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BAE Harrier GR3 x2


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Morning All.

As I still have another 20 days before the B17 STGB starts I made a start on another Airfix kit, this time the new tool BAE Harrier GR3. Pick up from Ebay for £5.99+postage due to the control column and pilot being missing both of which I had left over from the other one I built 4-5 models ago. I have the Xtradecal sheet that I used for the 3 Sqn aircraft I made before so plenty of options.

45023348681_25e5267d4b_h.jpgIMGA0419 by neil Connor, on Flickr

 

The plan for this one will be in flight on a range sortie, firing SNEB rockets from 4 pods as seen in quite a few video clips from the 80's. The only decision I have not yet made is the range location. It could be UK or Belize, this give me 2 marking options.

1.

44304186884_041ce4e9b6_h.jpgIMGA0421 by neil Connor, on Flickr

1 Sqn in Norwegian exercise winter camo

 

2.

44304187454_6e0cce2d98_z.jpgIMGA0422 by neil Connor, on Flickr

1473 Flight based in Belize, I was based in Belize for 6 1/2 months and watched the RAF set fire to the live fire training area with rockets and bombs and then spent 3 hours putting them out with fire beaters.

 

Made a start on the cockpit and tested pilots for fit, the painted one is a revell figure and just looks like a giant compared to the airfix pilot

45023348421_486a5ec12e_h.jpgIMGA0423 by neil Connor, on Flickr

45023349331_a10902f1b3_h.jpgIMGA0426 by neil Connor, on Flickr

44304187754_938bc5b53a_h.jpgIMGA0428 by neil Connor, on Flickr

44304187184_3eae22cb47_h.jpgIMGA0427 by neil Connor, on Flickr

Not sure the canopy will fit of the revell pilots head

Edited by neil5208
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I have this in the stash, might even be my next build. I think your aircrew selection process may have gone slightly awry though, that lanky chap would be much better suited to Tornados than Harriers!

 

Good work getting this for £5.99 too, I think mine was about a tenner! Looking forward to seeing your build.

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Ohhh, nice!

Please do the Norwegian excercise one. I tried to do that 3 years a go, but it stalled badly when I tried to mask over the decals in order to paint the white distemper.

If you finish yours that way, maybe that'll give me a kick in the behinds to finish mine?

 

Some strategic thinning on the pilot is needed by the looks of it...

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After looking at as many photos and videos as I can find on the web and the Harrier Boys book I have come to the conclusion I can't do the Norwegian camo scheme as the only pictures show the smaller fuel tanks fitted and after thinking about the Belizian aircraft I saw, they had snebs on tbe outrr pylons and bombs (bl755?'s) onthe inner pylons. So I am switching to a German based aircraft possibly 3 Sqn again, late 1980's wrap around camo.

sounds like a good excuse for a third Harrier to be bought!

Edited by neil5208
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There's a lot to be said about Airfix's Harriers, the old tool ones were quite poor and the new tool ones are probably the best in 1/72 but it still annoying having to trim and fill so much. Progress has been fairly quick, fuselage is together, filled and re-scribed. Wings are on and the vertical tail has had 1.5mm added above the antenna to get the correct height, still needs further profiling. The 8mm acrylic rod has been filed to slot into the rear landing strut position so no additional holes will need to be made. I quickly mocked up the starbord wing pylons and sneb pods to see how it should look when finished.

31209428138_44646850a1_h.jpgIMGA0432 by neil Connor, on Flickr

30145647647_e237792602_h.jpgIMGA0433 by neil Connor, on Flickr

Less filler than the first one I did but still a fair amount for this scale

45082619341_3a35aa41bd_h.jpgIMGA0434 by neil Connor, on Flickr

Modified tail

30145647957_c3f6913dd8_h.jpgIMGA0438 by neil Connor, on Flickr

31209427438_44d1272a1e_h.jpgIMGA0439 by neil Connor, on Flickr

Mocked up on pole, I have another piece of polystyrene for the base but I will need the learn how to do grass and mud etc.

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So it will be 3 Sqn's Red tailed "V", RAF Gutersloh 1989, another place I served although much later when it was Princess Royal Barraks with 1 Regt AAC. There was still a Harrier in the jet engine test bay of the end of the runway in 1999.

45053418602_9275b5e63a_h.jpgIMGA0442 by neil Connor, on Flickr

Next problem is the air brake, Airfix would have this in the fully open or half open position not fully closed. I went to fit fully closed but the opening in the fuselage is to short and narrow for the supplied so it looks like I will have to open up the fuselage. The pencil lines shows the deficiency.

43288767000_ab9e9dc42f_h.jpgIMGA0440 by neil Connor, on Flickr

45053418182_db9c238ac7_h.jpgIMGA0441 by neil Connor, on Flickr

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Air brake has been fitted, only minor cutting to rear fuselage needed. The vertical tail plane has been re-profiled and fitted.

44417965764_448f29dded_h.jpgIMGA0443 by neil Connor, on Flickr

45089882572_cfb9472c17_h.jpgIMGA0444 by neil Connor, on Flickr

44417965294_7b2cb69522_h.jpgIMGA0445 by neil Connor, on Flickr

Just need to finish painting the pilot and seat before I can go on and start the main painting

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Your fin tip extension is wrong unfortunately. What is wrong with the Airfix GR3 fin it the tip is a little short at the rear of the dielectric panel at the top, not the overall height which is what you have changed.

 

Gondor

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Airfix did get the fin height wrong on the GR.3 kit as they based it on the GR.1 kit.

When the RWR was added the fin was extended 6" in height above it.  This also causes a knock-on slight shape issue with the Airfix fin.

 

Nice work Neil, I do enjoy a GR.3 build

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For info the GR3 airbrake was larger than the 'hole', the GR1 did fit more inside, watching this closely as I'm about to attempt the original airfix verision and I think I'll have the opposite problem

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3 hours ago, R159 said:

For info the GR3 airbrake was larger than the 'hole', the GR1 did fit more inside, watching this closely as I'm about to attempt the original airfix verision and I think I'll have the opposite problem

yes but looking at pictures of gr3 inflight the airbrake is flush with fuselage

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Progress has been slow due to early starts and job interviews but I start new permanent job next week.

Harrier no1 has had its first coat of primer

45455274301_90219c597a_h.jpgIMGA0458 by neil Connor, on Flickr

Harrier no2 had some resin ordered for it. CMK's GR3 flap set which looks nice but was designed for the older tool Airfix Harrier but looks like it will fit just fine and Pavla Martin Baker mk9 seat so much better than the flat kit part.

45455274141_c9047345e4_h.jpgIMGA0456 by neil Connor, on Flickr

31580074648_f580e76989_h.jpgIMGA0457 by neil Connor, on Flickr

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Slow progress still, after masking (nearly 5 hours work its such a complicated shape compared to ww2 aircraft) the Harrier I finished of the main spray work. Some minor touch ups to do and I not sure if the red tail is bright enough may have to add some more yellow to the mix, what do you think?

31688490748_c32eb06dbc_h.jpgIMGA0460 by neil Connor, on Flickr

31688490988_cab08d768f_h.jpgIMGA0459 by neil Connor, on Flickr

44646854115_37fdb7cbf1_h.jpgIMGA0462 by neil Connor, on Flickr

44646853925_0c97643c60_h.jpgIMGA0461 by neil Connor, on Flickr

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Modelling at 05:30AM London time? That´s what I call dedication.

What was the real life purpose of continuing the camouflage on the undersides of the aircraft?

Edited by Sturmovik
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All Raf aircraft had the wrap around camo from early 80's presumably due to the low level operations that they generaly flew. Not to disappoint by I did this last night, just getting ready to walk the dogs now so uploaded whilst drinking first cup of tea!

Edited by neil5208
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