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Airfix's new Harrier GR9


AnonymousAA72

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The Medway Modelling Club spent a rather nice day at Margate today - as the guests of Messrs Hornby. A few things to report, first of all there were palettes of 1/72nd RAF Canadair Sabre F4 - which had just turned up - and NO they wouldn't let us check the boxes for them!

I'll post another couple of threads later, but here's a few pic's and thoughts on the new Harrier GR9/9a. (And NO I wasn't allowed to bring it home with me!)

The sprues.....Two in total with one clear

The wings...

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..and the fuselage

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Detail is getting a lot better. The panel lines seem to be a bit more restrained - overall though those on the nose still looked a bit deep.And an added bonus - it looks an awful lot more accurate than their SHAR1 and 2! The kit provides both 65% and 100% LERX's. You can also have the flaps and ailerons lowered - handy for an "in-flight/bowing farewell to the audience" model maybe?

The tanks look a decent shape and there's a good range of stores. No Aden pod's though....I daresay someone will come up with some resin items....

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65% LERX's...

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& 100% LERX's

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Not a great pic, but here's the canopy. The MDC is on the decal sheet - which wasn't available - but we were told that one of the schemes will need some Dark Green/Dark Sea Grey and Light Aircraft Grey paint!!

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And here's one that someone made earlier.......

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They said that April or May was a likely launch date............I can't wait!!!

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Looks like my model making renaissance continues apace with Airfix's renaissance! That certainly looks like it'll build into a nice representation of the Harrier and I'll definitely be handing over my money for one. Dare I utter such heretical words as to say it might be better than Hasegawa's Harrier II kits....

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Is there definitely a TERMA pod with the kit?

I can see a SNIPER pod and the DJRP Recce, but I can't see a TERMA on the spues.

The built jet also only shows these two with a strake on the stbd outboard fuselage station, which is where the TERMA would sit.

Hopefully a resin one will soon come along. :please:

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The stores included are as follow's....2 x CRV7 rocket pods, a Sniper Pod and a DJRP, 2 x Paveway IV's , a pair of

AIM-9L's with BOL rails and a pair of tanks. One slight negative for me, from my brief, initial inspection of the parts was the inlets on top of the intakes - they're moulded on and look a little flat - though that should be easily corrected.

Shame about the lack of Aden pod's, but I daresay they'll appear in resin along with other earlier stores - I'm already planning a back date or two - to a GR5 (I should have a nose or two from the old Airfix kit stashed away) and a green IV Sqn machine - and another thought.....cross kitting with the Airfix T10...Hmmm?

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Is there definitely a TERMA pod with the kit?

I can see a SNIPER pod and the DJRP Recce, but I can't see a TERMA on the spues.

The built jet also only shows these two with a strake on the stbd outboard fuselage station, which is where the TERMA would sit.

No, looks like you are right, I'm blaming it being late at night - I was mixing up my TERMA and recce pod!!

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And another thing... I only just noticed what Airfix have done with the fan moulding (Part 29). Nice one - that will really increase the perception of depth. Much better than the typical "rippled disc" you usually get in this scale.

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I thought the 30mm pods ended up not being available on the GR9? Aren't the housings just used as alternative LIDS? (or camera housings on ZD320?)

You are right, the GR9 never had the gun pods fitted and I can't remember the last time I saw a GR7 with then on except trials jet. The only ones I know of at Cottesmore are on the GR9 development jet ZD320 and that had finished flying a long time ago.

They were only being used as you say to assist in giving lift in the hover, just like the strakes do.

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Regards cannons - The GR9's were supposed to have some new 25mm cannons but that never happened and they were never fitted with 30mm cannons instead. I'd have to double check but I don't think the GR7's had cannons either for the same reason. Of the last British Harriers, only the Sea Harrier FA2 had 30mm cannons.

thanks

Mike

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