Andwil Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 (edited) Hi all. As I wait for the paint I need for my Buffalo I thought I would start another kit. Italeri’s 1/72 Sea Harrier, which I believe was originally issued by Esci and was highly thought of at the time. This will be a straight forward out of the box build, no resin or PE. I will be doing the top one here: Sprues: L Finely engraved detail and very little flash, there a few ejector pins to be filled. My only quibble is with the main undercarriage leg which has to be attached as the fuselage is closed up which makes adjustment for a level sit impossible, so 🤞everything lines up. Also the auxiliary intake doors are moulded closed and will need to be opened out. Made a start cleaning up parts and filling the ejector pin holes: Wings assembled and rear fuselage closed up: Started on opening up the intake doors (a bit rough at the moment): AW Edited June 4, 2020 by Andwil 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Always personally delighted to see a Sea Harrier kit being built and you're off to a good start with this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moaning dolphin Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 I do like this kit, on a par with the Hasegawa version, sometimes the older ones are the best. Just a chore with those darned intake doors! Very nice progress so far, looking forward to seeing this one through! Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 I do love a sea harrier, first kit I was every bought. Nice scheme choice as well very attractive! Rib 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 13 hours ago, moaning dolphin said: I do like this kit, on a par with the Hasegawa version, sometimes the older ones are the best. Just a chore with those darned intake doors! Very nice progress so far, looking forward to seeing this one through! Bob Thanks Bob, I hope I can do it justice. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 6, 2020 Author Share Posted April 6, 2020 No pics sorry, but spent some more time today cleaning up parts, working on seams and a small step I got in the fuselage join and assembled the jet nozzles. Going for a modular construction approach as I am hoping I can attach the wing after painting as this will make masking a whole lot easier. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 More work today on the seams, I also filled the locating holes in the wing for the outboard pylons and the slot in the belly for the centre line pylon as I will only be fitting the inboard wing pylons. A sink mark on the fuselage top also filled: Jet nozzles cleaned up: I will give these parts a shot of primer to say what further work is required. AW 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Good progress AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackem01 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 This is going nice and briskly, excellent start. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Gave the seams a shot of primer, as expected more work required. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Cockpit painted and the kit decals applied for the instrument panel and side consoles. Seat with belts from a Tamiya tape just dry fitted at this stage. AW 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Nice cockpit, I can see why the kit had a good reputation when it was first released. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 14 hours ago, Alan P said: Nice cockpit, I can see why the kit had a good reputation when it was first released. Actually, looking at the photos again I think I may have put the console decals on the wrong sides. I followed the instructions and life size they are quite small, but seeing them enlarged in close up it looks like there is a representation of the throttle/nozzle levers on the starboard side 🤭. Still I don’t think it will be noticeable once it’s all closed up. AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Great job aw, its still a nice kit, I'm throwing the gr3 falklands version of this together atm as a less complicated distraction, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Did a bit more work on an annoying fuselage seam today. Every time I’ve sanded it away when I shoot some primer over it to check, there it is back again. AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 I hope you don't take this as a patronising suggestion, but do a quick check to be sure it's still cemented properly, I had this with an airliner fuselage once and it was driving me nuts. In the end I checked by squeezing the fuse slightly and it had split apart! No wonder the putty wouldn't stay covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 I don’t think that’s the problem, I’m just not very good at sanding! I think I have it licked now. AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Oh okay then 😂 good luck getting it done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Assembled the nose component today. I put a bit of spruce under the cockpit tub to hold it level as Italeri helpfully only provide a location ridge on the starboard nose half. Couldn’t resist a dry fit of all the major parts: AW 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted April 21, 2020 Author Share Posted April 21, 2020 Managed some more work on the Harrier while wrestling with the Buffalo’s canopy. Fan painted aluminium and given a black wash: The smudge on the side will hidden behind the intake ducting. Nose attached to the main part of the fuselage, intakes added and work started on making up the auxiliary intakes with tiny pieces of plastic card: I’ll let that lot harden over night and then clean it up and sand it smooth. AW 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted May 3, 2020 Author Share Posted May 3, 2020 I have been progressing this build slowly between work on other (mostly 1:1) projects, but haven’t been posting any updates. So here is what has been happening since the last post. Made up the HUD using the kit glass part and adding a lens from a slice thin rod sanded into a dome shape and painted with Tamiya clear green over silver: Glued in the seat: Masked the canopy and attached it with Formula 560 canopy glue: Primed and sprayed the undersides with Vallejo white: AW 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 A good leap forward on this one, really good to see! Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share Posted May 5, 2020 Unfortunately I have had to put this build on hold as I need a new nozzle for my airbrush and all the local suppliers are out of stock. Consequently I may not have this finished in time for inclusion in the group build as the part has to come from China, and in the current situation that could be months away. AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted May 5, 2020 Share Posted May 5, 2020 That’s really frustrating as you were getting this under control. I hope it gets here in good time for you. Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 After a bit of a delay brought about by my airbrush problems (see my Marine a Buffalo thread for the whole sorry tale) today I was able to give the upper surfaces a shot of EDSG: The coat of Future equivalent is still wet in these shots. Hopeful now of completion by the deadline. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now