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Airfix 1/72 Harrier GR.3 - Latest release


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Evening,

Another one now clear of the bench! This is Airfix latest incarnation of the Harrier GR.3, a lovely kit with the only flaw being the fin is slightly too short. There is a resin drop-in replacement now available to correct this, however on my build there's a bit of a tale of woe here!

As soon as I bought this I couldnt wait to start it, and decided straight away to cut the fin and extend it with sheet plasticard myself (no resin available at this point). All went well, the fin was corrected using a 1/72 scale drawing, and progress continued apace until I was about to start decalling. When I looked at the paint guide again I realised what the niggling issue was that had been at the back of my mind since the fin surgery........I'd cut out the fwd RWR antenna and hadn't put it back in! Arrrggh....

I ended up taking the fin out of another Airfix GR.3 (yes I bought more than one, and by now had a replacement resin fin!), carefully cutting out the RWR along the panel line and splicing this into a notch cut in my now painted build. Fortunately I managed to minimise the damage to paintwork and a quick re-spray of the top of the fin put me back on track.

Anyway her she is out of the box, including the decals, apart from a LGB and a 1000lb bomb from the Revell Tornado GR.1, to liven up the warlord -

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Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions, good and bad. Thanks for looking.

Rgds,

Eng

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I sure as hell wouldn't have noticed the undersized fin! This sure looks like a Mk. 3 and a beautifully built one at that!

Excellent job!!!

JR

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Cheers for all the cool feedback everyone. Have just noticed I've missed painting the "eyelids" that cover the LRMTS in the nose! Initially I felt this kit sat rather nose high (the ventral fin being a bit close to the ground) but the nose leg is identical to the other Airfix Harriers I've built, and next to them it's not so noticeable. Also I don't know if historically it's accurate as I believe only a couple of GR.3's chucked LGB's in the Falklands, and I'm not sure if this aircraft is one of them. I found a pic in one of my books in black and white that clearly shows an LGB armed GR on a wet carrier deck but you cannot make out the aircraft number or reg. Looks better than rocket pods or empty pylons though

Crackin' job there Sir.

What colours did you use in the end?

Thanks again & ATB....

Riggers, the colours are both Tamiya - Dark Sea Grey and Dark Green, both lightened for airbrushing with a tiny spot of white. A slightly lightened main colour was then used to break up the overall colour and make it look a bit faded. After decalling, pale grey pastel was scrubbed into the Matt finish in random spots to further tone down the Camo and take the sharpness out of the roundels. Pastels were also used for the vortex generator dirt streaks and general grime. The jet efflux was Tamiya smoke with a hint of NATO black added and thinned, airbrushed on this dried slightly glossy leaving it looking slightly oily which was perfect.

Thanks again folks,

Eng

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