neil5208 Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 (edited) 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. IMGA0419 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. IMGA0421 by neil Connor, on Flickr 1 Sqn in Norwegian exercise winter camo 2. IMGA0422 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 IMGA0423 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0426 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0428 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0427 by neil Connor, on Flickr Not sure the canopy will fit of the revell pilots head Edited October 20, 2018 by neil5208 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 One of those guys is going to have surgery before he can fit! Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 2, 2018 Author Share Posted October 2, 2018 (edited) 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 October 2, 2018 by neil5208 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 3, 2018 Author Share Posted October 3, 2018 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. IMGA0432 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0433 by neil Connor, on Flickr Less filler than the first one I did but still a fair amount for this scale IMGA0434 by neil Connor, on Flickr Modified tail IMGA0438 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0439 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. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Fuel tanks and SNEBS were the standard fit when I was in Belize 91/92/93. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 4 SNEBS looks much cooler than just 2 though 😎 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 Will now be a.German based aircraft so 4 snebs it is, and will get a third Harrier for the Norwegian winter camouflage 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 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. IMGA0442 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. IMGA0440 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0441 by neil Connor, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 6, 2018 Author Share Posted October 6, 2018 Air brake has been fitted, only minor cutting to rear fuselage needed. The vertical tail plane has been re-profiled and fitted. IMGA0443 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0444 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0445 by neil Connor, on Flickr Just need to finish painting the pilot and seat before I can go on and start the main painting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gondor44 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 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 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 1 hour ago, 71chally said: Nice work Neil, I do enjoy a GR.3 build That handy this one will be joined by another GR3 later this week in the artic camo scheme 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 Does anyone have an Airfix Harrier GR3 vertical tail plane spare, the second kit I ordered is a GR1 but i assumed it would have the GR3 larts as the GR3 kit has the GR1 bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R159 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 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 IMGA0458 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. IMGA0456 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0457 by neil Connor, on Flickr 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Slow progress is better than no progress. Stuart 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 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? IMGA0460 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0459 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0462 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0461 by neil Connor, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturmovik Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 (edited) 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 October 26, 2018 by Sturmovik 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 (edited) 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 October 26, 2018 by neil5208 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Great job on the camo and red fin! Say, is it possible to purchase the markings for the Norwegian winter exercise variant? I managed to destroy mines a few years back but haven't gotten around to complete the model... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 Hannants xtradecal sheet is avalaible for gr1 and gr3 both have the scheme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Nice work Neil. The red looks fine to me but might be worth comparing it to the red of the decals for a match. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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