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My first kit completed this year - AV-8S (VA-1) Matador, 1:72 Italeri (ex-ESCI). My 5th Harrier so far! Built out of the box (except for Pitot tube from Master, resin ejection seat from Pavla and some scratch). Italeri's kit is old and needs some work, but I'm quite happy with a result. Thanks for watching!

I think this might be the next project to start. Not an easy kit to get hold of these days - managed to find it on ebay a couple of years back. Heard some comments in the past about some tricky parts fit? I've also bought aftermarket intakes / nozzles which seems to be this big issue with the Sword kit. It's going to have to be a rattle can paint finish too, so let's see how that works out!!! Will try to update some pics through the build.

New Chinese brand from Hong Kong (?), UMa Model (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089147971336) has announced a new tool McDD AV-8B Harrier II kit. No detail, no scale for the moment. But as most of the publications in the UMa Model Facebook refer to 1/48th products... Sources: https://m.youtube.com/@umamodel6803 https://tieba.baidu.com/p/9111212733?prev=frs&source=a0-bfrs-c14638599-d-e0#/ V.P.

After the Sea Harrier FRS.1 (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234990951-sea-harrier-frs1-148/) and FA.2 (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234968544-sea-harrier-fa2-148/) Kinetic is to release a 1/48th BAe Harrier T.2/T.4/T.8 kit - ref. K48040 Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/K48040 V.P.

Hawker P.1127 (A01033V) 1:72 Airfix Vintage Classics Following experiences of WWII and the Korea war, it occurred to British and American military procurement that a fighter and ground-attack aircraft capable of operating from unmade short fields would be a useful tool to avoid the inconvenience that a heavily cratered runway could cause. Hawker took this onboard, and it was decided to use the Bristol Pegasus vectored thrust engine that was in development at the time to create an airframe that could take-off and land vertically, rendering long airfields optional. Well-known engineers Stanley Hooker and Sidney Camm were key to the creation and integration of the new type of engine into an airframe, using ‘cold’ nozzles at the front, and hot nozzles at the rear, although from a human perspective they were both extremely hot, but the rear nozzles were significantly hotter. The key take-away is not to stand in front of either nozzle when the engine is running. The nozzles didn’t provide enough fine-control to the pilot, so puffer-jets were added, routing air from the engine to the wingtips and nozzles under the nose and tail, giving the new aircraft the stability it required to hover without killing all involved in a ball of flame and tangled debris. There is conjecture about who pushed the project along, but with the parlous state of British aviation thanks to devastating post-war cut-backs, and the infamous Sandys report, funding was harder to acquire than it might otherwise have been. The NATO requirement that had originally been one of the Hawker goals was also revised, and it looked unlikely that the P.1127 would fulfil its needs, even in its finished production state. America expressed interest during development, and several airframes were transferred to them for evaluation, which were positively received, although concerns were expressed about the longevity of the inflatable intake lips, which resulted in their replacement with more traditional blow-in doors. More powerful variants of the Pegasus engine were also fitted, although NATO was also interested in a supersonic option, which was ultimately cancelled as part of the range of cut-backs in the early 60s. Aircraft Carrier trials were also undertaken, proving that the short/vertical take-off and landing STOVL capability was a great benefit to carrier operations, eventually leading to ruggedised Sea Harriers some years later. In the UK, the aircraft was initially called the Kestrel as it neared the end of initial development, whilst in US circles it became the AV-8A, and by 1967 initial production airframes were delivered to the RAF, where it was given the name Harrier due to its differences from the earlier prototypes, going into service as the Harrier GR.1 at the start of a glittering career. The Kit This kit was tooled in 1963 when the Harrier was just a bird, and not the coolest air show performer ever, or a useful aircraft in the RAF, FAA, USMC and other nations’ Air Forces, some of whom are still flying their later variants. It represents the development airframe, and is a product of its time that is wearing pretty well given its age, certainly better than this reviewer, who is somewhat younger. It has been re-released in Airfix’s Vintage Classic range, and is deserving of the moniker because it’s a vintage kit of a classic airframe in its early days whilst still under development. The kit arrives in a small end-opening box with the original artwork on the front, and profiles for the decal option on the rear. Inside the box are five sprues without exterior runners in grey styrene, plus a clear sprue, decal sheet and short instruction booklet. The model is covered in fine raised rivets and panel lines, and was tooled when moulds were cut from master pattern s. The moulds have worn very well, given that they’re 60+ years old, and interior detail is minimal, consisting of a pilot on an ejection seat that fills the narrow cockpit, and would have been well-received at the time when a full pilot was rare. There are nozzles with louvred exhausts, a depiction of the front face of the engine, and although the gear bays are blank, the rear bay is covered entirely, while the nose bay has a pair of doors, and there is a choice of retracted or deployed gear, which also extends to the outriggers that were at the wingtips at this point in the aircraft’s development. Construction begins with the fuselage, which in vintage style includes the pilot, seat, two blank sidewalls in the cockpit, plus a bulkhead with a fan face moulded-in, and four separate pegs that hold the exhausts in place, gluing them carefully if you wish for them to remain mobile. Some detail painting for the cockpit and pilot are called out in Humbrol codes, and the nozzles are shown painted at this stage too. The wings are each built from top and bottom halves, with tabs on both ends, the larger tabs slotting into the wing roots, fitting the elevators in a similar manner, remembering that there is a noticeable anhedral (downward slope) to all the flying surfaces. A choice of two styles of tail fairing is provided, one with a flat tip, the other tapered, with a similar choice at the nose, fitting either a pointed cone with long probe, or a rounded cone. The model is inverted to finish, fitting the nose gear with moulded-in wheel and two separate bay doors, the main strut with separate twin wheels and a single bay door, followed by the deployed outrigger wheels that are moulded into the wingtips that slide onto the smaller tabs. To depict the model with gear up, the bay doors are fitted flush, with a little bit of fettling more than likely to be required. Alternate wingtip parts are included that portray the outriggers configured for flight. Markings There are two very similar decal options on the sheet, as this was one of two development airframes. From the box you can build the following: Decals are by Cartograf, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion A true classic kit that’s available again in Airfix’s new darker grey styrene, with Cartograf decals for about the cost of a pint of quality ale, plus the bonus that you can feel like a spring chicken, or an old giffer, depending on your comparative age. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Not the most accurate kit from what I've read, some of the pylons look a bit iffy in comparison to the real thing. However the kit went together very well and I really enjoyed making this one. Very much just out of the box with the exception of the sniper targeting pod from eduard being the only aftermarket detail. This is what I thought makes it a GR9 visually but could be wrong? Painted with tamiya acrylic paints via an airbrush. Let me know what you think? Thanks Rob

Hi all just a general question what is the best 1/72 harrier aircraft kit. Also as I am just getting back in to the hobby would it be good to get a few of the same aircraft different mark like an FRS1 and GR1 or GR3 to do some repetitive builds to hone my skills. Also I love the British engineering of this aircraft. I admire this aircraft so it might keep my mojo alive? I have been looking at the Italeri kits which are based on the ESCI kits as they can be picked up for a fair price. Just to see if I can make a good enough job.

Here's yet another of my 1/72 Sword Harrier two-seaters! XW175 is one airframe I've wanted to build for ages, with its amazing livery and assorted extra bits to scratchbuild. When Combat Decals re-released their British Test and Development Aircraft sheet, I grabbed one as I already had the Sword Harrier T.2/T.4 kit in the stash. Being a Sword kit, it's not without its challenges, but has a good 'sit' to the finished model. Extra bits were Freightdog intakes, Pavla nozzles, the aforementioned CD 72-005 decal sheet, and assorted plastic scratchbuild including aerials, underbelly pods, and the intacke FOD covers. Not forgetting the Master F-16XL nose probe with its extra vanes, coincidentally a superb match for this aircraft too. Inspiration was from @Navy Bird who built the same kit a while ago to a stunning standard, and gave good tips on his WIP thread too - thank you sir! I'm not 100% happy with some of the finished areas of mine (the paintwork is a bit off in places and the more I look the more little faults I see, so I'm simply going to stop looking!) but from a distance it's a good addition to my new display cabinet, and it's one itch which has definitely been scratched now. Photographed here against various backdrops on my dining room table - that's the other hobby, and it's nice to combine the two at this stage! Thanks for reading. Finally, seen here with the last one I built - need to break this Harrier addicition!!!

I don't often do WIP threads, mostly because I'm quite slow at building but also never quite sure how the finished thing will turn out! Decided to take a chance and start one now. This'll be the third Sword twin-seat Harrier that I'll have built, and I've decided to do the raspberry ripple scheme of the DERA (later Qinetic) Active Control Technology airframe. I've always thought it looked spectacular, if a fiddly masking challenge in 1/72 scale. Then I saw @Navy Bird's stunning version, which decided me. The Sword kits can sometimes be a little frustrating but they end up as great-looking models, despite my best efforts to the contrary!! (Here are my T10 and T4 versions, so hopefully with some decent background photography at the end, the new one will look suitably tidy): So here we go. The kit comes with a little etch for the cockpit; extras already purchased are the mandatory dropped door intakes by Freightdog, a set of nozzles by Pavla (may or may not use these as they look a little small) and the fancy nose probe for the test aircraft. Decals will be the Combat Decals set, unfortunately not the Vingtor set with the Qinetiq markings, but I can at least do the older DERA version - plus there are at least two other options for other type builds I'm aiming for in future. First step, as with all end-opening kit boxes now, is to tape up the edges and ends, then hack the top open to create a top-opener. Doesn't have to be tidy but at least it's easier to get stuff in and out, and protect the build as it goes on: Thanks for reading so far, hopefully it won't turn into a 6-month thread!

At the risk of over committing (this will be the fifth concurrent GB I’m entering) I would like to join in with this: which will be a 3 squadron jet from RAF Germany in the short lived NATO green over Lichen green scheme. Place holder for now as there is a Lansen and three Mustangs ahead of it in the queue. AW

One of my favourites from the 80s, the remarkable Harrier, perhaps after the Spitfire the greatest ever in the pantheons of British aviation history. Apparently the lads selected to fly the Harrier were the very best from the RAF’s already fiendishly difficult fast jet training courses, so possibly had a genuine claim to be the world’s ‘best of the best’. The Kinetic kit is superb, and includes an extensive decal sheet, metal etch parts and plenty of weapons/stores options along with different nose, tail and even wing styles. For this one I’ll be building a mid-80s jet from the Harrier training unit, 233 OCU based at Wittering. The familiar box, love this artwork! Some aftermarket stuff … This is the general theme I’ll be following for the build. I’m considering oob as XV760/F, although it may yet be one from XV744/D, XV758/J or XV808/L. All of these airframes are still extant (albeit 760 as just the nose), and I’m kind of tempted by 758/J because I love this photo taken at Middle Wallop in 1984 … I might try and get an Eduard cockpit as there are no instrument decals included.

Hi all After the Miles Master, I decided to stay in the british wings This time, I choosed a airplane a little modern the well know Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the "Jumpjet" I have a little preference for the "long nose" version : the GR3 I bought severals month ago a box of the AV-8A version, the US version of the Harrier It was in "promotion" and because I wished use an after market decals, it was a very good deal for me If the kit has an update for the fuselage sprue from GR1/3 box, the GR3 nose is in this box. The decals sheet I didn't arrest my choice for the red or white tails option I have a little time to make my choice

After finishing the AV-8S the desire for the AV-8B Plus Harrier II increased, so it landed on my bench as my next project. Only kit in 1:72 is the one from Hasegawa, a quite good joice anyway. The only realy weak point is the cockpit. Some goodies from Aires, Quickboost and again decals from Series Españolas will complete this project. This is what Hasegawa gives you for the cockpit, the panel is as plain as the side walls, the instruments are only shown by decals. For comparison, the parts from Aires. So much for the beginning... Daniel

I've got the chance to pick up this Tamiya kit pretty cheap but want to know how well it builds and if it's worthwhile adding it to my stash? As a much younger model maker I was bought an Airfix 1:24 scale Harrier GR1 kit that was more complex than my skill level at the time and I didn't do the model justice and never completed the kit before losing interest in modelling for 30 odd years. A loft clearout resulted in that half botched kit being dumped. However, since getting back into the hobby, I've always wanted to build a Harrier once again and finish what I started as a kid. Is this a good one to try? TIA all, Morfman

Cheers all, Having a bash at the Airfix 1/72 Harrier and looking to build XV762 in its various guises/configurations, one of which is the attractive (to me at least) white distemper scheme which appears to have been applied for deployment into Norway. There appears to be very little evidence of the actual scheme on the 'interwebs' and the extract from the Xtradecal sheet is pretty much all I've got to go with. I've done a scan of a wide variety of reference books I have available, and again, not much to be found. The white distemper finish appears to have been applied to the existing green areas of the camouflage, with the existing maintenance markings thereon masked over. This is what I understand (and sort of makes sense) from the red notes on the scheme below. While this isn't reflected pictorially of the images below, I'm planning to paint the aircraft in the green/grey scheme, apply the maintenance decals, then mask those same locations and apply a weathered 'dirty white' distemper finish over the green areas. Any thoughts based on any specific knowledge anyone may have of this scheme from the mid-1970s ? Any insight would be gratefully appreciated. TIA A30 (Alfred)

Here's my latest 1/72 build. It's from the Sword Harrier T.4 kit. One of those frustrating kits which is a fight to put together, but worth it in the end for the way it just looks right. Extra bits to the kit were Flighpath CBLS-100 practice bomb dispensers, and some scratchbuilt canopy detail (bracing bar, strap). plus the intake FOD covers which were also made from plasticard. I honestly can't remember if the seats were in the kit or if they were resin aftermarket (I suspect the latter but it was a while ago that I started building it!). I added some extra wire detail, plus placard decals on the headboxes. Airbrushed with Hataka acrylics - was going to use Vallejo, but couldn't quite match the colours from the selection I had, and the Hataka just looked better to my eye. Wheels were from Armory, and the intakes (the most important update for any 1/72 Harrier kit!) were from Freightdog. My benchmark for the build was several amazing Kinetic 1/48 T.4 builds which I've seen on here... I tried to get as close to their level of realism in the smaller 1/72 scale as I could, and although it's not perfect, I'm pretty pleased with how it's turned out. Special mention to Nick Challoner who has an interesting website featuring various designs of RAF hangar over the years - he very kindly allowed me to use a couple of his images to print off and use as backdrops. Here you can see a Type C shed at RAF Northolt, which works really nicely as a backdrop when printed large. Thanks Nick! Website here: https://www.challoner.com/aviation/hangars/index.html Assorted shots of this model, plus one alongside the Italeri GR.3 which I finished recently (and which is in the Arctic camo scheme similar to the example at RAF Cosford). I'm going to try a few hangar and/or night shots so might edit this post to add them in soon. Thanks for reading! And, as promised, a few more pics featuring my now usual 'night shoot' and hangar shot styles. Apologies if it's becoming boring but I like the look of them! As ever, assorted bits of ground equipment (plus Reedoak figures) and the Noy's hangar backdrop. One poor quality phone shot of the underside showing the tiny CBLS bomblets, taken at an earlier stage of the build before I put the super fragile masts / vanes / canopy on the topside of the aircraft! With thanks to @Selwyn who's about the sole CBLS expert on assorted threads here, including the tip I read on a dark brown Sharpie for the bomblet bands. At 1/72 even that was a challenge 😉 Finally view of my 1/72 Harrier family (minus a duplicate GR9). Still missing a GR1 [in the stash], an FA2 and maybe a GR5 and a GR7 [bit too similar to the GR.9 to motivate me to dig one out] but it's a reasonable spread of the evolution of the real thing! Two each from Airfix, Sword and Italeri. With credit to @gazza l who did a very similar thing but did it earlier and better!

Good day everyone, in the wake of the F-35B Lightning I managed to finish earlier this year, I stumbled across an old kit I love for different reasons and unlike in the real world, the Lightning won't replace this one on my shelf but rather park next to it. It's the well known Hasegawa kit in 1/48th scale of the Harrier II Plus and it had a rather troubled story in my hands. It took me 11 years to finish this, believe it or not. Most of the time it sat in hiatus half built in its box because my old compressor had given up the ghost in the process. I started this kit while I was in school, which also kinda interrupted my model making. Graduation, the first job, the first love, then studying, other hobbies along the way, so something had to give. Finally after many years of absence I bought a new compressor in 2016, dug up the Harrier and got it done. This was also a kit of many firsts - The first multi colored kit with a camo pattern I tried with airbrush, the first time I used a detail set, the first time I tried to replicate bigger decals by using them as a template and airbrushing them, the first time I tried weathering and back in the day it was the first item I ever ordered online 😄. The result, of course, doesn't do the mighty Harrier any justice but I love the aircraft and because it took so long for the kit to be finished and what happened in the meantime, I love this kit. What amazes me, I forgot what I had for breakfast today, but I remember the whole build. So the story begins in late 2006 (The exact date I actually only know because I found the receipt still in the box). My brother and I were browsing on the web for modelling stuff and ordered the Hasegawa Harrier plus the Hasegawa USAF weapons set and a resin cockpit from Aires. As soon as everything arrived, I immediately begun construction. I remember being frightened by the use of superglue for the resin parts because I didn't want to mess things up so early into the build 😅 All went well, though, until the cockpit section and the rear fuselage needed to be joined together. The well know fitment issues there were also a source of frustration for young Luke. But with a bit of putty and some swearwords, it went together somehow. The rest of the build wasn't bad at all. With most of the construction done I started painting. I remember I used Revell Email airbrush colors, which I think got discontinued at some point. I managed to get the first two shades of grey onto the kit, then airbrush the vertical stabilizer by cutting out the big decals and using them as masks, then the compressor decided he's done with my s**t 😅 Being still at school and not exactly flush with cash I couldn't afford a new compressor at the time and so the Harrier got mothballed. The years passed, my brother moved away, we moved house, too, my father retired, etc....crazy how much stuff happened, while the kit sat quietly in its box, which itself got lost in the back of my closet at some point. Finally after almost 10 years I got a new compressor (ironically while visiting my brother in Poland, so he somehow put it all in motion and spiritually helped me bring it to an end) and got back to model building. I got a few kits finished before going back to this one. The last shade of grey was airbrushed, all the smaller parts were glued in place, the ordnance from the Hasegawa weapons set was added, then the decals went on, which got really brittle over time. Then I tried to weather the aircraft with acrylics and in the end everything got sealed with semi gloss varnish. Apart from the one big fitment issue I remember the build being utterly enjoyable, this includes the Aires cockpit. I'm also quite pleased with the result for so many firsts and tries. In some aspects I find it better in some aspects than some of my more recent kits, which worries me 😅 Of course for the balance of things, in other aspects it's worse but overall I quite like it. I hope you do, too and as always, thanks for watching (and reading through my probably boring story 😄 ) Cheers

One of my all time favourite aircraft the harrier. What's not to like with this aircraft! The first VTOL ever and a looker too! And a heroic fighter jet of the Falklands conflict that kicked some serious bottom.

AV-8B Harrier II Correct Air-Scoop set 1/32 Bandit Resin Factory for Trumpeter Kit Bandit Resin seem to be primarily producing parts you would see on normal peacetime modern jets as opposed to the weapons you would see on combat operations. This enables the modeller to build the jets they might see normally or at airshows. In a departure from their normal rails and pods, this set correct the air scoops on the Trumpeter AV-8B. The Resin These 3D printed parts give the modeller 2 small, and 2 large intakes for the top of the Harrier which are quite prominent which can be seen in this picture from our AV-8B Walkaround Conclusion These are great looking parts for your large scale second generation Harrier, Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Bandit Resin Factory, click on the logo to goto their Facebook Page

This is the old Monogram Harrier kit. Still a very nice build, if you don't mind raised panel lines (I don't). I used Vallejo acrylics and caracal decals. Hope you like the pics. Kind regards, Gerben

It was a strong rumour, now confirmed by R. Chung, the Kinetic boss himself, in ARC forums. After the Sea Harrier FRS.1 (link) & FA.2 (link), the two seat Harrier T.2/T.4/T.8 (link), Kinetic is quite logically to produce 1/48th Hawker Siddeley/BAe Harrier GR.1/GR.3 kits. So time to open a dedicated thread, I think. Source: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=287539&view=findpost&p=2798826 V.P.

Hi all, its been a while since I’ve posted any build related things, so thought it would be good to show you all my latest build of the somewhat lovely Kinetic Harrier GR.1. Standard box pic with some added goodies: I utilised the build notes and resources from the Harrier Sig, kindly sent over to me by @Ozzy . Thanks Mate! The kit itself was a strange juxtaposition of nice detail with some poor fit and soft detail. Some of the fuselage panel lines for example were very soft and didn’t line up. Somewhat reminiscent of some more recent Revell kits. However for the most part this kit was a very enjoyable build. One annoyance was the SNEB pods which are modelled with the rockets protruding, the instructions advise you to sand these off but it looks very naff, so had to fill and sand and make masks for the rocket covers on the nose of the launcher. PITA! Unfortunately I had to make life hard for myself by attempting to fit an Aries cockpit, which caused me endless hours of fun/pain . Eventually got it to sort of fit by removing as much plastic as I dared but in doing so it caused the from fuselage to bow out a bit which caused problems later down the line with the windscreen. Ended up screwing up the first part and had to order a replacement from Kinetic which turned up as reasonably quickly as one can expect from Hong Kong ( in standard British fashion it took as long to make it the 50 miles from Heathrow to central Bedfordshire as it did from Hong Kong to the UK). Other aftermarket was a dream to use, namely the Reskit wheels which were fantastic, especially as the hub and tyre are moulded seperately, very thoughtful when it comes to painting! Enough waffle from me anyway, kit is an early GR.1 of 1(F) Sqn in the early gloss scheme of Dark Green / Dark Sea Grey over Light Aircraft Grey, all paints were MRP, except the varnish which is Alclad Klear Kote 50/50 with MLT (somehow this is still a tiny bit tacky a week after spraying 🤦🏻‍♂️). Decals provided are by Cartograph and were perhaps the nicest I’ve ever used. Anyway, some photos! Cheers! Ash

As a 'work in progress', this is a bit of a fraud really as this very lengthy project is now finished. But I thought I'd share my working pictures in case the way I do these things is of any interest to anyone else. My models tend to be 'museum type' i.e. little or no weathering. There are, in any case, many folks here on these pages who do that sort of thing much much better than I do. On the other hand my aircraft models feature most, or in this case all, of the following: - Fully working flight controls, controlled by stick and rudder. - Manually retractable undercarriage - 'Pose-able' flaps - Lighting - nav, collision and cockpit - Illuminated HUD or gunsight - Working props, fan, turbines etc This is the story of how I did these things with the Airfix Harrier. Quite the hardest plastic kit I've tackled - weeks of putty and scribing, rinse and repeat!

Once I get around to opening the box I'll be building this... A fairly obvious choice but hopefully not too bad a kit (I think it's a relatively modern moulding), we'll see how it comes out compared to my first attempt with an airbrush (which was a Hasegawa Harrier a few years ago).

Icelandic Fine Art is soon to release a 1/32nd BAe Sea Harrier resin kits. Source: https://www.facebook.com/flyingSmodels/posts/pfbid0HFLFhQSGb8iBTPathXgYiGxZVTmVhpRLV94yNMGxZUvzAgYS3Nm5TBxgPfpLPVQRl V.P.