Mark4700 Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 (edited) Time for a new build. This time I was looking for a quick easy build. So something new, without the need to rescribe, and an easy paint job. A quick delve into the stash and I came up with this. I've already built the Airfix FS1 Gr1, Gr3 and Gr9 versions, so this will be a nice addition. I also love the way these kits go together so it should be an easy build with very little filling and sanding. I'm going to build it as option A on the Airfix colour sheet. This is is a Harrier XZ457 from the Hermes battle group during the Falklands war. It should look well in my cabinet next to the other 4. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 Replace pics 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gondor44 Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I have this in my stash so will be watching this with intrest Gondor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booty003 Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I think that we all need a little something and straightforward to build every now and again!! Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) I've got started with a few pieces of the minor construction. But before I did I took a closer look at the spru's and noticed this. The spru is overlapping the rudder. Should come off okay now that I've spotted it but it could have been designed a bit better I think. I've also made a start on the nozzles. I wish they'd redesign these as they leave a join right down the middle that always needs filling. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) I've noticed rather odd with this kit, my pilot appears to have turned up wearing a WW2 pilots outfit. What was he thinking? For health and safety reasons I can't allow him in the Harrier. Don't blame you, blame Airfix, provided you with the wrong clobber. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) I have managed a bit more time on it today. Got the interior well underway. I've done this with a paint brush. Interiors always seem too much trouble to use the airbrush. Ive also filled and sanded the jet nozzles, as well as thinned out the vanes. Looking much better now. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 (edited) 8 hours ago, Mark4700 said: I've noticed rather odd with this kit, my pilot appears to have turned up wearing a WW2 pilots outfit. What was he thinking? For health and safety reasons I can't allow him in the Harrier. Don't blame, blame Airfix, provided you with the wrong clobber. I realise that most people don't add pilot figures, no wonder if that is the quality of the aircrew included, what a joke, C'mon Airfix, you are better than that! Pappy Edited April 26, 2017 by Pappy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted April 29, 2017 Author Share Posted April 29, 2017 (edited) The fuselage is together. This went together really well, as it has done with the other Airfix Harriers I've done, and needs minimal filler, if any. The front is quite tight in front of the cockpit. As as far as the underneath goes, it is a little tricky to line up the wheel bay and air brake. I had to clamp the two halves then push down on the rear wheel bay to get it into the correct position. It may need a bit of filler in this area to finish it off. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 (edited) The aircraft is now all in one piece. There was a small amount of filling and sanding, but that's all done now and it's nearly ready for the undercoat. I thought that that the gun pods looked a bit sad so I've done a bit of drilling to make them look better. Bellow are some comparisons of the before and after. A bit blurred, but you can make out the drilled gun barrel. And here's the comparison. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted May 6, 2017 Author Share Posted May 6, 2017 (edited) The gun pods have been mounted, and I'm really pleased with how they look. On previous Harrier kits I've painted the jet nozzles and deflectors by mixing the final colour and painting. Then I read somewhere that out of the factory they were bright silver and gained the colours we see them from staining through use. So I've painted them in Humbrol 11 silver and will try wearing them to the correct colour. If that fails I'll revert to the norm and just paint them. The canopy is all masked up. And the rest of the plane is all sanded and ready to receive an undercoat to see where things stand. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted May 13, 2017 Author Share Posted May 13, 2017 (edited) Undercoat has gone on very nicely, I've used Halfords grey plastic primer again. For the first time in a long time there's no need for any further sanding or filling. Some colour in the next session. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted May 20, 2017 Author Share Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) More work has been done and it has received a first coat of extra dark sea grey. It will need another coat, but looking good do far. I use Humbrol enamels, but this time have used Humbrol own thinners and the result is my best yet I think. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted May 20, 2017 Author Share Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) Earlier in the thread I mentioned that I was painting the jet nozzles in a different way. Instead of painting them a standard gun metal type finish I painted them silver with the intention of weathering them to look authentic. Well here are the finished results. Don't be too harsh it's the first time I've tried this method. To achieve this I used my own ground down pastel chalks (mainly black and brown) mixed with Humbrol clear varnish. Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 (edited) A bit of a leap forward but really had to crack on with this. Calling it done. Now for a break as we're moving house in a month and everything has to get packed away. Can't see me starting anything else for a couple of months Edited January 5, 2018 by Mark4700 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 Another thread that I’ve had to replace the photographs. I think this was the last. Hope you enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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