Silenoz Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) Everybody is familiar with the Harrier a VSTOL (vertical/short take-off and landing)aircraft of British origin. The Harrier II was a planned upgrade to adress some range problems and augment the weaponsload that could be carried. One of the upgrades was for the engine, but due to a bigger size, it couldn't be mounted in the original airframe, which would raise the costs (that already exceeded the planned costs) so the British left the joint program with the US. Albeit later on a new, enlarged, wing was ounted on the original airframe and bigger lerx'es. These basemodels were called Gr.5, succeeded by the GR.7 (new avionics, FLIR, day/night capacity, MFD and new navigational map), GR.7A (more power) and GR.9 (more modern munition could be carried) The kit: the parts: A PE-set with cockpit details and antenna's I've started with thinnng certain edges: Just some scraping with a tip of a knife. If no good, these can be completely replaced with PE. The same for the steerable exhausts: The wings needs an extra panel to add (to preven shrinkmarks), but this results in a large seam. I've filled it with glue and plastic shaving dust After that I've started with the cockpit: Sideconsoles are painted paper approx1mm x 1,5 ongeveer, looks messy (it is too, but I've used CA, so it is fixed...), And next the instrument panel: For size comparison and installed To be continued... Edited January 28, 2022 by Silenoz 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted August 25, 2021 Author Share Posted August 25, 2021 (edited) Time for an experiment... Some pictures show the airbrake drooped down, so I've started cutting/chiseling the area out: Then traced the contours with a paper and pencil. The darker line is where to cut Next up is bending and cutting to fit the opening. and some dryfitting and sanding later... and on the model: I'm happy with how that turned out... Edited August 25, 2021 by Silenoz 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 Some more progress: Added some missing antennas: on the left side (As far as I can find, these are only on this side, not both sides?) and the vane below the tail: Also tried to deepen the hollow for the airbrake, but the plastic was to thin (or my opening too deep...) So removed the inside completely and added some backing plate, and some inside reinforcements. This unfortunately didn't work out without making a hole on the other side to push it down 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 Anybody has some good references of what the load-out would be for an aircraft participating in exercises in Norway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 Progress is little lately... Some PE to the landing gear: and made a start to the sidewinders: other info about armarment is still welcome. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 My monologue continous Second missile is also a fact, the first ons us "easy", to get the second one equal... not so...difference is a half a mm The Retrokit intakes are installed for the parked position.... bit of a fit problem: So added some material to sand away: Next up the refueling probe, as per kit: So cut away at an angle and scraped round: And the other half installed, due to the slanted cut you have some raised borders, which is good... To be continued.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted September 24, 2021 Author Share Posted September 24, 2021 Been looking for a config for the weaponry, but choice is very limited. With the guns mounted instead of the strikes it seems only LAU-5002 or LAU-5003 launchers for unguided missiles are legit. These mostly had a streamlined cover at the front, which makes it more easy. So looking for dimensions and converted these to scale: Next up a piece of sprue of almost the right diameter, and using a drill (Sorry, no lathe, SWMBO would kick me out indefinitely unfortunately), sanding sticks and other ad hoc material to shape it: Next up the shape at ghe front and the back. The paper is to prevent the clamps making damage to the part Haven't forgotten to drill out the back, but no pics.. Engravings have been changed to more equal spacing... The canopy was ordered in a vacuum version from Brengun, but it arrived dented... leaving white markings at the outside surfaces... So only option is to bin it... We'll see how to cope with that 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted October 6, 2021 Author Share Posted October 6, 2021 The canopy was intended to be replaced by a vacform from brengun, but this one arrived dented (with white markings.. so unusable) kit cockpit: Wooden mold: Just sanded to shape and made as smooth as possible. Next up some clear packaging (Revell kit + paint to the rescue) Next up, heating and pulling it over the mold. and dryfit: almost there... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted November 4, 2021 Author Share Posted November 4, 2021 Finally a satisfying canopy... attempt 5 or 6, with the "prominent" recesses at the rear: Should remove the vents on top as these are a whole lot smaller, or there are two different versions... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted December 21, 2021 Author Share Posted December 21, 2021 (edited) and some progress in this monologue here... First two colors are on, medium sea grey and dark sea grey... but these seemed way to dark straight from the paintjar... so some mixing later First coat: Mix OF Barley grey, medium sea grey and white: Next up a few hours of taping And the second color Dark sea greay, medium sea gray and white Unpacking, which luckilily went a lot smoother: Two more colors to go... Edited December 21, 2021 by Silenoz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Tip Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 Sorry to barge in on the monologue I am by no means a Harrier expert (by BM's standards, not an expert at all) but I'm not quite sure about the main canopy, seems a little wide... maybe if you take your windshield part which looks like an excellent fit and use the kit part minus the kit windshield? Can't help with the armament, sorry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted December 21, 2021 Author Share Posted December 21, 2021 Hello, thx for the intrusion 😉 The canopy can be glued in the open position. The backpart with the cut-outs is a bit wide, true, but I think I will leave it as it is at the moment. Armament has been cleared for a Gr.7... not a lot... a Gr.9 gives more posibilities.. Maybe with the Rise144 kit as an example for the next one (https://www.rise144models.com/1-144-Harrier-GR7-9-armament-kit-d22.htm) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted December 27, 2021 Author Share Posted December 27, 2021 On some other painting instructions the leading edges have a different color, so more tape: And then some handbrushing with vallejo, I didn't dare to use the AB for this: So on to the wintercamo Next : And after unpacking: I'm rather happy, despite that I keep thinking the dark sea grey is way to dark... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted December 28, 2021 Author Share Posted December 28, 2021 Last nights work, handpainting the missiles: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 (edited) Some progress: Added the decals: Misplaced the decals for the droptank, so tried it with the AB: Luckily there aren't that much decals.. Started the bang seat. Only 6 parts... spent most of the evening on my knees.. Searching for parts thus.... Size: But in the end: And installed: An overview so far... Edited January 20, 2022 by Silenoz 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 Windshield and IFR-probe are installed... The IFR-probe needed to be lengthened and made a bit thicker to make da fifference between the outer tube and inner tube. I didn't use slide-fit tubes, because of the tip part that would be to weak. So I turned to a paper mantelet rolled around the contour. The windshield gave me the most problems... First attempt was good... but when looked from above it was slightly angled with regards to the axle of the aircraft... So broke it away, reattempted it, which resulted in a bit of fogging on the inside trying to fill the gaps... So there was a third and fourth attempt... Still need to clean the edges, but... it is there... Here with the CA Here is the last attempt Need to be cleaned in a bit more. And I've installed the rearview mirrors in the sliding part of the canopy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 (edited) Hopefully some nice weather soon for pics in RFI: Some hard times getting the windshield mounted afterwards... i don't dare to sand it further to avoid extra damage... Thx for interest Edited January 28, 2022 by Silenoz 4 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