Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
- skypirate
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 7300
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 6:13 am
- Location: Port Macquarie, Australia
Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Lovely little kit from Esci's heyday, in the 80s if I remember correctly. This has filled a gap in my Harrier lineup since the old Airfix kit was deposed many years ago. In fact the presence of this kit in my stash was the reason I did not jump at the new Airfix kit.
Action commences in my workbench window around here:
http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=471&start=1185
I did however jump (no pun intended) at one of the display bases from Coastal Kits.
The Alley Cat decal sheet provides a variety of early 233 OCU Harrier schemes from 1972-1977, including the T.2. I find this an attractive change from the usual frontline squadron markings.
The kit goes together well, requiring only a scratchbuilt nosewheel bay to avoid looking up at the cockpit floor. I added a landing lamp and resin seat, and opened the upper auxiliary intake doors and the camera window.
Additional decals came from the original kit (some black stencils; the whole Esci sheet was composed of black USMC markings), a Microscale sheet, and spare Revell stencils.
At a late stage I decided not to mount the outboard pylons, so had to fill the holes in the wing and repair the damage to the decals. Many of these OCU aircraft are photographed carrying no pylons at all. Those same photographs reminded me that I should have posed the elevators at a typical 'parked' angle. Next time.....
And here is the gang all rounded up!
Clockwise from the Airfix P.1127, we have the Hasegawa Sea Harrier, Italeri (I think; it was many years ago) AV-8B in USMC colours, Heller Bobcat T.2A with wing tanks from the spares box, Hasegawa GR.3, and the new Esci GR.1. I have the old Airfix T.10 and a couple more of the new Sword 2-seaters to add to the lineup in this scale.
Thanks for looking.
David
Action commences in my workbench window around here:
http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=471&start=1185
I did however jump (no pun intended) at one of the display bases from Coastal Kits.
The Alley Cat decal sheet provides a variety of early 233 OCU Harrier schemes from 1972-1977, including the T.2. I find this an attractive change from the usual frontline squadron markings.
The kit goes together well, requiring only a scratchbuilt nosewheel bay to avoid looking up at the cockpit floor. I added a landing lamp and resin seat, and opened the upper auxiliary intake doors and the camera window.
Additional decals came from the original kit (some black stencils; the whole Esci sheet was composed of black USMC markings), a Microscale sheet, and spare Revell stencils.
At a late stage I decided not to mount the outboard pylons, so had to fill the holes in the wing and repair the damage to the decals. Many of these OCU aircraft are photographed carrying no pylons at all. Those same photographs reminded me that I should have posed the elevators at a typical 'parked' angle. Next time.....
And here is the gang all rounded up!
Clockwise from the Airfix P.1127, we have the Hasegawa Sea Harrier, Italeri (I think; it was many years ago) AV-8B in USMC colours, Heller Bobcat T.2A with wing tanks from the spares box, Hasegawa GR.3, and the new Esci GR.1. I have the old Airfix T.10 and a couple more of the new Sword 2-seaters to add to the lineup in this scale.
Thanks for looking.
David
- Clashcityrocker
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 10817
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 12:31 am
- Location: Adelaide. South Australia
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
What a great looking collection David. Lots of differences in the type as it evolved.
Nigel
Nigel
- Eric Mc
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 4811
- Joined: May 3rd, 2011, 8:27 am
- Location: Farnborough, Hants
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
That is a fine looking Harrier and a nice representative collection of Harrier evolution.
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
That is really nice! Particularly like the sharp demarcation. Cracking effort David.
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Great family portrait. Beautiful collection.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
that is awesome and a build i am aspiring too
2016 A:6:B:2 c: 1 ,2015 A:7 B:1 C:0 2014 A:2 B:1 C:0 (2013 A:22 B:1 C:0) (2012 A:3 B:2 C:0) (2011 A:4 B:8 C:1) IPMS #12527
- gnomemeansgnome
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 5269
- Joined: July 16th, 2013, 4:03 pm
- Location: No Fun City
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Nice Harrier brood.
Ego no habeo consilium.
ICBM = Insatiable Collector and Builder of Models
ICBM = Insatiable Collector and Builder of Models
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13686
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Love it. Love it. Love it.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- JohnRatzenberger
- Why is he so confused ?
- Posts: 15734
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 3:42 pm
- Location: Living on a sandbar - Nags Head, NC.
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
That's an impressive display - well done !
John Ratzenberger
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Beautiful model David. It looks great with the open canopy. Looking forward to seeing those 2 seaters
Stu
Stu
Old fashioned paint brush user.
- Stamford
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 2240
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 7:42 am
- Location: Klågerup Sweden
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
What a lovely bunch of jump-jets.
running at the edge of their world
- skypirate
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 7300
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 6:13 am
- Location: Port Macquarie, Australia
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Thanks, chaps!
David
David
- Marek
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 2455
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 8:03 am
- Location: Madison, WI
- Contact:
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Really nice Harrier, these ESCI kits still stand the test. Now, I am thinking about FRS.1 I have from them to start.
-
- Onto the Clever Stuff, Now.
- Posts: 142
- Joined: February 14th, 2017, 11:57 am
- Location: liverpool uk
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
lotts of nice stuff there got a few to make my self
Re: Esci 1/72 Harrier GR.1A, 233 OCU August 1973
Well tidy Harrier,it looks like giant insect on the ground,or is it just me,its just me isnt.