusting of clear flat and she was in her resting place right next to the TV.

This kit really was an easy and carefree build (the only trouble was getting all 16 fins to lign up straight).  The missile is nice and big (just over 12"), but by angling the launcher, it doesn't take up much space at all.  If you're itching for something a bit different and don't mind a few injector pin marks then pick this one up, it won't disappoint!

Eric