NG899

Just found out I had an old Flickr account which I thought had expired! Hope this helps Cheers Nick

I've just finished Airfix's 1/48 S2 and used the photo of 809 Sqn's XV866/R/024, taken by Robin A Walker at St Athan on 28-Nov-78 to help me, in the link below - column 1, 7 down. https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/search/420/?type=Blackburn+Buccaneer+S2&date_taken=&information=&tag_fields==%5B%5D I hope the link works. I chose this photo as it gave the best light into the intake of any period photo I'd come across; I don't use a photo sharing app. How I did my intakes was two coats of Humbrol 127 Ghost Grey enamel (brush painted) then dry-brushed over by Humbrol 29 Dk Earth, built up slowly to get the desired effect. Happy. Hope that helps Nick

Salomon, Mark’s rendition of the rings is correct. The ones you’ve done should be fully round rings, no straight bits, and the centre spur was large enough to stop deck crews feet dropping into the holes 😆 It was dangerous enough on deck without such feet-swallowing potholes every 6-8 feet for those who didn’t look down to see where they were putting their feet 🤣 Hope that helps Nick

Thanks Dave. It isn't the photo but otherwise the load out is the same as stated above. Defo no AAR probe there! Cheers Nick

Hello again, Back with more information from Nick's book, Neil Mercer's 'The Sharp End' and a Combat Aircraft Sep-2013 article on 801's FRS1s over the Balkans. So... The Combat Aircraft article's photos of FRS1s over the Balkans show the typical 801 markings (no fin markings other then the black RN titles) and load out being as I described above - guns, 9Ls on single LAU-7As, AAR probe, 2x 190s. Text in the 'Sharp End' confirms the 1,000lb would have had the Mk.114 free-fall tail fitted - the aircraft patrolled around 10-15,000ft and dived to drop the bomb at 7,000ft; you don't drop a retard bomb from that height! So far, so good. But... In Nick R’s book is an image of 002 launching captioned as his final launch but with strakes rather than guns fitted, 190s, 9Ls and 1,000lb free-fall bomb. Odd. The angle of the photo means that any AAR probe fitted is invisible. There’s another photo of 002 captioned of it being over the Balkans supposedly, though it has full 801 fin/rudder markings. No! Other photos of 801 on Ark at the time show no AAR probes on its FRS1s. If I was building XZ498/002 on Nick's final flight I'd go with: guns, 190s, 2x 9Ls on single LAU-7As and a 1,000lb free-fall bomb on the centre-line. I'd probably leave the AAR probe off, or use micro-magnets to mount / demount it. I'd have to read Nick's book again from end-to end - rather than just the first paragraph in which he describes his launch, failed attacks on tanks and the big bang - to try and confirm the AAR probe fit. Colours - Overall satin DSG with LAG intake interiors, the LAG including the vertical twin boundary layer bleed air doors; 20-ins diameter blue and 10-ins diameter red roundels in 6 locations; RN fin titles black 7-ins high characters. I hope this all helps, I can send photos and the mag article to you if I have your email... Cheers Nick

Joe, Satin Dark Sea Grey overall with Light Aircraft Grey inside the intakes. As for tanks and loadout, I’ll need to check in Nick R’s book; I will get back to you tomorrow on these. Other photos of 801 in action over the Balkans show: - No squadron markings or ship code on the fin - ROYAL NAVY in black on fin - Single LAU-7A sidewinder rails, both sides - 190-gal tanks - AAR probe fitted (the Kinetic one is not good!) - 1,000lb bomb probably free-fall tail fitted, tbc. All the decals you need will be in the Kinetic kit’s decal sheets, if you’re building it in 1/48. XZ498 was coded 002 when shot down. Black Dog set A48169 includes the improved gun pods, pylons, seat, LAU rails, outriggers and AAR probe to improve for the Kinetic kit. Their A48195 set has improved 190-gal tanks. If you need help with the improving or correcting issues with the Kinetic kit, drop me a PM with your email address in it and I’ll get back to you that way. Cheers Nick

Very nicely done Tim. Drop me a PM with your email address in it if there’s anything I can provide to help you with the 1/24 GR3 or any other Harrier projects. Cheers Nick

And the colour of the stripes ahead of the ailerons and flaps is… yellow, or…? Just a thought. Cheers Nick

I mastered some for the Harrier SIG a good few years ago and still have some resin ones somewhere. Sadly, CMK didn’t include them in their T10/12 conversion set. Drop me a PM with your email address in it and I’ll get back to you. Cheers Nick

Collin, Simply put… It depends on how accurate you want your build to be. If you can tolerate the ordnance all being 5mm further forward than they should be, the anorexic outriggers and AAR probe, lack of strakes on the rudder, inaccurate seat and fuel vent, basic gun pods, incorrect panel lines on the tanks for those used post 1970, the later ‘winder rails for an aircraft from before 1985, etc., etc., etc., or, you are confident to do the required mods yourself, there’s no need for the Black Dog set. Drop me a PM with your email in and I’ll send you some pdfs to help you make up your mind. But…, it may help a few days before I get a chance to reply to you, so let me know if you’re in a hurry. Cheers Nick

Hi Jari, Adding to Neal's comments... From Nov-06 I have a photo of ZD404/33A as a GR7A (65% LERX, no 'frog-eyes' on the engine covers) with Lucy artwork and mission markings painted on her cockpit side; her EPWII and 540lb airburst bomb symbol missions markings indicate she was primarily used in the bomber role or, when fitted with CRV7s, did not fire them on ops. The photo shows a load out of: 1+7 - empty. 2 + 6 - 250-gal tanks. 1a + 7a (outrigger pylons) - BOL304 launcher rails. 7a - AN/ARC-235 FACE pod (Fighter Aircraft Command and Control Enhancement - provided beyond line of sight comms between aircraft and command centres) fitted to BOL304. 3 + 5 EPWII. Fuselage Port - TIALD. 4 - JRP (Joint Recce Pod) Fuselage Stbd - strake. I've another photo of her in earlier in 06 with 1 - 540lb bomb fitted with a retard tail; 2 - CRV7 19-shot pod. 1a + 7a - BOL304. 3+5 - 250-gal tanks. Fuselage Port - TIALD. 4 - JRP (Joint Recce Pod) Fuselage Stbd - strake. 6 - CRV-7 6-shot pod. 7 - 540lb bomb fitted with a retard tail and with an airburst proximity sensor fairing fitted to the nose. [Edit Note - In late 2006 the recce pod was more likely the Thales (Vinten) VICON 18-601 GP-1 JRP than the Thales (Vinten) VICON 18-601 GP-1 EO DJRP. The DJRP was identical to the JRP externally but had Electro-Optic cameras and digital data storage rather than analogue SVHS tape in the JRP. I'm not sure when the DJRP became the standard fit on Op Herrick; one for those 'in the know'] I can provide photos of the differences between the two types of 540 and the FACE pod. If you fancy ZD437/49A Michelle (I couldn't possibly comment) as an option for the CRV7s, I have a photo of 437 her with the artwork applied and a similar CRV7 load to that mentioned above but with two strakes fitted; no TIALD. If you search on BM you'll find a very good build of an Op Herrick GR7 by Piero De Santis which details the work he did to correct the many shape issues with the Trumpeter kit, improve the cockpit, make a new MB Mk12 seat; produce a TIALD pod and pylon, etc. Well worth searching out. PM me with your email address and I'll get the photos over to you for your personal use; I cannot post them here for copyright reasons. Cheers Nick

Drop me a PM with your email in it and I’ll send you some things to help you in time for Christmas. Cheers Nick

In my limited experience of trying to work this out for HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible during the Falklands War there was no consistent pattern on all carriers. Different deck areas have different spacings and layouts too. All I can say is to look at as many photos as you can of the carrier your model deck is representing and replicate what you see as best you can. On the two carriers mentioned, plus Ark and Illustrious, the rings were mounted at the stern end and lifted up towards the bow. They were not the US cross pattern. You could ask the same question on the warship build forum? Good luck Nick

As said above and UOR mod status of the aircraft once Op Herrick started AFAIK. Collin, if you’re making a Harrier GR7/9 nothing beats reference to photos of the aircraft you wish to make. Seen lots of models over the years loaded up as they could have been but never were. I suppose it comes down to do you want accuracy or wish to depict a model with something hanging off everything? Personal choice…

From looking through this publication at SMW, it would be SO much better if the FRS.1 build was of a jet in the correct colours that served on HMS Hermes during the conflict. IF I recall correctly the build has the serial XZ458 and side code 24. XZ458/H/124 with the name LT CDR MS BLISSETT under the windscreen was left behind in the UK in its 800 NAS EDSG/W colours and was moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at RAF St Athan on 07-Apr-82. By 18-Apr-82 it had been the first FRS.1 to be resprayed in the Medium Sea Grey / Barley Grey scheme, uniquely with its serial re-applied low on the rear fuselage in pale blue; which soon became obscured by jet exhaust marks. It carried the 809 Phoenix badge in pale blue and red on its fin with pale blue RN titles. No pilot's name was carried. XZ458 deployed south with 809 NAS, on 19-May-82 being flown off the Atlantic Conveyor to join 801 NAS on HMS Invincible by Lt Cdr Dave Braithwaite. With 801 NAS it was given the code 007, applied high on the intake sides in 16-ins pale blue numerals. None of the overall EDSG FRS.1s on HMS Hermes carried the side code 24. The ex-800 NAS jets were: XZ492/23, XZ459/25, XZ460/26 and XZ497/27; the 'new' / development jets on the carrier were XZ450/50, ZA192/92*, ZA193/93*; while the ex-899 NAS jets were XZ455/12, XZ457/14, XZ494/16* and ZA191/18. (* Side codes in roundel blue; all the other jest on Hermes had black side codes.) If only someone had asked the Harrier SIG for help with this publication, we'd have been happy to help you out; as we are with any future Harrier publications you may have planned. Sharing our knowledge is one of the Harrier SIG's main raisons d'être; but we can only help if we know help is needed... All the best Nick

Ben, AFAIK there are no plans or drawings of the pods that are declassified. Without access to JetArt, where XW175 resides, or a friendly contact there who’d be prepared to measure them, that option is also out. The best I can provide you are photos, if you’d like to try… Cheers Nick

This information may help you with the VAAC Harrier kit... Apologies for length, you'll understand why when you get to the end. Context - All the information Kinetic needed for the VAAC Harrier from the mid-90s to 2010 was sent by the Harrier SIG when the idea of the two-seater kit was first mooted. Kinetic decided to release the kit with just the standard service types and schemes. I was unaware of the QinetiQ VAAC boxing until told be a SIG colleague about their FB posts (I don't "do" FB) and was not aware initially what was not in it. Once I found out I contacted Kinetic to resend them the info about the VAAC Harrier and offer them masters for the two sensor pods and underwing hardpoint fairings. I passed the masters to them at SMW. Sensor pods - Whether Kinetic release these in resin or 3D is their decision*. The large aerial on the starboard pod changed shape and size in the early-2000s about the time of the switch from DERA to QinetiQ I believe. (The North Wing Model Craft sensor pods are definitely NOT accurate. Caveat emptor!) Underwing hardpoint fairings - Ditto*. VAAC and G-VTOL both used the early fairings (not those in the kit) with the outboard ones being small ovals and the inboard ones being narrow blisters. Cockpits - There are shots of the rear cockpit on the www. For the front cockpit, for this scheme, there were some differences, the most obvious ones being the front HUD which was more like that in a GR7/9 with twin glasses. Working the kit parts into fair representations of the real VAAC cockpit layouts is not beyond the scratch-building skills of many modellers IMHO. Aerials + Pitot - There are many extra aerials on the VAAC Harrier upper rear fuselage, above and under the nose which need adding from scratch. On the pitot are 4 small AoA vanes which can be added from the kit's PE. It's not hard to do. Instructions - Yes, these are missing stages 17-19 of the original kit instructions - under nose panels/aerials; front u/c fitting and bay doors; main u/c fitting and doors, under-fuselage aerials. I've emailed Kinetic about your comments on these. A pdf of the original "T-Harrier" kit's instructions can be most easily found here https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/4/0/9/1006409-84-instructions.pdf VAAC Harrier c.1999 - ALPS decals for the camouflaged T.4A XW175 can be obtained from https://www.arcticdecals.com/products.html?id=21460/880150 Yes, I appreciate these issues are "annoying" but, as I say above, we're modellers. If you want information to help you with your VAAC build, then please PM me with your email address and I'll send you what you need, including photos of all the relevant bits and some notes on my kit build of XW175 of c.1999. I look forward to seeing LOTS of VAAC Harrier builds on displays over the next 12 months. Cheers Nick P.S. If you are still a tad upset, please read this true story... A good few years ago, one late 23-Dec evening I was asked by an American based in HK who had provided Trumpeter with information for their 1/32 AV-8B to help them with info they needed for their 1/32 GR7 boxing. I'd 36 hrs to get it to him for them. You can imagine how that went down with my dearly beloved! I emailed him the info within 24 hrs. When the kit sprue shots landed on the www I was furious. They had ignored just about everything I sent them; no MB Mk12 seat, revised cockpit, sensors, pylons, etc. About, the only thing they had done was the under-fuselage chaff/flare dispenser. When, on my behalf, the American challenged them on this he was told, and I quote: "Modellers will not know the differences between the marks so why include them." Need I say that I will never buy/build a Trumpeter kit. I believe my US contact didn't help Trumpeter with other projects they wanted his help on.

Sorry to be late to this party… ”Harriers are complex beasts”, especially when it comes to LERX and frog eyes. ZD322/03 was a GR7 in 2006, it was upgraded to a GR9 in October 2007. It served on Op Herrick fin code 03A as a GR9A. The Harrier SIG has spent some time putting a list of GR5/7/9 and T10/12 data together, thanks to Graham James and ex Chief Tech Andy Robinson. It means that for a known serial and year we can confirm the type identity, LERX size and whether “frog eyes” were fitted; i.e. the fire access ports mounted above the engine covers which had to be retrofitted on 65% LERX airframes when they were upgraded to GR9 as the GR9’s wiring blocked the fire access ports in the 65% LERX leading edges. So, if you need to know what your Harrier is, please PM me with your email address. Cheers Nick

Hi Robert, Drop me a PM with your email in it and I’ll send you some things to help you with your Blue Eric. Which kit are you using? I presume you’re making a Falklands GR3. Have you decided on which one yet? Only a few carried Blue Eric, as I’ll explain in what I send you. Amos, those are standard gun pods, well standard-ish but look oddly shaped with Botox-ed blisters and very oversized vent holes 😢 The Blue Eric fit was only carried in the starboard gun pod, replacing the gun. A standard pod was carried to port, for use as needed. Same offer applies regarding sending you info if you want to PM me too. Bye for now Nick

Hi Nigel, I have a listing from Del Holyland of Martin-Baker circa 1995 which outlines what you need. I’ll pdf it and get it to you on Wednesday; busy tomorrow. Cheers Nick

Jag Rigger, Gimme Shelter and Bonkin, The same offer applies to you regarding help with you big GR3 and FRS1 builds. Drop me a PM with your email in it so I can send you lots of helpful info. 😉 Remember the Airfix kit came out in the early 70s when it was one a few 'super kits' being produced and was way ahead of most kits then being issued, except by Tamiya, of course! Dimension and shape wise it is the most probably the most accurate 1st generation Harrier kit ever made as John Fozzard and the HS Harrier design team provided drawings and access to the original airframes. Indeed the kit even helped Mr P J Barley at Farnborough develop the light grey scheme used by 809 NAS's FRS1s during and after the Falklands conflict - several models being made up and sprayed different shades of grey. One can almost imagine a conversation between the RAE Farnborough and Airfix about buying the kits... "Hello, is that Mr Snowden at Airfix?" "Yes, who's calling?" "I'm Mr Barley from the RAE at Farnborough. We'd like to buy some Harriers from you." "Shouldn't you be speaking with BAe at Kingston?" See "Harrier 809" by Rowland White for the full story and photos of the models being built and used by the RAE. Cheers Nick

Hi Craig, Hasegawa's destructions quote Mr Color Light Blue 323 - 80% + Mr Color Flat White 62 - 20%, but you probably know that! None of Humbrol 44, 65 or 89 are close to Mr Color 323 - which is a very vibrant blue! - to to the colour you need without adding white. AFAIK the blue used on ZD375 in 2001 was a local mix by 20(R) Sqn using Roundel Blue (BS381C:110) and White; probably the same mix used on the 233OCU Harrier GR.1/3 and T.2/4s nose insignia. Alternatively, in 2001 they could have used some Pale Roundel Blue BS381C:172 from RAF stock. It's certainly a lighter blue on ZD375's fin than that used on their other blue-finned display GR.7 ZD464/54, which is closer to "Kidwelly Blue", supposedly the colour of waters in Kidwelly Bay, S Wales, near where 233 formed in WW2 at RAF Pembrey. Humbrol don't do a roundel blue as such, their closest is 105 Oxford Blue, which is close to BS381C:105. The closest to the colour you need in Humbrol's range, to my eyes looking at colour samples on screen, is 44, Pastel Blue. Though I think you'll need to mix some white with it. Xtracolor/Xtracrylix do roundel blue and pale roundel blue X030/XA030 and X039/XA039. As to the mix ratio, if you used roundel blue plus white, it will be trial and error with reference to the best photo you can find. I hope that helps, good luck Nick

M A G N I F I C E N T ! ! ! If anyone wants to see it??? They'll be queuing round the block! Peter, glad to see it finished at last, a wonderful tribute to some very clever men and some very brave men. Imagine doing 400mph in that... Cheers Nick

Peter, the one big advantage of making and improving one big kit is that you learn so many more new skills along the way to try and replicate what you see in the real thing and want to include in your model than you ever would kit-bashing. (No disrespect to all the kit-bashers out there, I'm one too!) Should you ever decide to do another big SHAR, please do get in contact as I've a host of information to help you from my own build, some of it published, some not. Cheers Nick

I've been prompted to dig out my old Martin Baker colours sheets provided by Del Holland at the IPMS(UK) Nationals at Stoneleigh back in 1985! As I recall Del was a modeller so had produced these pages himself, detailing all the colours on the different parts of the seats. (Really useful for my scratch-built Mk.10H for my 1/24 Sea Harrier FRS.1!) RAF seats - Types 1-9 and 12 > matt black; Type 10 > dark sea grey (easier than it being dk admiralty grey which was the usual cockpit colour!) Royal Navy - Types 2-9 and > matt black; Type 10 > dark sea grey If only Britmodeller had a place I could upload a pdf to....?! @Phoenix673 for a Hawk T.1A the flat-sided headbox seats fitted were Mk.10B variants and so dk sea grey. AFAIK, some seat maintenance could be done by the RAF/RN but most of it happened back at Martin-Baker, for obvious reasons... Hope that helps! Nick