Paul A H Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 I promised myself that I'd build the new Airfix Harrier GR.1 as soon as I'd finished the review (see here), so here it is. I spent yesterday evening cutting out and cleaning up the parts for the cockpit, nose gear bay and intake trunking, as well as the fuselage halves. Since then I have painted and assembled the seat and cockpit tub. A quick dry fit of the fuselage halves with the cockpit in place doesn't suggest that there will be any major problems, so hopefully the rest of the kit will follow suit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeg Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Excellent, i will be keeping up with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royster Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 YES! Now where's that popcorn?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Very interested in this one, Paul. Will be keeping a watchful eye on proceedings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share Posted August 31, 2013 I've just about finished the cockpit, so I decided to grab a couple of photographs this morning before I fix it into the fuselage. I have added the decals to the cockpit tub and have then used some of Humbrol's rather excellent Dark Grey enamel wash to bring out the details in the cockpit tub, seat and sidewalls. I also borrowed the harnesses from a spare Eduard set for another Harrier and added them to the seat. I think the seat is good enough to pass muster with the addition of these parts - good work, Airfix! The engine intake trunking and landing gear bays have been primed ready for paint. Once painted and weathered, they can be installed in the fuselage halves, which can then be glued together - I can't wait! BTW, the pics in this post were taken with my 50mm macro lens. They are greatly magnified so don't be too harsh! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westie7 Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I also borrowed the harnesses from a spare Eduard set for another Harrier and added them to the seat. I think the seat is good enough to pass muster with the addition of these parts - good work, Airfix! Whilst comparing my recently delivered GR1 to the Sword T-Bird, I thought of doing this too. Will need to get some eduard etches, what is the part no for the etches you used? Rgds Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Looking forwards to seeing more Paul, lovely start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Magnificent work so far Paul, hard to believe its 1/72. Looking forward to further instalments, this'll be good! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Very quick update! More later 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Very nice work Paul. It's not my scale but it does look a cracking little kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 The fuselages halves fit together without any problems. The tail is a good fit too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Looking good Paul - those panel lines seem finer than previous 1:72 kits too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Ooooh, want one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 More progress, owing to a couple of days annual leave the wing fits in place without any fettling required, although they are only dry-fitted in these pictures. Without wishing to tempt fate, so far this is proving to be a trouble-free build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 (edited) Whilst comparing my recently delivered GR1 to the Sword T-Bird, I thought of doing this too. Will need to get some eduard etches, what is the part no for the etches you used? Rgds Mark Very nice but the Straps are totally wrong for the GR1 only the GR3 post 1981 had long straps. Selwyn Edited September 2, 2013 by Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 I have now glued the wing in place and am pleased to report a nice, positive fit. There are a couple of small gaps where the leading edge of the wing meets the fuselage, but nothing that a small amount of PVA or filler won't fix. I have also filled and sanded down the seams, as I haven't done the best job of aligning everything! All that remains to do in order to complete the air frame is to fit the engine intakes and the canopy. I have dry fitted the canopy prior to dipping it in clear, and it looks as though it should fit well. There are small indentations in the lower fuselage which help you align the ADEN gun packs correctly. These need drilling out in order to fit the packs properly. I have also drilled out the barrels of the guns themselves, just to add a touch of realism. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Wow, love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Update time: I have now installed the gun packs, both of which fitted very well to the fuselage. I have also fitted the engine intakes in place. These were quite a tight fit and required a little trimmingin order to obtain a good fit. I used the partly drooped auxillary intakes as my Harrier will be finished with the gear down. I have also fitted the canopy (no problems there) and have now primed the whole thing with Alclad grey primer. Time to break out the Gunze! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousAA72 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Coming along nicely Paul, but don't forget to follow the instructions(!) and remove the (for a GR1/1a) prominent fairing on the upper fuselage..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royster Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Loving your work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Coming along nicely Paul, but don't forget to follow the instructions(!) and remove the (for a GR1/1a) prominent fairing on the upper fuselage..... Instructions? Oh fudge... ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousAA72 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Instructions? Oh fudge... ! Yeah, the bits of paper in a kit that we have to refer after we've built the thing, to find out where the bits left over should have gone! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 If Del boy was a modeller, he'd say instructions are for wimps. They do come in handy, every once in a while though (as Bill says, usually in post build surplus parts analysis ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 (edited) I use them for seatbelts sometimes Nice build and source kit. My son built one of the old ones (1/72 GR 3) and it was a shocker! Regards, Adrian Edited September 5, 2013 by AdrianMF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousAA72 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I use them for seatbelts sometimes Nice build and source kit. My son built one of the old ones (1/72 GR 3) and it was a shocker! Regards, Adrian I think a few of us here may well have built that one too- over the years!! Time was when it was the only GR3 available - and I've also converted a few of the original Airfix and Hasegawa (and maybe Matchbox?) GR1's/AV8A's to GR3 as well before Airfix upgraded there's!! We've been spoilt in 1/72nd scale - in the last 30 years since those days, what with Esci/Italeri (and to a lesser degree Hasegawa and Fujimi) and now Airfix joining in. Shame we can't say the same for 1/48th!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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