desmojen Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 My next build, the Airfix 1/24 scale Harrier GR1 :fanfare: Bought at IPMS Avon for just £22, JM and palacefellow may remember me buckling under the weight of the box in the afternoon. It's a bloody big model, with a lot of bits and I rather foolishly volunteered to build it in time for Telford for the CBK SIG stand I spent some time deliberating on the contents of the box and decided I coudln't build such a large model without updating some of the details a tad. I decided on the Flightpath set, which Bill furnished me with and I also joined the Harrier SIG for the photos and for Nick Greenalls help (and he has been a lot of help, top bloke!) The Flightpath set is a lot of money at £60 but boy do you get a lot for your money. I couldn't believe the weight of the box! There are four or five A5 sheets of etched brass, a stack of white metal bits and even some resin. It certainly compares favourably with an Eduard Big Ed set. Ok, where to start then? Well apparently I was to make a new cockpit tub out of etch. And a seat I won't go into great details, but suffice to say that it aint easy. I've been on this all week, and I'm only just seeing the light at the end of the make a new ejector seat tunnel. The Flightpath instructions are really hard to follow, and the brass is really hard to cut as it is quite thick. I also think that some things are better not made from brass. Because of this I have replaced various things with rod and wire. The set is pretty poor when it comes to the seatbelts, and makes no attempt to replicate the parachute harness at all. I have made this myself, and remade belts from lead foil. I thought when I bought the Flightpath set that it would contain a lot of extra cockpit detail. I was sadly mistaken. There is little included other than the seat and IP, and what is included is either a) next to impossible to make wrong c) too big or d) all of the above. Pretty annoying when you've paid so much money for it I had no choice but to make it myself, so I referred to the Datafile, Nick Greenalls big Harrier build and another in progress big Harrier build by someone called Shar67 to make a bit of sidewall detail. Here's where I've got it to, It's all made of bits of plasticard, stretched sprue and lead wire. A spare 1/72 Hurricane instrument panel yielded the dials for the little pod. I'm pretty happy with it now. It still looks a bit bare, but most of what's there in my pictures I have replicated after a fashion. That interior is now painted and fitted to the fuselage. Not being one for AMS, I painted it RLM66 Since then I've mostly been buggering about with the intakes. I started by opening out the kit door shapes, only to find out after I had done it that they were the wrong shapes. I corrected the shapes, put the ducting in and fitted one, only to find that it was still wrong because you are supposed to be able to see the intake compressor blades through them. I've pulled that one back off (thank god for superglue) and have now modified the other one to what I hope is pretty much right. Even if it isn't, it's as far as I'm going with it. I only have three weeks to finish the model after all! Those pics show the intake as it is now. The left one is done and needs the ducting adding before I can glue it on. I just cut the right one apart to start it. Am I mad as a mentalguru or what? Jen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Am I mad as a mentalguru or what? Jen. Quite possibly barking, but its looking good Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHREAK Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Certifiable is the correct term Jen.....you really must try and get out more, the daylight will do you some good. Looking good so far....it's not too late to convert it to a T2 ya know....G-VTOL, loved that aircarft in civvy sand and brown! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entlim Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 watching with interest.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 That's quite a start you've made there Jen but 3 weeks to go!?! 'kin hell girl you don't like to make things easy for yourself, do you? Good luck, we'll all be watching you create a masterpiece in record time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary West Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Yup lovely early Harriers - nice n shiny. That's splendid work so far on the seat and pit Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Go Jen! You're insane child! Good luck though, looks like you're off to a good start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_in_Fremont Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I saw one in 1/32 that I thought was big, but 1/24??? In three weeks?!??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchet Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Ambitious Jen Looking good tho', I hope you get it finished. Was the twin-SNEB on the outboards a standard load, 'cuz that looks cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalguru Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Jen- you're a nutter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desmojen Posted October 16, 2007 Author Share Posted October 16, 2007 Thanks boys! I admit it is a tad ambitious, maybe.................... The cockpit is mostly done though, and once I get the second intake modded and on, it should be fairly plane sailing I think. (famous last words) Jen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markc Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 a tad ambitious, maybe.................... Ah, a true desiple to the rapidly dying art of understatement. Good on ya! Hope your build goes trouble free and look forward to seeing the finished article at Telford...... no pressure now. Cheers MarkC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dswoofie Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Definitely looking very good so far, you've got your work cut out for you to finish in three weeks haven't you! Keep it up though, I'm sure you can do it! I look forward to seeing it at Telford anyway! Karl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Superb start Jen, Best of luck and keep at it. It will make up into a beauty. Are you going to open up a few panels too Nice one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bennygman Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Nice one Jen - that seat looks pretty damn good all primed up. Hope you've got plenty of leave in the next couple of weeks. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Inspiration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousAA72 Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Nice Jen, Nice! really looking forward to see this progress!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desmojen Posted October 16, 2007 Author Share Posted October 16, 2007 Inspiration Bee-ave Loki! I must admit, I did have grand ideas of detailing the wheel wells up properly, but I had to get realistic bearing the time frame in mind. I glued all the doors shut and now you can't see in at all! Here's a thing though. That model is a beauty, and solves the issue of the badly fitting engine panel. BUT - the Harrier has a one piece wing, is it possible in reality to see the engine like that without removing the wing? I think not! Jen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Ah, 1st generation Harriers - my favourite; with the exception of the Hurricane, of course. Looking good so far, can't wait to see the finished model. Won't be able to make it to Telford, so it just goes to show that the internet does have a purpose after all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I'll be looking out for it on the Harrier SIG stand! Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx6667 Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 JM and palacefellow may remember me buckling under the weight of the box in the afternoon. Yeah, was going to offer to help carry it, but then thought, you know Female Eunuch and all that, decided not to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entlim Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Ambitious. I made a start on the big Shar last year but got quickly burned out filling all those bleedin rivets allover the place. I take it, you're gonna leave 'em be (cos 3 wks ain't nowhere near long enough for all the fill, sand, prime, repeat....). Still you've made a grand start and the bang seat looks t'riffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamEM Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I've just finished a SHAR only realising afterwards there's no square holes on the air intakes by Tamiya 1/48 but it was only 6 quid off ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx6667 Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I made a start on the big Shar last year but got quickly burned out filling all those bleedin rivets allover the place. I dunno, having crawled over HARs and SHARs, those rivets are on the real thing, so the kit surface detail captures my impression of the real thing. 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