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I've had Hasegawa's 1/48 Harrier GR.7 in the stash for a good few years now, just looking at me and wondering when it will get started. For an aircraft that I - as well as a lot of us on here I'm sure - have such an affection for, I feel bad that I haven't gotten around to it sooner. I feel one of the reasons I haven't started this kit sooner is that I had plans to throw lots of goodies at it in an attempt to get it looking as good as I can manage. I've been collecting AM bits and bobs for a while now, and feel that I have everything now that I need to build an a/c that I will be happy with. I saw a picture of ZG511 in-theater with lots of bits hanging off her pylons, and figured that I'd like to do a fully kitted out Harrier. So the plan is to try and depict her as she was during her last det. to Kandahar in 2009 - loaded with EPW IV, LAU-5003/CRV-7, and with TERMA/DJRP/SNIPER pods underneath. I've been collecting reference materials for longer than I've had the kit, so hopefully I will have half a clue as to what it's supposed to look like at the end... Although part of the reasoning behind doing a WIP was to feed off the wealth of knowledge on here and hopefully identify mistakes and issues before they can't be fixed! Any any recommendations for impulse purchases - ahem - vital reference materials are greatly appreciated! I'll be kicking off with the cockpit to start. I have the Aires GR.7 cockpit - one question before I do start though; I know the Aires cockpit has a couple of issues, especially with the bangseat rails and the actual seat being undersized. I plan to use the Eduard Brassin MB Mk.12 which I prefer the look of over the Aires seat. However the rear bulkhead doesn't much resemble pictures of the real thing at all (minimum effort on the visible bits such as the ground power panel/omission of cabin pressurisation valve etc.), and to be honest, compared to other resin cockpits of theirs that I've used, it does leave a lot to be desired. Has anybody used/compared the CMK offering? Is it any better than the Aires kit, or is the Aires cockpit as good as it gets, and a bit of scratchbuilding here and there will get me through? Cheers, Daryl.

Hi all. Im planning on starting a 1/48 Harrier GR9 soon, and was planning on modelling a certain aircraft (ZG511/82) After a quick search, I haven't been able to find a decal sheet that covers this particular Harrier, so I figured I'd make the serials and tail no. off of other sheets. I've gotten by with previous builds in 1/72 with the Xtradecal Letters/Numerals etc. sheets, but for the life of me, I can't find anything in their range that covers what I need! Does anybody know of a sheet either by Xtradecal or another company that offers the right size letters in 1/48 scale? If I'm wrong, please somebody step in and let me know, but I believe it's 6" letters and numerals in Black for the fuselage serials, and 8" numerals in White for the tail number. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Daryl

With the hawk awaiting a full bottle of primer to arrive, and a week of annual leave in hand, it's time to get a second aircraft onto the bench. The Hawk was an OOB build to get me by, but this Harrier has a few extras to test me and so I can learn a few things as I go. I've gone with the Eduard rebox of what I believe is the Hasegawa Harrier. I've picked up some Brassin and Eduard accessories as you can see, They include a THERMA poem Sniper ATP, UK RBF tags and a step ladder. Although I'm left wondering if the UK use(d) ladders like this? The set comes with Cartograf decals for the following 6 designs: As well as the standard array of sprues: It also comes with a correct resin seat, to frames of photo-etch parts (one in full colour), new wheels and a sheet of pre cut masks. Cheers James

One Airfix Harrier finished to my usual standards! The kit gave three options for finish and I went for the GR9A so I could display the sniper pods and paveways... although I nearly went for the GR7A as I wanted to put the Lucy Pinder pin-up decal on! Although the kit went together well for the most part, I had some difficulties with the seams between the wings and fuselage on the top of the kit which took a lot of filling and sanding! I'm also not overly happy with the exhaust nozzles and if I had the chance I would re-do these. I'm limited to Tamiya paints due to local supply and I had a nightmare mixing the colours for the lighter shades but after several re-coats I'm happy with the finish. I tried some new techniques on this such as adding my own seat belts, experimenting with lighter shades picked out with the airbrush on the main colours, plus oil washes and matt varnishes. Also used translucent colours on the clear parts for nav lights. Comments welcomed and enjoy!

Hi Harriervites, I've been contemplating the load out options for Harrier GR7 and later, by reading through books and anything I can find online - which not too surprisingly often points me to topics on Britmodeller where people have tended to ask "Is this loadout OK for this Harrier during Operation X?" However, this "research" has made me realise that the options seem to be primarily role based, with the combat roles being: Close Air Support Air Interdiction Reconnaissance The non-combat scenarios seem to be: Ferrying Flight testing Development Air display Despite my lack of professional knowledge and experience, I thought I would stick my neck out and try to list the various options I have seen/heard talked about and invite correction and clarification from the pros/ex-pros/gifted amateurs who seem to frequent this site: Ref Role Name 1 2 L o/r 3 L Str 4 R Str 5 R o/r 6 7 1 CAS GCAS? PW4 CRV-7 BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank Sniper DJRP TERMA Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 CRV-7 PW4 2 CAS Anti-tank LAU-117,AGM-65 LAU-117,AGM-65 BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod DJRP Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 LAU-117,AGM-65 LAU-117,AGM-65 3 CAS Brimstone* Brimstone Brimstone BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod DJRP Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 Brimstone Brimstone 4 Interdicton? ? BL755 1000lb LAU 7A, AIM9 Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod (no pylon) Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank LAU 7A,AIM9 1000lb BL755 5 Interdicton? ? BL755 BL755 LAU 7A, AIM9 Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod 1000lb Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank LAU 7A,AIM9 BL755 BL755 6 Interdiction AI 1 PW4 PW4 BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank Sniper DJRP TERMA Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 PW4 PW4 7 Interdiction AI 2 - Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 PW2 Sniper DJRP TERMA PW2 BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank - 8 Interdiction AI 3 - Fuel tank BOL 1000lb TIALD (no pylon) Gun Pod PW3 BOL, ACMI Fuel tank - 9 Interdiction AI 4* - Fuel tank - Storm Shadow Strake/ Gun Pod (no pylon) Strake/ Gun Pod Storm Shadow - Fuel tank - 10 SCAR SCAR - - BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod DJRP Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 - - 11 CAP CAP? - CRV-7 BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod (no pylon) Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 CRV-7 - 12 Ferry Ferry - Fuel tank BOL Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod Baggage pod Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank BOL Fuel tank 13 Training A/A training - - BOL, AIM Aq Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod (no pylon) Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank BOL, AIM Aq - - 14 Training A/G training - CBLS - Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod CBLS Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank - CBLS - 15 Development Brimstone test Brimstone Brimstone BOL, AIM 9 Fuel tank Camera Pod pylon Camera Pod Fuel tank BOL, AIM 9 Brimstone Brimstone 16 Development Paveway PW4 Fuel Tank BOL PW2 Camera Pod (no pylon) Camera Pod PW2 BOL Fuel Tank PW4 17 Test First Flight - - - - Strake/ Gun Pod (no pylon) Strake/ Gun Pod - - - 18 Test Test Flight - - - Fuel tank Strake/ Gun Pod (no pylon) Strake/ Gun Pod Fuel tank - - 19 Display Display 1 (no pylon) (no pylon) - Fuel tank Strake (no pylon) Strake Fuel tank - (no pylon) (no pylon) 20 Display Display 2 - Baggage pod - Fuel tank Strake (no pylon) Strake Fuel tank - - Abbreviations CBLS CBLS 200 Carrier Bomb Light Store - Pylon fitted PW2 Paveway II 2000lb LGB PW3 Paveway III 1000lb LGB PW4 Enhanced Paveway IV 540lb LGB Gun Pod The empty pods flown as an alternative to strakes, necessitating use of a shaped piece in the LID air dam BOL LAU-138 BOL Chaff dispenser/launcher LAU-7A AIM Missile launch rail LAU-117 Launch rail for AGM-65 air-ground missile AGM-65 Maverick Air/Ground missile Fuel Tank 290 (ish) Gallon external tank ACMI P4A-M Pod Sniper Sniper XR Targeting pod and dedicated pylon TIALD TIALD Targeting pod Terma Terma countermeasures pod + dedicated pylon Brimstone Brimstone anti-tank missile fitted on dedicated triple launch rail BL755 Cluster bomb AIM AIM-9 A/A missile * Planned but never flown as far as I can establish ? Is it? I've tried to put a name to each loadout but I have no idea whether or not this bears any relationship to how they are actually referenced - or indeed if there is any such thing as a standard name. If anyone can clarify this aspect (or even properly define the term "store"!!) I'd be very grateful. I suspect I've got myself in a pickle with the whole Paveway thing. I seem to remember Merv posting (maybe even on one of my referenced links) that the Paveway number was about the guidance system not the size of explosive carried. Feel free to correct me. There are a few roles that I've come across and stuck in the table but am very unsure about. E.g. did the Combat Air Patrol role that the FA.2 used to perform ever get covered by JFH? If I understand correctly, an FA2 would have worn AMRAAMS and guns for this role - none of which for obvious reasons are in the GR7/9's arsenal. Included are some apparently intended GR.9 capabilities that never saw operational clearance, such as Storm Shadow, which may have been fitted to or flown on the development aircraft. In such cases I've assumed that the pods are camera pods and that any missiles fitted are likely to be brightly coloured test versions. Dunno. Phimat? Anyone? Anyway, I hope this turn out to be useful to others. Cheers, Kirk References: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/26047-weapons-in-use-by-the-raf-in-172/ http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234927254-helpneed-taild-and-training-bomb-data/ http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56364-how-do-you-identify-a-harrier-gr9/page-2 http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=67373 http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/hangar/2001/acmi/acmi.htm PS: Tried my hardest with table formatting - sorry if not as easy to read as a nice Word table...

Hi chaps, I'm thinking about modelling dioramas (like this one) and also considering making improvements to flight simulation. It's possibly not the best forum to ask this but I know quite a few of the Harrier nuts on here are genuine forces pros, so here goes: How did routine Harrier servicing work? i.e. Does much take place in the hangar rather than on the pan - e.g. Where are tyre pressures checked? Is oil checked/replenished every sortie? By whom? Does the fuel bowser carry oil or is there a dedicated cart? Is water always topped up? What vehicle brings the water? Ditto hydraulic fluid & nitrogen Is there a specific order in which these things were done? Is there a technician walkaround that occurs before the pilot does his and are they very different? I seem to recall that there is a telephone connection on the wing (in the outrigger bay?) Under what circumstances is this used? Just hot refuelling? That's quite a few more questions than I intended but anything that gives a broad understanding of how this all works would be really welcome. Cheers, Kirk

Hi everyone, I found a few photos taken last year after completing the lovely Airfix GR9, in the Cottesmore special scheme. There's nothing to really report about this kit other than you can pour glue in the box, shake and get a lovely Harrier. Much has been said about the depth of panel lines on Airfix's 1/72 kits. To be honest my opinion is that we already accept so many compromises on such a small scale that the depth of panels lines is less important than accurate outlines. On this kit in particular the undercarriage legs and wheels etc. are very fine and in scale and it looks and 'sits' like a Harrier should. The engineering and design on this model are first class and make for an easy build. I do get a bit stalled when folk complain that (for example) 'those panel lines are a bit deep on the new Airfix spitfire' forgetting that the kit costs less than a fiver! Airfix have an unusual position, unlike most they are making kits aimed at a broad range of modellers and skills, to design highly detailed yet easy to construct kits that end up at pocket money prices is something to be marvelled at. Don't forget Hasegawa are regularly re-releasing 30 year old toolings and asking us to pay £30-£40 for a 1/72 kit. Any way rant over, hope these photos meet approval!

Hi all I thought I would share a few photos of one of my old builds I have not got around to photographing yet. This was was made in December 2011... How time fly's..... It was a great kit that I really enjoyed building but did not put as much effort in as I should have done.. I also remember the build stalled when one exhaust nozzle flew across the room and went missing for 3 days.. Luckily I found it. Cheers All Rob

Hi, So here is my first ever build, made from Airfix's GR9 gift set. Unfortunately when i started my only tool was a leatherman. I actually quite enjoyed making it, and have since bought a very basic tool pack and am going to start another one soon. I have also read about people on here using fillers to help tidy the small gaps up, so i will definitely be attempting this technique next time. Would appreciate tips, especially when it comes to the decals, as i had a nightmare trying to do them (as you may notice from the tail marking missing), aswell as how to weather the exhausts etc Many thanks Aj.