exdraken Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 (edited) Hi guys, Just discovered that when I want to build the GR.3 Harrier I have there will hardly present itself a better opportunity than doing it here and now... ... because when Kinetics Gr.3 is available, time for this will be very hard to justify!..... ...and as there are surprisingly few Harriers present in this GB.... If the mods will let me join at this late stage, I will do my best to present a decent GR.3 in Falklands markings.... here is what I have: I someone has objections for this decals, I'd have alternatively Xtradecals 25 years anniversary of Falklands operations decals.... happy for a "go" cheers, Werner Edited April 25, 2016 by exdraken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Go for it Werner Glad to see another Harrier in the GB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 a GO it is then, thanks Col! no time to loose! I learned that the early Harriers used the MB Mk 9 seats... but only the RAF ones..., the Royal Navy FRS.1 used the MK10.... strange.... whatever! found a nice one int my Jaguar cockpit from Neomega , that will do the trick I guess! no time left to mail-order something! and yes, the seat needs replacement! have a look! a bit broad it is for the tub....or probably the other way round! I will cut the tub and add a styrene strip Pavla intakes look nice, even nicer glued on! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Rapid progress and no short cuts! Fantastic Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 That seat looks great and will pack plenty detail into the cockpit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 12, 2016 Author Share Posted April 12, 2016 (edited) yeah, bt not as fast as I wanted... I am reading through Harrier SIG special notes on Airfix's Harriers.... http://www.harriersig.org.uk/models/ http://www.harriersig.org.uk/models/gr3buildnotesv2.pdf http://www.harriersig.org.uk/models/sharfrs1buildnotes1_48v20.pdf great read and very helpful, although somewhat outdated with Pavla resin intakes and pylons easily available.... but I stumbled across the heat shield topic. N I C K G R E E N A L L , the author advises you on shortening the kit heat shield by 5 mm and remodeling it according to his nice templates. so far so good and easy. I decided to compare the heat shields first with Kinetic FRS1, and they are identical size wise. then I compared them to photos, here an excellent walk around: http://p1127.co.uk/Harrier/HarrierGR3/index.html these photos seem to support the "modify them!" call. are these shields the same on all early model Harriers, or is there some variation to be found? can't believe Kinetic would fail on these by such a margin when looking at the rest of the excellent kit! here you see the Kinetic heat shields superimposed on the Airfix kit: or, maybe their length is fine, but the are not bread enough? http://nabe3saviation.web.fc2.com/images8/waHar-44.jpg anyway, I have to modify the somehow! ... nozzles are also not the easiest fit ... with see throughs, etc ... Edited April 12, 2016 by exdraken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 14, 2016 Author Share Posted April 14, 2016 that is how the reviesed heat shields would look like what do you think? the kit one needs the be cut back of course! cockpit and especially the PE are a bit a mess... it does not really fit in its designated space.... some cutting, swearing, and what ever needs to be done... intake fit quite well, the compressor face looks nicer as the Kinetic one I think... fuselage is closed meanwhile, the front exhausts can easily be removed , the rear ones not so much,, we will see how to paint them... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Hi guys, Just discovered that when I want to build the GR.3 Harrier I have there will hardly present itself a better opportunity than doing it here and now... ... because when Kinetics Gr.3 is available, time for this will be very hard to justify!..... ...and as there are surprisingly few Harriers present in this GB.... If the mods will let me join at this late stage, I will do my best to present a decent GR.3 in Falklands markings.... here is what I have: Be watching closely as I have 1 in the stash with the same plans - a Falklands vet - when's the Kinetic GR3 out? I someone has objections for this decals, I'd have alternatively Xtradecals 25 years anniversary of Falklands operations decals.... happy for a "go" cheers, Werner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 20, 2016 Author Share Posted April 20, 2016 time is running out I fear... but a small, 5 day improvised spring holiday escape came in between.. family first! :) as of midday today: joints, especially at the wing -fuselage need urgent attention main landing gear bay doors.... pavla intakes are very recommendable! here is were the model stands as of now: some sanding done, heat shields cut back, but not filled and sanded yet.... (note: shoud have done that before closing the fuselage and adding the wings!!!!! ) and sanding with raised panel lines is no joy either.... summary: not too confident, but hovering on 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 With all the addy on bits, you seem to have got the basis of a good Harrier GR3. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I like this and I assume that thé intake mods will fit thé airfix FRS 1 which I found at Sherborne tip.....or should I say Sherbin. Id imagine its thé same vintage as the Mud mover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 pffffff.... quite some work left! here is what I could get done today: main problem areas sanded, heat shields shortended and puttied clear parts bathed in future over night, masked and glued. Pavla pylons mounted... were I noticed that these main pylons as well as Airfix's most probably represent only Sea Harrier main pylons with a rounded leading edge. all photos of Gr.3s I have scrutinized for these showed pointed ones.... oh well.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 and pre-shading was also done quite liberaly....: some resemblance to a Harrier can be found fortunately! managed to shoot a load of grey as well, but no photos as of now... a night if drying will do it good as well I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 some pictures of yesterday's paint work... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 (edited) I will try to scratch build the heat shields: I sued some approriate, well known basic material for that... should do the trick.... this metal sheet can be cut relatively easily with a strong pair of scissors, I used the ones form a Swiss Army knife. (no publicity this thime ) take care! char edges are inevitable! I also managed to masked the beast and spray some green.... lets see tomorrow how the prospects are! Edited April 22, 2016 by exdraken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Rapid progress and a good recovery from the cockpit horrors. You've likely already sorted it but there are a couple of sink marks on the underside ahead of the fin. The ones further forward should be covered by the gun pods. Great work on a kit that needs a lot of TLC, it's cheaper to use something from the stash rather than buy a new kit..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share Posted April 23, 2016 thanks SleeperService! Yeah, I guess/ hope the large sink marks will be covered by the guns... the small ones ... I hope they are more or less fine now! TLC... had to look that up, but yes, some dedication is definitely necessary! so: todays update: the green went a bit too green for my liking, somehow the brown/beige taint disappeared in the spray-gun.. full scale 2 colour wrap around camo is quite challenging! as everything has to match up in the end! I tried to tone done the green a bit wiht brown chalk and brown Tamiya weathering ... probably a bit overdone as well..... bend the heat shields that is how they look like now on the model and that is the rest I have: I fear the worst but, for the time full steam ahead! thanks for looking and comments of course! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Hope it goes well today! Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 This is looking good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 looking great - drive on!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 (edited) thanks guys for the kind, motivating words! definitely needed! just a small update before the end: after a long , late decaling night, when I discovered that for the Airfix decals I'd had to add the Blue Eric ECM system in one cannon pod... and that the underwing roundels go below the pylons... so, with the help of Xdradecals numbers I did XV789 which was actually the second aircraft to touch down on Hermes during the operation... Airfix decals are really nice (Cartograf printed) perform well and are readable though out! (I couldn' say that of the slightly older, Microscale printed sheet.... ),, I hope there are no glaring errors now, here you go: I guess I will need every minute .... but light in the end of the tunnel! Edited April 24, 2016 by exdraken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Great stuff - XV789 was hit quite badly in a raid over Stanley Airport and Goose Green, needing an engine change on HMS Hermes after the incident. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Great stuff - XV789 was hit quite badly in a raid over Stanley Airport and Goose Green, needing an engine change on HMS Hermes after the incident. thanks Tim! Xtradecals notes point don't say anything about this, just that it landed on Hermes on May 18th being only the 2nd Gr.3 to do so. (I guess directly form Ascension with Victor support) and that it fires 2in rockets at Goose Green on May 28th It also formed part of the Harrier detachment ant RAF Stanely after the war as "F" I'd guess with Aim-9Gs would you have any idea on what armament for this plane? 2x 2in rocket pots as in the kit? not that I am going to arm it today.. but maybe later when there is some spare time.. I guess I made it, off it went to the gallery! some last daylight in combination with flash... photos could be better but glad they exist at all! I made some last minute corrections to the tank pylons, but did not paint the leading edge green for the photos I just noticed posting ........ thanks everybody for supporting my late and nearly flawed entry! it is always a pleasure to participate in GB here on BM! next time earlier, I promise to myself, because that was already a bit stressful! (should be a pleasing hobby, no? ;)) but the GR.3 is done 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Well done exdraken for bringing this one in. It looks good! Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Will look into it - I do know the RAF used the slightly different Royal Navy rockets - as well as dumb bombs 500lb and also towards the end of the war paveways - with differing success. I have also seen CBLS units . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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