Tim Moff Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval short take-off and vertical landing/vertical take-off and landing jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft; the second member of the Harrier Jump Jet family developed. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar". Unusual in an era in which most naval and land-based air superiority fighters were large and supersonic, the principal role of the subsonic Sea Harrier was to provide air defence of Royal Navy aircraft carriers. The Sea Harrier served in the Falklands War, both of the Gulf Wars, and the Balkans conflicts; on all occasions it mainly operated from aircraft carriers positioned within the conflict zone. Its usage in the Falklands War was its most high profile and important success, where it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force. The Sea Harriers shot down 20 enemy aircraft during the conflict with one lost to enemy ground fire. They were also used to launch ground attacks in the same manner as the Harriers operated by the Royal Air Force. I have the Dogfight Double version of the kit - looks a nice kit, similar to the latest GR3/GR7/9 releases by Airfix, looks to be a newer tool? Will be built out of the box, although I do have some extra decals (Modeldecals sets 65 and 66) to build any SHAR from the Falklands....it may be prudent to to the aircraft pictured if I am going to build the skyhawk too at some stage. Funny thing, Pilot seems to be WW2 vintage! I shall use the skyhawk pilot in this case. Looking forward to building both Britain's last fight and last Bomber, the Buccaneer....also in Fleet Air Arm markings! Edited April 24, 2016 by Tim Moff 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh65 Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 I built this exact kit this time last year. The Skyhawk is a joy but I have mixed memories of the Shar. Generally minor fit issues but they all piled up and made for a bit of a pain of a build. Also, when you do the sidewinders, its best to expand the slots on the fins for a better fit. Its a still a good kit and a fun build though! Best of British seems appropriate! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 Great stuff - thanks for the tips...yes I think both the SHAR and the Buccaneer pretty much represent the best of British - last British fighter and bomber! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 Hi Tim, At least he appears to be paying attention - unlike my AV-8 pilot who has his hands on his knees!! Cheers for now Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimbledon99 Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Two Royal Navy birds from you Tim and one of them my all-time favourite aircraft. Nice choice 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Am definitely looking forward to watching this come together! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Got started on the Sea Jet, some great advice and help from Nick G as ever. I swapped the pilot with a Spit PR I had to try to transform into a Dave Morgan! Still a work in progress, going to use the kit decals and just get the pit sorted and in - not too worried about the pin marks and too much detail...... - not going to see too much once buttoned up. Have got the bellmouth/fan sorted/painted. Cracking on withe Skyhawk too (obviously not part of thr GB!!) Its a start - will tidy up the whole lot over the weekend hopefully. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Nice start Tim, I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes together, since the Airfix GR7/9 kit was a really fun build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Nice to see this one up and running Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 Pushing on with the prep before joining the fuselage: Bit of Tamiya tape action for seat belts, and a bit of plastic for the Seat Jets HUD. Obviously the A4 Skyhawk is NOT part of the GB!!! Hopefully get the fuselages closed soon!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Got em closed up! Crack on with the main build this week I hope. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Nice progress Tim, looks like the fit is good on both of these kits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Nice looking cockpits Tim, great british aircraft. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 Some work, mainly on the Sea Jet. As you can see the undercarriage doors are not really designed to be fitted closed, much the same with the airbrake! My badger and bodgeit approach doesnt help!! Nothing some filler won't hide! Got the wings on, fit ok but some rather trenchlike gaps at the front engine cover....more perfect plastic putty me thinks!! At least there is not a big step as I often hear modelers complain about....need to fill, get the intakes sprayed up on the inside and attached.....soon be ready to get the canopy fitted, dipped in Klear and masked for attachment then primer... Gonna try the Black Mr Surfacer and see how I get on with this Black Basing mullarky... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Getting on with the build, filling and sanding on the way with PPP. Oh....the nozzles of doom....every Harrier modellers nightmare...will do the best I can!! Oh - and the enemy Skyhawk is also on the way....had a bit of a fight with the intakes (should have followed the instructions and got them on before putting the engine gubbings in) so had to remove the locater lugs and use a bit of PPP. Wings built up. Need to fight the undercarriage doors and airbrakes next - also picked up on another thread the stand holes conflict with the centreline rail so need drilling further south. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh65 Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Forgot to mention that about the stand holes. You have to either move them or ditch the centre pylon. I went with the latter option as where it sits on the shelf you only see the topside anyway. And of course I'd already put the holes there when I noticed. Dry fitting be damned! On a serious note, I believe this would be considered a life lesson. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Thanks - yes I plan to put the holes back - pylon only as the bomb had been dropped before the shootdown. Always happy to receive life lessons!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh65 Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Thanks - yes I plan to put the holes back - pylon only as the bomb had been dropped before the shootdown. Always happy to receive life lessons!! Well, I received the life lesson on that one. You had clearly planned ahead in a sensible manner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Good job with the filling Tim. The ducts for the Harrier can be a real PITA on some of the Airfix kits though, but I'm sure you will soon knock them into shape. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Thanks - yes I toyed with getting some resin nozzles ( is ducts the correct term?) will see how it goes!! It's gone together fairly well all things considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Thanks - yes I toyed with getting some resin nozzles ( is ducts the correct term?)........ Sorry Tim, senior moment. Nozzles would be the best term for these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) Got the intakes on, most of the initial build now done. Need to get the windscreen and canopy masked up, then be time for some Mr Surfacer for the start of the black basing paint job....also saw a harrier build in Model Aircraft Mag, that used the technique and also some salt to create some hard edge spots....may give it a try!! Done the best I could with the Nozzles.....and got the rails based: Model Aircraft Harrier paint job pushing on with the Skyhawk too: Got to drill new holes for the stand as it fouls the bomb rail - need to measure up ad do that before priming. Edited February 20, 2016 by Tim Moff 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimbledon99 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Nice progress Looking forward to the colour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeyboy76 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Some good work in here Tim. Looking forward to your paint job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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