Harrier GR7 to GR5

[Graham T]

Specifically the Trumpeter 1/32 kit. AFAIK the only external difference is the nose but any useful guidance accepted!

[speedy]

I've got the same idea, although no kit yet!. I have the Aeroguide ready...

[SaintsPhil]

From memory there's also done changes to the RWR on the lower fin and the wing tip lumps and bumps. The other thing is the IP which has a round moving map display in place of one of the head down displays. Your best networks be to put up a WIP and let the harrier experts help, I'd certainly be keen to see it done!

[xffw45343tg]

Lots of subtle differences, many of which will be invisible even at 1:32:

In the cockpit, the instrument panel has the Moving Map display on the left in place of the Multi-Purpose Colour display. This is one detail which will show and there's a good picture of this in the Aeroguide book. They come up on ebay occasionally for even better pictures!!

The other display is the older type of monochrome DDI, characterised by a slightly steeper angle on the chamfered section

The throttle lever has fewer buttons on the top. Just the big target designation control, flare and relight buttons and radio controls on the left face.

Red and yellow warning lights in the annunciator panels. With NVG, they all (except the masters) went green.

There may be an earlier style of radio set controller, very like (the same as?) the US fit. The later one seems to continue until the GR9.

I think there's a "MIRLS" unit where you now find the internal lighting panel.

The ejection seat doesn't have the NVG jettison battery unit on the right side of the seat pan (nor the cover to the manual separation mechanism link pre a modification whose reference escapes me. Invisible anyway.) I don't think it has the manual leg line release lever on the left side of the pan. The PSP is more likely to be yellow than green.

Externally, there is no Zeus system so no corresponding bumps on the wing tips (I *think* it is the outboard bump) and ventral fin.

65% LERX. Someone is going to correct me here and post a picture of a 5 with 100% but it's a good rule of thumb.

No circular GPS antenna on the dorsal fuselage.

No strengthening plates aft of the aft nozzles.

If you want to be controversial, stick some 25mm Aden guns on it...

Cheers,

Kirk

PS/ Phil beat me to it. Another thing - no BOL rails, Mavericks, Brimstones, Snipers, TIALDS etc.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Kirk

[SaintsPhil]

You remembered the strengthening plate and rivets though Kirk, which I forgot. Incidentally are they on the Trumpy kit? They're missing from the 1/48 Hasegawa kit as that's based on the US ones that had it performed internally.

[xffw45343tg]

Now you're asking Phil. I'm mostly working on simulating Harrier systems these days so don't do a lot of plastic tickling. I'll see if I can find some sprue shots to give a more relevant answer though. I do remember that there was an excellent build on LSP where the guy fixed most of the shape "anomalies" that the AV-8B kit had. Pylon reshaping, nose surgery, removal of the bizarre raised access panel on the cockpit section etc. Piero di Santis also did some cracking builds here a few years back. I'll see about finding some links.

Kirk

Edit: sprue shots here

Piero speaks

Piero corrects

Piero's GR7

IV(AC) Plumb's GR7 start

...all of which reveals that the Zeus wingtip antenna are the outboard ones, some people are too talented for their own good and this should be an interesting build.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Kirk