Aires Harrier GR.7 Pit question... Advice needed

[Rabspat]

Ok thanks to a good friend Graham aka Chocksaway i have most of the pieces for my Harrier GR.9 build of a OP Herrick bird. I am planning to go a little nut on it with resin pit and stores, also if i can find it a Eduard exterior set to spruce it up a little and i am thinking about the aires wheel wells but not sure as of yet.

Anyway back to my question, i have never used an aires pit before, i have brought loads but never used. So does anyone have any advice on how to tackle, fit the Aires GR.7 pit? Anything i should watch out for?

[Rabspat]

Nobody used one that can give advice?

[Muzz]

I've fitted plenty Aires cockpits just not to a Harrier kit, plenty thinning will be required to both the plastic side walls of the cockpit (kit fuselage) and the resin Aires parts which often need to be thinned so much you can nearly see through them, I've made a bit of a start to my Harrier build and decided against an AM cockpit as the kit ones not too bad especially with the Eduard set. Just make sure you do lots of test fitting, the instructions are usually pretty good at showing what plastic is required to be cut away to make way for the resin. I've got the Aires wheel wells for my build though and lots of thinning required around the front gear bay, not started on the main bay yet. The detail of the parts is amazing as usual and think the jet looks better with the front gear doors dropped!

[SaintsPhil]

I fitted one to a GR7 a while ago, my second kit back into the hobby!! It went in like a dream no issues, my first attempt at resin too!!

Really must dig that kit out and finish it....

Edited November 15, 2011 by SaintsPhil

[Daniel]

It doesn't need as much thinning as some of the other ones. No specific tips, keep test fitting as above recommendation .

Dan

[spike7451]

I used one in my 1/48 F-16 & the was quite a lot of filling,dry fitting & general hacking away to be done.

[Shaun]

I'm sure I read somewhere that the seat rail is incorrect for the RAF cockpit?

Shaun.

[Peter W]

Hi Simon,

Assuming that it's the 48th scale kit then the Aires cockpit is probably the easiest one that I've ever had to fit. I built an AV-8B for the recent group build and used the Aires set, which I would imagine isn't majorly different to the GR.7 version. All I had to do was remove the side wall moulding from the kit parts and thin the Aires side walls by about half their thickness. The instrument coaming may need a little removing from the kit part for it to fit (mine did) but not much. I did post some pictures on the build thread HERE which may be helpful.

Pete

Edited November 16, 2011 by Peter W

[Rabspat]

Thanks Pete, i saw your build and what a beaut. I guess it will be a trail and error on my part then. Thanks to all that have replied.

[NG899]

I've heard that the set has some inaccuracies in it but have never used one myself.

The problem I do know it's got is that the seat, while being a lovely rendition of an MB12H is too short - it would fit a 4ft 10in pilot but not one of more normal height!

The Pavla MB12H is the right height but has some headbox profile and top detail inaccuracies.

Personally, unless you're going for a competition entry I'd go for the Pavla seat and modify its headbox to suit, and forget about the rest of the ''pit.

HTH,

Nick

[Rabspat]

Saying that Pavla do a complete resin pit for the GR.7. But the reason i am using the Aires pit as i got it free when i got the kit as it was not needed to the person as i brought the kit.

[scotthldr]

I've used the Aires pit in a AV8B+ with no issues, basically a drop in fit