Mike R's 1/32 Trumpeter AV-8B Harrier Build review, The main fuselage components are assembled! Options

[Mike @ Two Mikes...]

Hi all

I am going to do a full build review of my latest aquistion, the Trumpeter 1/32 AV-8B Harrier. This kit was kindly provided to me by the good folks at Lucky Model for review here at Brit Modeler. I figured since they sent me the kit, rather than do a quick, down and dirty "in box" review of the model, I would actually build it. This kit will be finished 100% OOTB with nothing added except maybe a set of seat belts. As I am building the kit as it is, I will not make any changes in making the model more accurate than what you get in the box. There are reviews of the models contents all over the Intraweb regarding shortcomings and accuracy issues so I will not go into those. Places like Large Scale Planes and Modeling Madness can provide some excellent write ups regarding changes that can be made to make this kit more accurate than what comes in the box. My focus will be on the build itself. I for one like knowing about issues with kits but find that trying to correct everything on any kit(s) I start just tend to bog down my builds.

So this build review will be all about how the kit goes together. I hope you find it helpful and will aid your choice either way in buying this kit.

The kit itself comes in Trumpeters usual sturdy box and depicts a Shark Mouthed AV-8B Harrier II of VMA-231 "Ace of Spades Harrier lifting off from its escort carrier. Not the best boxart I have ever seen but it does show the Harrier in its element. The kit itself contains 423 pieces and sports a length of 443mm and a wingspan of 290mm. Not exactly a huge model for a 1/32 jet so it won't take up a massive amount of display space. The kit itself features fine recessed scribing and it appears thet Trumpeters infamous "mad riveter" was left off of this project. The surface detail is very nice overall and the parts breakdown is very similar to the Hasegawa 1/48 Harrier family. There is a small PE fret which includes seat belts (looks like I don't need to add them afterall) as well as a nice Heads up Display. Stores in the kit include two drop tanks, 2 AGM-65 Mavericks, 2 AIM-9L Sidewinders, 4 MK.82 Snakeyes, 4 Mk.82 Iron Bombs and 2 GBU-12 LGBs. Markings are included for one AV-8B Harrier II of VMA-231 Ace of Spades and one AV-8B Harrier II of VMA-223 Bulldogs. The decals appear very nice and thin as well as being in perfect register. The kit also boasts a 65% LERX and not a 100% LERX.

So enough of the chatter on what you get! Lets get this party started!

Here are a few pics of the box and the sprues. Building begins in earnest tonight. I cannot thank Lucky Model enough for the opportunity to build this review kit. The Harrier is one of my all time favorite jets and having a 1/32 kit in the case will be very cool indeed!











Review sample courtesy of

The build review can be found here