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Showing results for tags 'Kestrel'.
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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
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For a modeling competition last year, I thought about building a Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 myself. Because there's nothing on the market that one can buy. If you're interested, I'd be happy to republish the building process here.
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Hi all. even though I have plenty of Harriers on the stash and just finished a 48th GR3. I happened upon the Revell 1/32 Harrier GR1. and I could not resist as this seems a great size for the Harrier. I wondered if there has ever been any aftermarket parts or decals made for this. Or if anyone has any tips for the build. I can see she represents the Early Harrier GR1 with Kestrel style fairings on the front thrusters and Kestrel style intakes. I recently discovered this type referred to as P1127 (RAF) which was apparently an early version of the GR1 which was more similar to the Kestrel is this true ? I noticed this recently on the Harrier XV278 which I looked at and thought , Hmm looks odd somehow then noticed there are a lot of differences to the normal GR1 especially around the intakes and forward thruster fairings. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RAF_HARRIER_XV278_AT_THE_LUFTWAFFEN_MUSEUM_RAF_GATOW_BERLIN_GERMANY_JUNE_2013_%289130940500%29.jpg So what is this, Is it a normal GR1 , Don't look like it to me, Looks more like a Kestrel in the nose area. I'm not sure. The cockpit frame looks more slight too. Info on the Kit and this type of Harrier very much welcome Cheers Rob
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- Revell 1/32 Harrier GR1
- Kestrel
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I've probably bitten off more than I can chew, but in a moment of madness I've decided to go for an all out effort on the ancient Airfix P1127 kit. Legend tells of rivets like barnacles, whimsical details and parts that lightly caress each other rather than fitting like gloves. I shall fear nought though, for my arms to slay this beast will be plasticard, plastic rod and strut together with the shield of aluminium drinks can. I shall craft rods of brass, re-scribe the lines of panels and plunge into vac-forming (well, maybe...). I shall indulge in some wanton cross-kitting and laugh in the face of adversity when it strikes (well, make a brew at least..). When the Fates conspire against me, I shall overcome their foul plots and continue along the rightous path to 1/72 perfection! (or blindness, whichever happens sooner). Once I've had a furtle in the stash and dug everything out for this project, pics will follow. Mark.
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I am considering the conversion of my P.H. Model resin kit of the Miles Master I back into the much more beautiful Kestrel. I tried to find the date and circumstance of the livery in the following photo, but failed. I am almost certain that it was taken before the aircraft went for testing at the A&AEE (in December 1938, according with the Probe Probare article in Aeroplane Monthly October 1989). The radiator also seems to be smaller than in the photos showing it with the "U5" register. Is the number 2 a race number? According to the painting on the Museum of Berkshire Aviation the spinner and cheat line were red and the main colour I guess it was cream as other Miles aircraft - or was it trainer yellow? The number is probably black. Any more info on this livery is appreciated! Carlos