Jump to content

Falklands Harrier GR.3


Harry_the_Spider

Recommended Posts

After my SHAR I'm going to do a GR.3 from HMS Hermes. XV744 or ZX988. Not sure which yet. 744 is a Tangmere and I'll be seeing it next year, 988 was brought down during the Falklands war but the pilot survived.

 

A question... Would it have had a re-fuelling probe? There's one in the box but I'm not sure if it was fitted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The bolt-on probe was not used while the aircraft operated from the carriers, so if you want to depict your model at that time do not use it.

However the same GR.3s used the probes during the flight from Britain to Ascension, that was the first leg of the journey to the Falklands. XZ988 flew on May 5th to Ascension and from there reached Hermes aboard MV Atlantic Conveyor, arriving on May 18th.

 

XV744 did not take part in the war, so was not on Hermes. She may have carried the probe at some time during her life as a GR.3 or may not.

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're depicting the ferry configuration you'll want the ferry tanks as on my model. I'll try to turn up a reference photo in a day or two.

 

spacer.png

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, I’m doing it with a bomb load so it will be operational rather than in transit. Won’t fit the probe.

 

Out of interest, does anyone know what Bob Iveson in XZ988 was carrying on the mission where he was shot down?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Harry_the_Spider said:

Thanks, I’m doing it with a bomb load so it will be operational rather than in transit. Won’t fit the probe.

 

Out of interest, does anyone know what Bob Iveson in XZ988 was carrying on the mission where he was shot down?

BL755 cluster bombs.

 

Selwyn

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Dk Green. If it helps, all 4 u/c bays (dirty, especially the main gear bay) gloss white with generally dk grey fitments.

One watchout on the 100-gal tanks - stencils only ever applied to their port sides, even that fitted on the starboard side. 

 

Which kit are you using? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An annoying feature of this kit is the presence under the wings of bulges under the outer pylons.. the bulges did exist on the Harrier but were in place only when the pylons were not installed. They are easy to remove but then the corresponding "cavity" in the pylon must be filled... or since they are on the lower surfaces you may forget about them....

The cockpit is indeed pretty bare and the seat is only a rough representation of the Stencel used on the US variants.

Not an error per se, but I'd have liked to have the auxiliary intakes in the part open-part closed configuration typical of an aircraft on the ground with engine off, while Esci moulded them closed. Pavla did resin intakes that are direct replacement for the kit parts if you want to address this. The same Pavla also have an MB Mk.9 seat... that if I understand right represents the variant used on the Jaguar rather than the Harrier one but in any case is much better looking than the kit seat.

With all this said, I share James' view on this kit and on the Esci "metal wing" Harrier family, they are really pretty nice ! So much that I have several of the 3 variants they produced, some in Italeri boxes and others in original Esci ones. I should really build them all....

  • Like 4
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...