SaintsPhil Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 (edited) Afternoon everyone, It's been a while since I've posted a WIP, outside of GB, so here's one. I'm actually building this for a GB elsewhere (all my kits on the go are for GB!!). Anyway we have a lot of harrier fans here and a few continental visitors so hopefully this will prove interesting to someone... Plenty written about this kit, a few pit falls but many good builds about so I'm going to try and follow some, if not all of the suggested fixes. Started with the main fuselage Blocked in gaps behind nozzles, to avoid see through fuselage Cut out holes in rear deck (cable conduits I believe...) And the corresponding cut out in front fuselage halves While I was cutting holes I removed front U/C doors to take Pavla wheel well, perfect fit! Ignore the gaps, that's just me holding it one handed while taking a pic!! I finally added some plasticard to the fan part, to overcome a large gap that will be otherwise left when installed I may yet add FOD covers anyway, a bit like this http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2009-6/14/49721.jpg Aside from the Pavla nose bay I'm also planning on using some of the Eduard Zoom set plus an Eduard canopy masks, I hate masking canopies so these are worth their weight in gold to me! Feel free to chip in with any advice, thanks for looking Phil Edited September 5, 2012 by SaintsPhil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 This should be a good watch Phil! Need your help over on my GR-7 thread Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex77 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Phil, Looking good so far. What decals are you going to use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 They're by an Italian manufacturer (oddly..) called Taurodecals I got them from Italy via evilbay! Despite all the bad press the Italian postal service gets they took less than a week to arrive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Nice start Phil, will be watching this with interest as i have the Hase 'Ace of Spades' in the stash - guess its the same kit, slightly tempted to convert it to a GR5 though! Cheers Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Nice start, this is a very interesting subject ! A small warning: the tauromodel decals are not complete for an operational single seater as they miss what is a very nice touch in the markings of the real aircrafts: there are a number of wolf paws painted on the rudder (the wolf is the symbol of the unit flying the harriers) and these are missing from the sheet, as is the unit insignia under the cockpit ( a wolf's head). A few pictures here, that also show how these aircrafts can get very dirty and worn http://www.giorgiociarini.com/maristaer_grotta_000006.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Simon, Good choice to back date to GR5, would be easier to start with GR7/9 kit though as then you only need to worry about the nose! Giorgio! This is why I like posting WIPs on here you get good info, even I'd sometimes it makes you're life more difficult!! Unfortunately I can't just live with it (itd bother me!!) So I'm left with 2 choices. Firstly to scour the world looking for the OOP model friend sheet with the correct decals (or even a scan of the sheet so I can make my own decals...) or change back to a US bird. I'll try option 1 first I think! So if anyone reading has the sheet and either wants to part with it or could at least scan it that would be awesome! I'll post in wanted too so I'm not breaking any rules!! Anyway in the meantime here's another update Following the various online and magazine builds Firstly I fitted the lower wings to the fuselage, then the lower LERX piece, all with the rear deck part taped in place, this gives the correct spread to the front of the fuselage to accept the lower LERX without a gap or step. The fit is all very good here if you follow this approach. You may also notice I cut a notch from the front of the LERX piece. This is to avoid clashing with the back of the fan assembly, which is just pushed in in the pic. At first I wasn't sure this was necessary, but I thought it couldn't hurt, and it does actually make the fan a good firm fit. Here's the shot Thanks for looking in again, next update over weekend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colihamp Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I'm building the GR7 at the moment; had a nightmare fitting the wing (because I followed the instructions, i.e. fit the lower and upper wing sections, then fit to fuselage), this looks like it could be better? Quick question; what is the rectangular hole on the underside of the nose? There doesn't appear to be any kit part for this? Do I need to fill it? Colin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Colin, The hole is the nose RCV (Reaction Control Vent). It's pretty poor for a kit of this standard that it's just a hole! I've not taken a pic yet but when I closed the nose up last night I backed it with plasticard to give me a backing to scratch build a nozzle. Basically it should look similar to the one under the rear tail part, just before the ECM lump! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 (edited) The Hasegawa kit decal have the paws. Someone might have that, if they've used AM decals for the kit in US/Spanish markings? http://www.hlj.com/product/hsg09684 Edited September 6, 2012 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Phil, if you can't find the modelfriends or hasegawa sheet, the paws could be done with a laser printer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks Giorgio, that's my back up plan, make my own decals! I was hoping I could at least get hi res scan of a decal sheet, even the Zots 1/32 version, so I can make some! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LT Motta Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Nice start! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colihamp Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Colin, The hole is the nose RCV (Reaction Control Vent). It's pretty poor for a kit of this standard that it's just a hole! I've not taken a pic yet but when I closed the nose up last night I backed it with plasticard to give me a backing to scratch build a nozzle. Basically it should look similar to the one under the rear tail part, just before the ECM lump! Phil Nice one, thanks Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 (edited) Nice start, this is a very interesting subject ! A small warning: the tauromodel decals are not complete for an operational single seater as they miss what is a very nice touch in the markings of the real aircrafts: there are a number of wolf paws painted on the rudder (the wolf is the symbol of the unit flying the harriers) and these are missing from the sheet, as is the unit insignia under the cockpit ( a wolf's head). A few pictures here, that also show how these aircrafts can get very dirty and worn http://www.giorgioci...otta_000006.htm Something was niggling in the back of my mind, so having got home and done a little research, it confirmed that the Italian Harriers didn't have the wolf print markings initially, including when they deployed to cover the Somalian operations in 1995 (During their work up) The Tauro Models decals originate from around then (Maybe slightly later) - we had a review of them in the SIG newsletter about then. e.g. http://imagery.vnfaw...rier2/p1709.jpg Even as late as 2004, I-13 and I-16 at least still didn't have the wolf markings http://www.airliners...2ffc2a1bd840596 http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-AV-8B/0313481/L/&sid=07036436b44a7a3b4d39f5d25e3efcf2 Edited September 6, 2012 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady72 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Interesting theme indeed. What kind of weapons carrying Italian Harriers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks Dave, i appreciate the research, I didn't realise they served in Somalia! fortunately one of the sig guys has the hasegawa kit decals and has offered to send Them to me, as well as Graham and Giorgio offering to help with some custom mades! So we're all systems go again! Well I will be when I get back home Sunday... Arkady, the Italians and Spanish funded the integration of the AMRAAM and both use the jet as a fleet defence aircraft with a pair of those plus a pair of AIM9M/L like this http://digilander.libero.it/en_mezzi_militari/html/av8b/av8b-06.jpg they covered the operations in Libya but They can also carry JDAM and dropped a few! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 They also carry LITENING, CVR7 rockets, LGBs and Maverick. http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5918119 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Yes, the paws were not present from day one, however they appeared very early and only during the first cruise (when the aircrafts were not completely operational) they were not present. These aircraft actually saw a fair share of conflicts. Apart from providing cover for the withdraw of the forces from Somalia, they saw action and dropped weapons over Afghanistan and Libya. A typical configuration in Afghanistan as been mentioned to be: AIM-9, tank, LGB - litening II, tank, AIM9 for the section leader (that needed the pod to illminate the target for the section LGBs) while the second in the section had AIM-9, tank, LGB - LGB, tank, AIM-9. Over Libya, the preferred weapon seems to have been the GBU-32 JDAM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metallicus Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Cracking build!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady72 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 They also carry LITENING, CVR7 rockets, LGBs and Maverick. http://jetphotos.net....php?id=5918119 Thanks Dave, which LGB's? LGB's only together with Litening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I think they are GBU-12s, but I get a little lost in the myriad of US Bomb designations! I suspect they might follow the USMC model and have LITENING on one inner pylon and an LGB on the other, tanks on the middle and AAMs on the ouuter. You can see Italian Harriers with pretty much any combination of weapons on them (Often for display purposes, so not sure how realistic. Combat pics are harder to come by. So here's 300 US Gal tank. LGB + AIM9 http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-AV-8B/1767122/L/&sid=9affd091f2440c045eaddc386260571c LGB, AGM-65 and AIM9 http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-AV-8B/1401700/&sid=9affd091f2440c045eaddc386260571c AIM9, tank + LITENING http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-AV-8B/2086616/&sid=9affd091f2440c045eaddc386260571c here's another view of 11 http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-AV-8B/1152799/L/ Libyian Operations 'fighter' configuration of AIM120s +++ AIIM9 http://www.flightglobal.com/Assets/GetAsset.aspx?ItemID=38952 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 (edited) Thanks guys, reading all the comments is making me itch to get back to it but it'll have to wait till Sunday... I'm Not 100% sold on the load so if anyone has any pics of load outs, especially in libya with a JADAM, feel free to post! Edited September 7, 2012 by SaintsPhil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex77 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Phil, I got the Model Friends decals but i'm planning to use them sometime. I can make a scan of them if you still need them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 (edited) Thanks for your offer, both here and in wanted but thanks to another Harrier Sig member I have the Hasegawa kit decals from the Italian Navy boxing so I'm all but sorted! As for an update, not much progress to report, been working on my Mig for CAS GB (suddenly realised the deadline is fast approaching!). I've managed to work on a few small bits, nozzles and fuel tanks mainly. RM managed to lose my order from hannants so I still can't start on cockpit! Bit of a natural break I guess to get that mug off the bench! Phil Edited September 12, 2012 by SaintsPhil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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