Jump to content

Sea Harrier ***Finished***


Andwil

Recommended Posts

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.

 

49723247462_637c0c0c57_b.jpg

 

This will be a straight forward out of the box build, no resin or PE.  I will be doing the top one here:

 

49723246907_52ef07f86f_b.jpg

 

Sprues:

 

L

49722393708_9a55d9c9d0_b.jpg

 

49723247072_db0b1098b5_b.jpg

 

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.
 

49722932581_d083b5a02d_b.jpg

 

 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:

 

49722393153_3b8a53a00c_b.jpg

 

Wings assembled and rear fuselage closed up:

 

49722932476_d25ee2c284_b.jpg

 

49722932256_c068625b0a_b.jpg

 

49722392698_8e30e2e130_b.jpg

 

Started on opening up the intake doors (a bit rough at the moment):

 

49722392473_4c49766788_b.jpg


AW

Edited by Andwil
  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Always personally delighted to see a Sea Harrier kit being built and you're off to a good start with this one :thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

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 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.

 

49745618162_acd1c56a08_b.jpg

 

49745618142_cd7defe4e5_b.jpg


A sink mark on the fuselage top also filled:

 

49744750193_be4d31222d_b.jpg

 

Jet nozzles cleaned up:

 

49745617722_a157cf53bf_b.jpg

 

I will give these parts a shot of primer to say what further work is required.

 

AW

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

 

49755455008_c5684ae3df_b.jpg

 

49755982256_7400dbe79c_b.jpg

 

AW

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Confused 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

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.

 

49767523118_135bfd5009_b.jpg

 

49767523008_d7c554121d_b.jpg

 

Couldn’t resist a dry fit of all the major parts:

 

49768055216_42e0885a7a_b.jpg

 

AW

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Managed some more work on the Harrier while wrestling with the Buffalo’s canopy.

 

Fan painted aluminium and given a black wash:

 

49791880151_500047ee5d_b.jpg

 

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:

 

49800316458_9b623a5df4_b.jpg 49800863576_0e62906530_b.jpg

 

I’ll let that lot harden over night and then clean it up and sand it smooth.

 

AW

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

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:

 

49849046056_8a360de939_b.jpg

 

Glued in the seat:

 

49849338452_a898047e17_b.jpg

 

Masked the canopy and attached it with Formula 560 canopy glue:

 

49849338632_85dab4c718_b.jpg

 

Primed and sprayed the undersides with Vallejo white:

 

49848497588_f719a2facc_b.jpg

 

49849030111_46d461be8f_b.jpg

 

AW

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

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:

 

49911373963_9007694da9_b.jpg

 

49911374088_70c8bfe1b5_b.jpg

 

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

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...