Andwil

What a beautifully neat finish 👏

AV-8A Harrier Bu No 158393 EP 31 of VMA 513 deployed on USS Tarawa in Feb 1981. Airfix 1/72 kit with Pavla resin exhaust nozzles (72-152), Master brass pitot and angle of attack probe (72-050). Painted with Vallejo Air; decals from CtA No.15 First Generation Harriers. Fogged canopy my own handiwork! AW

Thank you, didn’t keep you waiting long: Pitot, Zuni rockets and canopy the last bits to go on and it’s done. Rather glad to finish this project which was beset with problems, the aborted Hasegawa kit, then the contaminated paint which required sanding off and redoing and the fogged canopy which was entirely my fault. Considering the trouble I’ve had I’m moderately pleased with the outcome. More pics in the gallery. Thanks for looking and special thanks to the hosts for an enjoyable and interesting group build. AW

A busy week with little modelling time, but the seat is now in, the air-brake and undercarriage doors on and some other sticky out bits attached. Should have it finished tomorrow. Thanks for looking, AW

Count me in, plenty of candidates in the stash. Haven’t built a SPAD for a few years so probably lean toward one of them. AW

Put me down for a Chinese one. AW

In my opinion they are rubbish, primary school level at best. But I’m no “art“ expert so what would I know? AW

Matt coat on, I use an artists Matt from a rattle can which isn’t a really flat Matt but it has knocked the shine off the decals. I have also got it up on its legs and attached the pylons. The canopy has been unmasked and popped off as I want to display it open. The sharp-eyed may even notice the tiny Master brass angle of attack sensor. Thanks for looking. AW

Nice result with the yellow, not the easiest colour to spray. AW

This is the first time I’ve done it this way and it was because I remembered the struggles I had previously when masking for the camouflage. Wing glued on and decals now finished: The CtA decals are quite shiny, hopefully a Matt coat will dull them down and tie them in with the rest of the finish. Thanks for looking. AW

Decalling continues. Having built a number of Harriers previously I have to say that it is much easier to apply the fuselage decals, especially the ones between the nozzles, without the wing on. The no walk markings around the engine access panels will be added after the wing is attached as I suspect they might overlap the join. Thanks for looking. AW

I see what you did there. AW

Back home after a short, relaxing break, I haven’t had much bench time but have been trying to catch up on all the fabulous builds across several current group builds, there’s so much inspirational modelling going on! I have been able to patch up the paint work and today I was able to start on the decals: Thanks for looking. AW

Your local regiment I assume. AW

I have to repaint the fuselage underside and have sanded off the light gull grey. I purchased a cheap airbrush to use for primer, it was a demonstrator brush and was advertised as being cleaned. It wasn’t that clean when I received it so I gave it a good clean in my ultrasonic cleaner. I used it to prime the Harrier and all seemed well until I applied a clear coat to the underside when a strange red-brown colour bled through the grey. I have no idea what it might be, it only affected the light gull grey, but I suspect there was something lurking in the airbrush. Frustrating. AW