Pappy Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 G'day people, Apologies if this has already been asked, I am doing some research and I would like to know what colour the forward 'cold' air nozzle (noting that the exhaust temp out of these nozzles is still in excess of 100degrees Celsius!) on RAF No. 1(F) Flight Harrier GR.3s would have been during the Falklands War. I have been looking at pictures on line and they appear dark, so I suspect that they were painted in the surrounding camo at this point, the same way that SHAR forward nozzles were. Some online pics show these forward GR. 3 nozzles as shiny silve. These pics are of jets post conflict so again, I assume at some point post 1982, the forward nozzles stopped being painted. Am I in the right ballpark? cheers, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 (edited) They were dark green on other GR.3s of the era, but don't know when they stopped painting them and if the Falklands aircraft were treated differently. Edited September 16, 2017 by 71chally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Gordon Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 The nearest I can punt to you is The forward exhaust nozzle looks unpainted to me. Taken from this site https://www.raf.mod.uk/history/HarrierDiary8.cfm which was very useful to me when I built my GR3 in the last Harrier GB.I painted all nozzles with Humbrol Metalcote Polished Steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 (edited) ...but looks painted in these images, This image is after the conflict It pays to try and find images of the actual aircraft you are modelling - not so easy in this case I think! Edited September 16, 2017 by 71chally 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 From looking at most pictures that I have of GR3s the front nozzles were painted in the camo scheme surrounding them whilst the rear one were bare metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4scourge7 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 36 minutes ago, Jabba said: From looking at most pictures that I have of GR3s the front nozzles were painted in the camo scheme surrounding them whilst the rear one were bare metal. I found the same when researching Falklands GR.3. And that it`s the distress of the intense heat that gives them their `weathered` look. I painted the forward nozzles standard camo then blitzed them with weathering. Rear nozzles are bare metal as Jabba says. Cheers, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 9 hours ago, Pappy said: G'day people, Apologies if this has already been asked, I am doing some research and I would like to know what colour the forward 'cold' air nozzle (noting that the exhaust temp out of these nozzles is still in excess of 100degrees Celsius!) on RAF No. 1(F) Flight Harrier GR.3s would have been during the Falklands War. I have been looking at pictures on line and they appear dark, so I suspect that they were painted in the surrounding camo at this point, the same way that SHAR forward nozzles were. Some online pics show these forward GR. 3 nozzles as shiny silve. These pics are of jets post conflict so again, I assume at some point post 1982, the forward nozzles stopped being painted. Am I in the right ballpark? cheers, Pappy Gloss green They didn't weather thatbadly at all as the rear hot nozzles got all the abuse! Selwyn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimB Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Are the grayer forward nozzles possibly borrowed of a SHAR? Regards Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, 71chally said: This image is after the conflict Removed as original post was incorrect Edited September 16, 2017 by Richard E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 19 minutes ago, Richard E said: I would suggest that the picture is actually taken at Wideawake Airport on Ascension Island during the campaign when a number of Harrier GR Mk.3s were deployed to provide a stop gap air defence capability as a precaution against a possible long range Argentine attack against the airfield. I would suggest the sign on the front of the tower saying Royal Air Force Stanley gives a clue that the picture was taken in Falklands sometime in about 83/84 as opposed to ASI Cue appropriate emoticon: And if you walked to the colony of on Berthas Beach you will remember the smell 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 2 minutes ago, PLC1966 said: I would suggest the sign on the front of the tower saying Royal Air Force Stanley gives a clue that the picture was taken in Falklands sometime in about 83/84 as opposed to Asi. Thank you - I stand corrected !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 The picture is dated late 1982, which on closer study of the Phantom behind, is probably correct. Note the tailplane seems to be missing, so I'm guessing it's XV468 after suffering severe tailplane damage after the RHAG whipped back 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossington 2 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I have always thought that the forward 'cold' nozzles on GR3's were gloss green or matt green painted fibre-glass. Were they metal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Surely fibreglass would be quickly destroyed by friction, heat and pressure? They are of steel construction, https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/HS_Harrier_3.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 32 minutes ago, 71chally said: The picture is dated late 1982, which on closer study of the Phantom behind, is probably correct. Note the tailplane seems to be missing, so I'm guessing it's XV468 after suffering severe tailplane damage after the RHAG whipped back Did note the jet with the missing tailplanes. First Phantoms went into Stanley Oct82. I was on Port San Carlos Heli-Replen in 85 and two of my abiding memories were the Phantoms giving it some along the valley in front of us at a couple of hundred feet, and just the once staring down onto a Harrier flying along the estuary behind the site on a misty morning. Awesome. . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted September 16, 2017 Author Share Posted September 16, 2017 Thank you to all that replied. I will go with camo green forward nozzles and burnt metal rear nozzles, cheers, Pappy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted September 22, 2017 Author Share Posted September 22, 2017 G'day again, More Falklands GR.3 questions. I know that most (all?) of the first batch of 1(F) GR.3s did not have dedicated ALE-47 CMDS fitted and used the improvised airbrake fit similar to the improvised method used on the FRS.1 SHars. I think that there were eventually 12 GR.3 deployed during the hostilities, the original 8 that were ferried aboard the Atlantic Conveyor (then onto Hermes) and a further 4 that were ferried from Ascension Island. Can someone point me in the direction of a list of tail numbers please? My next question is regarding these non CMDS jets, what did the area aft of the airbrake where the CMDS look like? Were there two square cut-outs with black plastic blanks fitted over them for example or was is just plain metal without any openings? The final question is regarding the 'Blue Eric" ECM. Once again, which jets had this system fitted. Also, when this was fitted, was the cannon also fitted inside the fairing? Thanks (again) in advance, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 (edited) My understanding is that ten Harriers were used down in the Falklands during the conflict, 4 flew the whole way, 6 ferried onboard Atlantic Conveyer XV778 16, XV789 32, XZ133 10, XZ963 14, XZ972 33, XZ988 34, XZ989 07, XZ992 05, XZ997 31 & XW919 03. These links don't answer your specific questions but do give a superb background to the Harrier use in the Falklands https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2014/11/08/the-raf-harriers-baptism-of-fire/ https://www.raf.mod.uk/history/TheHarrierGoestoWar.cfm Edited March 8, 2018 by 71chally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 18 hours ago, 71chally said: My understanding is that ten Harriers were used down in the Falklands during the conflict, 4 flew the whole way, 6 ferried onboard Atlantic Conveyer XV778 16, XV789 32, XZ133 10, XZ963 14, XZ972 33, XZ988 34, XZ989 07, XZ992, XZ997 31 & XW919 These links don't answer your specific questions but do give a superb background to the Harrier use in the Falklands https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2014/11/08/the-raf-harriers-baptism-of-fire/ https://www.raf.mod.uk/history/TheHarrierGoestoWar.cfm G'day James, you are correct ten not twelve. I just need some good guff on the Blue Eric now, cheers, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 I know very little about the Blue Eric pod, there is some info here though Pappy, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 11 hours ago, 71chally said: I know very little about the Blue Eric pod, there is some info here though Pappy, Thank you James It seems that four of the GR.3s (XV778, XZ133, XZ992 and XW919) were fitted with both the Blue Eric and ALE-40 CMDS systems. I know that there were four additional jets ferried directly from ASI, it would seem logical then that these last four ASI jet were the ones with both systems, the original six GR.3 that were ferried aboard the MV Atlantic Conveyor were the 'come as you are' jets. Which leads to another question, What was the official designation of the centreline recce pod and of course does anyone have any drawings or pictures? cheers, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 39 minutes ago, Pappy said: What was the official designation of the centreline recce pod and of course does anyone have any drawings or pictures? I only ever remember seeing it referred to as "The Harrier Reconnaissance Pod". This thread might give you some more information: Falklands Harrier GR 3 question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 1 hour ago, Richard E said: I only ever remember seeing it referred to as "The Harrier Reconnaissance Pod". This thread might give you some more information: Falklands Harrier GR 3 question G'day Richard, All I can find is that it was made by Vinten and was a specialised pod specific to the Gr.3. It seems that the new Airfix 1/72 GR.3 boxing includes one so I will just buy that kit and save myself the hassle of building one! cheers, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Yes the new kit does include the recce pod, and an alternative nose with the Falklands I band receiver bulge. If you have another kit to build, you might be able to appeal for the parts in the'wanted' section of the forum. I could be wrong here, but I was under the impression that what was known as the Vinten pod was the later one with digital tech used in the 2nd generation Harriers. The GR.3 housed conventional film cameras, but of course might have been made by Vinten?! There are good images in books, not much on the net, search Harrier GR.3 recce pod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boffin Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Re Blue Eric. "Harrier at War" states that 4 a/c flew out from ASI fitted with Blue Eric and ALE-40 as 2 pairs on the 28 May and 8 Jun. I recall from somewhere that they carried the large external tanks as were included in the first Airfix 1/72 Harrier - I think it was the only time these tanks were used George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now