ChocksAway Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Harrier GR5 - ZD412 / AH operated by 3(F) Squadron, RAF around 1990-91 You can take the man out of a Harrier, but you cannot take the Harrier out of the man ... Hoorah - back on track with the old faithful. I thought I'd never get build number eleven in my 1/48 scale Harrier project finished, but here she is. It must have been the glorious Summer weather that kept distracting me. This time I have modelled a GR5 in the NATO Green / Lichen Green colour scheme (the only one they wore in service). The Hasegawa 1/48th scale kit has decals for a 3(F) squadron aircraft (ZD410), but I thought I'd change this to ZD412 / AH. This aircraft was the last allocated serial of the original GR5 builds - ZD430 and upwards were designated as GR5As. Harrier ZD412 had an unfortunate end after an aborted take-off at Gutersloh saw here end up attempting a swim in the River Ems on 320th September 1991. Sadly the pilot sustained major injuries according to the accident report. The aircraft was declared a write-off and never flew again. It ended up at Charlwood Yard as wreckage (circa 2009). Aside from a resin ejection seat and a Phimat sourced from a fellow Harrier SIG member, the build is straight from the box. I opened up the kit's nosewheel bay doors but did not box-off the resulting hole bay. For the brush-painted colour scheme, I used Precision Paint's NATO Green (enamel) on top and Xtracolor X24 (enamel) Lichen Green for the undersides. I'm not a fan of the Xtracolor paint, but used it as it's technically the right colour unlike the Humbrol green I used on the last GR7 build. Eagle-eyed Harrier experts will notice I used the wrong instrument panel coaming - fitting the one identified in the instructions, but I believe this is wrong. The GR5, like the AV-8B has the "plain" instrument coaming and narrow HUD. The GR7, GR9, AV-8B NA and AV-8B Plus had the coaming with the raised detail and wide HUD. I used the kit's decals for all bar the serial, tail code, nozzle rotation markings (kit's are undersized, like most 1/48 scale sheets!) which were home-made using inkjet decal paper. I wasted two MDC decals before giving up and omitting it - for some reason I just couldn't get them to sit right inside the canopy. I also found that I did not put enough Klear on in some areas to avoid the dreaded silvering. Weathering was a combination of Tamiya Weathering powders, indian ink marker pen and some ZIG Brushable pen work. To finish off, I sprayed with Humbrol Matt spray from a can. So here she is ... Comments welcome as ever. The next Harrier on the workbench will be an Indian FRS.51 Sea Harrier. I might do an AV-8B for the Close Air Support GB.
Shar2 Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Very nice Graham. You haven't lost your touch in building Harriers.
Dr Jimbo Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Nice Harrier. I like your level of weathering. Subtle and effective. I mainly build WW2 stuff, but am going to make me one of these next. James
Skeg Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Great harrier there. I do like the GR5. I don't know what harrier to do next in my project but have been sidetracked by a T-45 Goshawk to go with my other hawks...having real trouble with finding the red colour though. Again, very nice harrier!
SaintsPhil Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Great Harrier Graham, nice to see those home made decals making another outing! I must get on and build another 1/48 harrier soon! Phil
Harry Lime Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Now that is one sweet Harrier! Love the green scheme, always the best looking scheme on a Harrier. Mark.
Calafati Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Sweet job. I second Mark - the green scheme is the best looking one.
Shaun Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 Nice Green Harrier, They looked good in the old dark scheme. Tidy build Graham, looks great. Shaun.
IXGR1 Posted June 22, 2012 Posted June 22, 2012 -normally the GR-5 puts me to sleep ( even though I've built one) But that is quite tidy and neat. nice !
gazza l Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 Lovely Harrier, they looked good in the green...so much better than boring grey.
Plasticbutcher Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 I really like that, well executed model there.
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