Piero

Hi, no one GR.5 was ever fitted with 100% LERX. The 100% LERX were first fitted on the late batch of GR.7s during early '90s, and most of these GR.7s were with the IV(AC) squadron, the first of the three RAF's Harriers squadron to received the mark 7. The IV(AC) was the last frontline RAF Harrier squadron to decommissioned the first generation GR.3s. Then between the end of '90s and early 2000s there was a plan to retrofit all the RAF GR.7s with 100% LERX, but due the budget limitations only a certain number of airframes received the big LERX. The 100% LERX in the RAF Harriers are not strictly related to the mark 7A/9/9A... those marks are only referred to the engine, avionic and capabilites upgrades. I hope this can help with the story about the LERX inside the RAF Harrier's fleet. CIAO! Piero

… some details were added on the control surfaces of wings and vertical tail. Last for today, the resin copied ventral strakes looks good when fitted to the fuselage. CIAO! Piero

Hello, after spending the last two weeks to arrange the GR.7's detail parts to be resin copied, here we are with a major progress on my AV-8B model. I glued the wing’s parts to the fuselage and have also added the scratch build details in the area behind the cockpit. Some styrene stripes were added upper and under the wings to detail the points where they are attach to the LERXs and fuselage. Not a big problem to glued the main engine intakes to the fuselage, you need to put some attention only to place the auxiliary bleeding doors for the configuration you want. A lot of panel lines needs to be rescribed over the entire airframe. The outrigged wheels fairing’s end must to be reshaped. Some rivet/fastner lines were added to the rear part of fuselage as showed in many pictures of the real Harriers. … to be continued.

Hello, thank you for the interest on the parts I made. Here some pictures of the resin parts just copied. Actually they are prototype of the parts, soon they will be adjusted. Maybe there will be two separate sets, one generic for Trumpeter's Harriers with ventral strakes, centreline pylon, launch rails and airscoop. The other one its specific for GR.7/9, same as above plus all the other parts only for RAF versions. I'll let you know when they will be available. CIAO! Piero

Hi Shaun, all, a couple of BOL launchers in 1/32nd for the GR.7/9's kit will be cast soon from this: These pieces are part of a detail set that will includes the followings: New ventral strakes New ventral pylon for targeting pod New centerline pylon New wing pylons for Air-to-Air missile New "frog-eye" airscoops New ventral chaff launcher box New LAU launchers for AIM-9L/M New BOL launchers for AIM-9L/M This set will be cast this week, the mould is already done. I don't know how many resin copies will be available. We are considering also if a 100% LERX set could be useful as for a new GR.5's nose, depends on what decal sheets will be available on the market. I'll keep you update as soon as the resin parts will be ready. CIAO! Piero

... something more. Because my Harrier GR.7 will be with 100% "big" LERXs, I've to make them from scratch. I don't want to make a cast of the "big" LERX because the pieces are big and not all the GR.7/9s were fitted with. So, here some tips to make a new 100% LERXs using only plasticard's sheets. Just cutting off the "small" LERXs from the upper part of the kit's wing using a knife. You have to follow the underside edge on the kit's LERXs... do not cut off from the top of the wing! I used .50mm plasticard's sheet for the main LERX parts and .25mm sheet for the covers/joint parts. The main parts were shaped following a scale template and curved just using my hands... that's all. Cyanoacrylic glue and Tamiya Thin glue were used to fix the LERXs parts in place. After the glue was dried, I'd put some milliput inside between the LERXs and the engine top access panels, just to follow the edge where the parts will be join the fuselage. I like the result. CIAO! Piero

Hello, time to go on with my Harrier GR.7 too... Air-to-Air dedicated pylon in the box are a far representation of the real one! Here the pylons compared: on top of the picture the kit's one and on the bottom the one I've reshaped and detailed. Then, attached under the pylon I need a missile's rail... the kit provide the "slick" one, a little bit basic for me. From mid '90s the GR.7/9s were fitted with BOL laucher rails, so I started from a good resin "slick" rail and add some details using plasticard pieces and photoetched parts. Some of the GR.7s and all the GR.9s were fitted with "frog eyes" air scoops over the engine access panels. I found a couple good for me in shape and size. Not for GR.7/9s but good for the AV-8b+ (one of the next projects...) I made from scratch the big airscoop too. All of the parts above will be casted and resin copied. CIAO! Piero

Hello, I'm back on my big AV-8B with a little but important progress... the front fuselage section was glued to the main fuselage and the front engine's fan was painted too. Some milliput was used to fill the gap between the fan and the fuselage. Here the main jet intakes fitted with the opened auxiliar doors. Some pieces of plasticard were added to simulate the bulkhead between the doors. Next steps will be to detail the back of the cockpit, add the main jet intakes then join the wings on the fuselage. CIAO! Piero

Hello my friends, I'm back on this with the ventral chaff&flares box launcher. I've made just from white thick plasticard. Fitting to the airframe is really good, in the pics you can see some gap but its only due the UHU Tack used to temporary fix the piece on place. A grey primer just to better show the piece. I didn't load the chaff&flares packs on just because they are used only in war missions. Some etched or decal will be used if needs. CIAO! Piero

Hi Shaun, just got a couple of DJRP pod... looks really great! Good job... now the Harrier's TERMA pod is a must.... CIAO! Piero

Hi Nick, thank you... yeah, I know, all the RCVs needs to be reworked. Actually I'm making all the stuff that are completely missing with the kit. Yesterday evening I just finished the ventral chaff&flare box launcher... tomorrow I'll post a couple of pics with the result. I've already beginned to rework the AIM-9M launcher to became a BOL fitted one. Don't know if I'll need to do a decent Mk.12 bang seat or if Aires/others will arrive first with one from them. "Eye frog" airscoops are on the line... very close to be ready. What else? CIAO! Piero

... Shaun, please, go on with the TERMA pod... it'll be a great plus! And if you find a way to make one in 1/48th scale... than I'll try to make it in 1/32nd! CIAO! Piero

Hi, a little-big update on the GR.7. I finished the ventral pylon adapter for the target designation pod: I used the port strake as base, reshaped and detailed with plasticard. Its important to note that the pylon adapter is perpendicular to the ground instead of being angled as for the strake. Here you can see the pylon adapter dry-fitted for test to the AV-8B fuselage together with the center line pylon: Here the pylon adapter dry-fitted for test with resin TIALD pod from Flightpath: CIAO! Piero

Hello, many thanks my friends! From here the modelling time will be shared with the GR.7, so the update could be a little bit delayed on each project. I used last week to reshape and detail the ventral strakes and made from scratch the center line pylon: I put on the fuselage some strength plates made with thin plasticard sheet: Some panel lines were rescriber un the ventral surface: I tried to fix the "kink wings" with some Tamiya's milliput: Now its almost time to glue together the front with the main fuselage parts. CIAO! Piero

... Ventral LID’s strakes has wrong shaped and poor detailed. I already reworked the pair for my USMC’s AV-8B. After all above, we still miss the following that must be added from scratch or aftermarket: a Martin Baker MK.12 ejection seat; a wing with “big” 100% LERX to be used with decals (on the sheet) for the ZG512 machine; a pair of “frog eye” air scoop for the 100% LERX and also fitted to GR.7A/GR9; a ventral central line pylon; a ventral adapter pylon for target designation pods as TIALD/Sniper; a decal sheet with correct markings, stencils, roundels… all in correct colors too; specific RAF weapon loads as BOL launchers, 1000 lbs CPU123 LGB s, BL755 cluster bombs, HE 1000lbs retarded bombs… (…) Actually I’m scratch building the ventral central line pylon and the adapter pylon for TIALD pod, that should be finished in a couple of days. CIAO! Piero

Hello, This is my second entry in the Harrier GB. My intention is to finish her as an “Artic GR.7” like this, in RAF 1(F) or IV(AC) squadron markings. Let see what we get with this kit, starting from the nose section: On the port side I have to delete the panel that is only on the PLUS version. Than I have to flat and rescribe the raised square panel. The FLIR bulge seems to be a little bit too fat on top. And also there is a hole (?!?!) in front of the FLIR instead of the circular sensor. The raised panel around the FLIR must be flatted and rescribed. On the under surface of the nose we have a RCV nozzle but the kit miss the little bulged-squred panel ahead of the nozzle. The ECM Zeus’s antennas are a far representation of the real one. On the starboard side I have to flat and rescribe the raised square panel. I’ll open the three access steps. The square panel on the starboard nose cone must be rescribed smaller than the one on the port side. ... Going on the port side of fuselage, I’ll detail the circular panel for the fuel access point. Further back on the fuselage, I’ll have to rescribed smaller the power access panel. Note also the fairing at the end of the wing’s attachment point going over the big rectangular panel to access the avionic bay. This is wrong. The rear section of the fuselage has an almost correct RAF’s GR.7/9 fitting, with MAWS tail cone and RWR/ECM’s antennas. Trumpeter removed the chaff launchers on the sides of the ventral fin (thanks). Unlike Trumpeter doesn’t add the new ventral chaff&flares box launcher after the ventral airbrake. On the starboard side of the fuselage I have to delete many panel lines… Over and under the wings, I have to delete and rescribe all the panel lines because are not correct in shape and size. The squared GPS antennas on top must be delete and replaced with a circular one (the GPS system was a mid-life fitting of the GR.7s fleet). The extra wing pylon for the AIM-9Ms are too fat on top and wrong shaped at the back. The ADEN cannon pods are basic but can be easy detailed. ...

... maybe we're going a little bit "off topic". Now we're talking about "cheap" vs "expensive" kits?... What's "cheap" and what's "expensive"??? Is it expensive a Tamiya's Spitfire in 1/32?... I don't know because depends on the buyer's financial situation... but the kit its relly good for sure! Is it cheap a Italeri's F-22 in 1/48?... I don't know because depends on the buyer's financial situation... but the kit its wrong for sure! The question was: is it a good kit the new Trumpeter's Harrier GR.7 kit?... Try to give an answer without looking at the price. I'm going to post a Trumpeter Harrier GR.7's WIP on Britmodeller next week. I respect all the kind of modelling, branchs, skills, levels... but most important is to have fun in what we do... than, if the result looks goob... better! My best wish to all of you for your modelling time!!! CIAO! Piero

I just bought my first Trumpeter’s Harrier GR.7 kit in 1/32 scale, and will not be the last of the type. Is it a good RAF Harrier II kit?... No, at all. So, why I bought? Just because I love Harriers and it’s the only game in town in 1/32 scale. I don’t think there will be any Harrier II kit in 1/32 from Tamiya or Hasegawa… even Revell or Airfix(!) on the market in the near future. Now, my only question is… how can it be possible that we still have a wrong new Harrier kit in 2011?!?!?! I don’t care about the price, because it’s in line with the other kits from Trumpeter in the same scale. The real problem is that the Trumpeter’s RAF Harrier GR.7 kit has not the specific parts to be a build as good replica of the real one. That’s all. Why? Let me show you some of the more evident and objective missing and wrong things in the Trumpeter’s Harrier GR.7 in 1/32 scale: a Martin Baker MK.12 ejection seat; a ventral chaff&flare dispenser box; a correct pair of extra pylon for AAMs; a wing with “big” 100% LERX to be used with decals (on the sheet) for the ZG512 machine; a pair of “frog eye” air scoop for the 100% LERX and also fitted to GR.7A/GR9; a ventral central line pylon; a ventral adapter pylon for laser designation pods; a decal sheet with correct markings, stencils, roundels… all in correct colors too; a sprue with specific weapon loads for modern RAF Harriers… why not? (…) Actually I’m building a Trumpeter’s AV-8B kit, trying to solve/fix most of the inaccuracies I found… nose cone profile, wings, undercarriages, nozzles, panel lines, ventral strakes, cannon pods… anything else? After all you can buy and build this kit OOB, or you can buy and modify and scratch build anything you can or want to do. Last, do not buy the kit and save your money for a Tamiya’s F-16/Spitfire… From my point of view, the Trumpeter’s Harrier kit OOB is not a good replica of an Harrier II, any type. I wish for some aftermarket sets available soon on the market, specially for the decals… At the same time I’ll try to do my best with my first Trumpeter’s Harrier GR.7. CIAO! Piero

Hello, thank you my friend for your compliments on my AV-8B!!! I've just close the front fuselage section with cockpit bath and wheel bay in. After that I have reshaped the nose cone to have a more slick profile... I like the result. At the same time I have glued the fuselage... fitting was very good. The Pegasus engine was assembled and simply painted matt black as for the interior of the fuselage... I don't want to show the engine with open access panels, because there will be too much work to do for a good result. Some etched parts were added from Eduard's detail sheet. Now its time to work on the ventral strakes, I've already saw that they are wrong shaped and poor detailed... :-( CIAO! Piero

Hello, the plastic cockpit parts are very good but when you look at the resin parts in the Aires set... GAME OVER. Simply perfect. Same words for the front undercarriage wheel bay. The fitting is great, needs just a little sanding outside of the cockpit's sidewalls. The dark grey of the cockpit is airbrushed with Gunze 36231. Drybrush with Vallejo's colours, also used to brush paint small detail's colours. CIAO! Piero

Hello, working on my AV-8B model is going on well. Most of the panel lines are fixed now, together with opening access steps on the front section. The chaff launcher are deleted and the RCV nozzles are fileld with Tamiya's bicomponent putty. CIAO! Piero

Hello let see the what I have to do "fix" on the Trumpeter'AV-8B kit. Starting from the nose, its a little shorter than the real one, but I'll not going to add a plug. Must import for me is to reshape the profile nose, with a curve less fat and more slick. The raised square panel on both side under the front canopy must sanded off and rescribed. On the right side I'll open the access ladder steps. Pass to the wings, some raised panel lines must to be delete. The upper engine access panels must be redefined togheter with the LERX attaching points. I'll rescribe the panels over the wings, because I'm not happy with the size and shape of these. The squared GPS antenna must be delete on "plain" AV-8B. The underside of the wings will be worked in the same way. The main fuselage parts has some panels that are wrongly placed on both sides, that must be delete. Some of them has a wrong size, shape or missing/poor details. I'll rescribe most of them. The rear part of the fuselage needs some attention, because for a "plain" AV-8B we need to eliminate the caff launcher boxes on the side of the ventral fin. The rear control jets "RCV" must me reshaped and detailed with a mesh. CIAO! Piero

Hello, I'm in with my first entry for this Harrier Group Build. She will be finished as an early days United States Marine Corp's AV-8B Harrier II, also referred as "Vanilla". The kit is from Trumpeter in 1/32 scale. I'll add a resin cockpit and wheel bay from Aires sets. Some photoetched parts from Eduard set will be used as well. CIAO! Piero

Maverick and Sidewinder's launch rails can be seen here, between the fuel tanks: http://www.trumpeter-china.com/uploads/all...31409460893.jpg No BOL launcher, that we really need on the GR.7s. Extra AIM-9M's wing pylons can be seen here: http://www.trumpeter-china.com/uploads/all...31409445782.jpg Some shape problem for sure too... CIAO! Piero

For me, the biggest problem with the Trumpeter’s Harrier II kits is the wing. If you remember, the Hasegawa’s Harrier kits has a wrongly overdone kinked wing across the whole cord on their 1/48’s kit. The real wing has a kink at the leading edge, but then the kink fades and by mid cord it is flat indeed. Now on Trumpeter’s one, to represent a slight kink at the midpoint, they has just thinned (...) the leading edge around the wing fence. Not the best way to correctly represent the kink at all, but the fact of the wing gets flat going back is correct. After that, we need: Martin Baker MK.12 ejection seat (I think Aires will go soon with this) A pair of frog eye scoops for the 7A (Quickboost? Model Alliance? TwoMikes?...) Flare/chaff dispensers box rear the airbrake (Quickboost? Model Alliance? TwoMikes?...) Correct weapon loads, no GBU-12 on RAF Harriers, only Paveway IV, similar but really different (Flightpath?) Correct and complete stencils, in grey and black too (Model Alliance? Xtradecals?) Complete RAF’s squadron markings, for NATO Green/Lichen Green, ARTF Grey, Dark Sea Grey/Dark Camouflage Grey, Medium Sea Grey camouflages (Model Alliance? Xtradecals?) I wish for this soon. CIAO! Piero