dswoofie Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Here's my Xtrakit 1/72 Sea Harrier that I have recently finished. To say it was a battle was an understatement! I fought every step of the way, and nearly defeated me when it came to the canopy. Plently of filling. sanding and re-scribing was required all round to make anything near decent. It is done straight out of the box apart from some scratchbuilt intake blanks which were easier to make that sorting out the insides of the intakes Anyway, here's a very brief idea of the main issues encountered along the way... First up is the above mentioned intakes. They were lumpy and bumpy with sink marks all over the insides, and there was a reasonable gap when fitted which would have needed lots of filling to smooth out. Then there was the canopy which was too large for the kit!? It was about 1-2mm too long, and about 2-3mm too wide to fit on there. It needed quite a lot of encouragement to be squeezed together to meet up with the fuselage sides. CA was needed to get the thing to stick on there properly with the pressure involved. This caused some crazing in the windscreen on the left hand side, but I'll put that down to a bird strike The length issues were resolved by filling in the gap under the windscreen and re-shaping it out. A real nasty job overall that nearly ended up binning the entire thing. Here's the canopy parts lined up on the left hand side... and the overhang on the right hand side... (you can see the fuselage edge inside the frame painted black... and look at it over the intakes ) There were quite a few other niggly bits as well, but were easy enough to put right... just very time consuming! The build was done for the Promodeller.com site, and there is a complete photo build available on the home page there. Here's the finished article. The intake blanks were scratchbuilt and then cast up in resin. These will soon be available in the Jenesis Designs range that will be available from modelsforsale.com Let me know what you think! Karl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 You sure tamed that one Karl, she looks a beaut, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Considering what I've read about this kit, your build is top moumoutte! Very nice! Congratulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Lovely, you wouldn't guess it was 1/72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenDragon Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Damn fine job there Karl! I really think I'd have binned it and I love those intake blanks! Best one I've seen built. Paul Harrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Mmmmmm, Shar Fantastic build buddy, the exhaust staining looks great, and those intake blanks are sweet! Might have to pick up a set when it comes to my own build of the new Airfix kit (I chickened out of this one and decided to wait ) Are the decals from the box? I have an MA sheet with the same markings which I'm planning to use on said Airfix kit PS will you be bringing her to the Avon show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hi Karl beautiful build with Shaun on the intake covers too- they look really sweet! will have to try to remember to check out the build one thing though, the radome to fuselage join/angle seems a bit weird to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mureth Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Utterly stunning build of what looks to be an almost unbuildable kit! I'm waiting for the Airfix one too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skii Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 ooof thats ruddy gorgeous! The intake blanks look fabulous as well , very authentic Great job Karl ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dswoofie Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 one thing though, the radome to fuselage join/angle seems a bit weird to me Yes, there is quite a few shape issues at the front end IMO. The join between the cockpit section and the main fuselage was pretty vague and does result in a sort of bent look to the whole thing! Karl. Oh, and Shaun, yes it will come along for the Avon show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Silk purse from a sows ear! Nice job. Seeing that canopy I am glad I sold mine, no way would I have worked with it! Would say a canopy from FRS.1 work in place of the kit one? Julien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmk.6john Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Such a shame about the canopy but what a finish, she looks gorgeous, one to be very proud of mate. Regards, JB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Mullen Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Cracking build Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I think you have done a spectacular job considering the kit you were working with, the intakes look fantastic too, nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) Such a shame about the canopy but what a finish, she looks gorgeous, one to be very proud of mate.Regards, JB. I agree with JB, great job Karl and shame about the clear parts. I think I will wait for the Airfix offering (just hope it is not a Xtrakit rebox!). Edited August 24, 2009 by TrojanThunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRUSKY1965 Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Very nice one! A fine work in a so small plane. The paint and weathering are awesome! Congratulations! Regards. TRUSKY1965. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuflyer Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 What they said: superb work :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Excellent stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windy Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Lovely build from a crappy kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Superb work, the weathering and the intake covers really set it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I e-mailed Hannants a month or so ago and they sent me a replacement canopy that does fit. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Super build! I only hope the Xtrakit Scimitar goes together better. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dswoofie Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 I e-mailed Hannants a month or so ago and they sent me a replacement canopy that does fit.Tony I'm glad you mentioned this... I thought there was a replacement available, but was beginning to think I'd dreamed it up!! Unfortunately I found out about it too late though. Karl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousER99 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Way to go dude! Cracking build other than that canopy and windshield. Some things just can't be fixed can they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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