SaintsPhil Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Evening everyone! I'm planning my next build, which will be an attempt to convert the new tool airfix GR9 into an AV8B. I've been kindly donated a set of decals for a night attack version and I was planning on using the bits from the old GR7, plus scratch building the rear flare dispensers and the extended intake at the base of the fin. I've read the nose from the airfix kit is too long, I can't find any scale plans showing the Night attack nose, with the FLIR. Does anyone have an accurate set or know if the nose is the same as standard AV8B, just with the lump? Im also after dimensions for the flare/chaff pack on the rear fuselage. Does anyone have any details? Failing this if anyone could measure the pack on a harrier kit I could work from there! I know there are a lot of Harrier fans out there so hope you can help! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob P Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 plus scratch building the ...and the extended intake at the base of the fin. Oh sod it, I've just disposed of the one from my Revell GR7 after thinking "wont need that" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabspat Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Might be a lot of work but i am sure it's possible. Would'nt it be easier to buy a Hase 1/72 kit? You can get them on Ebay cheaply. Some of the things i know of is: Ejection Seat, Nose, Flares there is probably a lot more thats need to do. From what i know it's easier to change a USMC AV-8B to a GR.7 rather than the other way around. Good luck though, be interested in watching it so do a WIP please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 (edited) The nose is the standard AV-8B nose with the lump on top. Perhaps not all NAs had the extended fin and flare packs - I think some of the early ones were without (these were usually in the Dark Green /Dark Gray scheme) and also had the 65% LERX. I'll have a set of flare packs in the Hasegawa AV-8B+ kit I can measure (Strangely, I don't think I ever got an NA kit!). I might even have an old set from the Italeri kit (but I don't know where they'd be!) What you need to do: - new nose - new seat - flare packs - extended fin base - remove the 'wedge' from under the fuselage and the ECM buttons form the ventral wedge (The 8Bs have a slightly different wing tip ECM arrangement as well) - reshape the tail cone - not fit the outrigger pylon I'll check if anything else. Edited October 30, 2011 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Thanks gents! Simon, I did think about getting one if the has kits but I'll get in big trouble from SWMBO if I buy any more kits before our house move goes ahead!! It'll be a WIP don't worry! I also like the new kit and feel I should support Airfix! Dave, That pretty much matches the list I had so thanks that's confirmed it for me, I hadn't got the wedge on the underside, I'll have to look at the kit later to see what you mean. The other one I've got is the different gun pods, assuming they are fitted to the night attack... From the old airfix kit I've got The nose The tail tip Gun pods So I think all I need is the flare/chaff pack and extended intake. Like Dave says I may be able to get away without this, but I want to model an aircraft from the Gulf so I would assume they all had this fitted! If anyone has an old one I'd be happy to give it a good home!! Otherwise it's scratch build time. Thanks again all Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) OK, looks like all the NAs except the very first prototype had the extended fin (It was the 65% LERX I was thinking about). One point is that even 65% LERX AV-8B(NA)s had the 'frog eye' inlets above the LERX I don't think that any NAs were deployed for the first Gulf War. The chaff/flare dispenser wedge on the RAF aircraft is the bit just behind the airbrake - also not sure if the NA has the prominent rivetting/strengthening strip on the rear fuselage that the GR7/9 kit has. Later ones have the yellow/black IR formation lights fitted as well. Edited October 31, 2011 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Lime Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Phil, Following Rob's post, I dug my Revell GR7 out the stash and I'll donate the extended intake part as well. Guess that just leaves you with the flare pack to sort out. Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 That's interesting Dave, I thought from the pics I'd seen that ALL AV8B had 100% LERX, infact Im sure one of the ref books I've got says just that! I need to read it again I think! Also I'm sure I've got a pic of an AV8 with the strengthening detail, looks like more bed time reading for me! I meant to ask about the underside flare pack, I thought that was RAF specific but wasn't sure. Hmmmm might need to re think my conflict then! I've been donated some VMA214 decals so I'll see what their battle honours are! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Many thanks again Mark that's decals and an intake now! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 That's interesting Dave, I thought from the pics I'd seen that ALL AV8B had 100% LERX, infact Im sure one of the ref books I've got says just that! I need to read it again I think! Also I'm sure I've got a pic of an AV8 with the strengthening detail, looks like more bed time reading for me! I will qualify it by saying off the top of my head I don't think I've ever seen an NA in the grey HTPS scheme with the 65% LERX - all the ones I've seen seem to be in the older Grey/Green scheme (e.g. 163862, which was the original Airfix GR7 kit AV-8B NA scheme) http://www.airfighters.com/photo/33875/L/U...rier-II/163862/ http://www.airfighters.com/photo/33874/M/U...rier-II/163877/ Hmmmm might need to re think my conflict then! I've been donated some VMA214 decals so I'll see what their battle honours are!Phil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMA-214 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Thanks Dave, Are they 65%? They look bigger from the pics! Mark's donated the decals from the old airfix kit so I guess it's a green grey wrap style anyway. I have to admit I quite like that scheme! I'll look for some more pics of the airframe now you've told me the serial. I'd tried wiki but I'm never that trusting of the info there!! Thanks again Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 First pic above is that airframe (the one with all the intakes covers etc fitted), and there is a pic of the other side in World Air Power Journal no 6 - if you don't have that I can scan it for you. Definitely 65% - you can just see the intake at the junction, and it's clearer on the other photo. I beleive that's why Airfix chose that airframe for the kit as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 I looked again and it must have been the angle that's deceptive! A copy of that scan would be very useful if you don't mind! I think I've settled on that scheme now! Does anyone know if the triple ejector racks from a Fujimi FRG2 would be right for an AV8B? They look about right to me.... Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Does anyone know if the triple ejector racks from a Fujimi FRG2 would be right for an AV8B? They look about right to me.... They look similar enough to me! I've got a couple of scans I'll send you. I have an inkling of a memory that on Harriers they only carry bombs on the outer and lower carrier station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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