Airfix Harriers - jssel, AndrewR, fredk, Maverick321, Sir T

[Stuart]

aaaaarrrgggghhhhhhh don't mention MB harriers I'll come out in spots....

They are a bit of a pain those aux intakes - I've yet to see how mine fit!

I have the Matchbox Sea Harrier kit lurking somewhere!

Nooooooooooo!

[jssel]

Work progresses on the bottom of the airframe. Under wing pylons etc. are being added. Normally that would be last to aid in the painting but due to the all grey scheme I will place them now.



Just a small niggle here. The intakes fit pretty well but not perfect so a spot of filler here and there will clean things up. There is a couple of spots on the lower fuselage were there is a seam from the two halves coming together. Although mostly covered I used PVA glue to fill the seams so they are not so noticeable.



Certainly is a lot to this kit but the build overall is wonderful.

[Stuart]

Thats looking really nice Jeff.

The new tool GR.1 is also a really nice kit. The level of detail is supurb and I'm sure a better modeller than me would make a really nice model.
I've a few fit issues around the forward fuse and intakes, but rather than fill it with filler and risk loosing that nice detail I've added a thickish seam of glue and blended it in with some thin cement. Hopefully as I'm brush painting it'll only take a light sanding to level it out and I'll be able to level it with some paint.

The fit of the wing and tail feathers is a really nice touch, Airfix have basically seperated the flying controls.

The only real downer was the fit of the intake trunking - oh well lessons learned for when I do another. I really like this kit and can't wait to get my hands on the GR.3 - Falklands Marking Please Mr Airfix!

pics:



you can see the gap I had to fill in the nose bay



Cockpit, pilot to follow...



Really enjoying this SB guys - feel better now I've caught up a bit.

Regards

Stuart

[jssel]

Here is a little inspiration for us. I think it is 1/48 Hasegawa at some contest. I just found the picture and liked it. Don't think I will ever be this good of a builder.

[AndrewR]

I managed to get more primer on the two Harriers last night. The green one is ready for the real paint The grey one needs a lot of work on the auxiliary intakes

That new Airfix kit is light-years ahead of the ones I'm building!

cheers

Andrew

[ShaunW]

It's great to see the progress you are making here boys and there is some great work going on. TBH Stuart, I wouldn't have bothered too much with the gap in the roof of the nose gear bay, although I would agree that it is a bit of a disappointing fit issue in a new tool kit, if it's on the underside I don't tend to worry too much That contest Harrier is superb, well above what I am capable of!!

[Stuart]

I don't know Andrew, they look good to me.

Hi Shaun, Yeah I did toy with the idea of leaving it but that would have left a gap around the attachment points for the nose leg. I'm sure that it was me not the kit though - I'll have to do another!

That Harrier is brilliant Jeff, really nice work - I wonder who built it!

Regards

Stuart

[AndrewR]

I don't know Andrew, they look good to me.

The green one looks fine, and is now ready for the dark green paint on top and the slightly less dark green paint underneath. Then I'll try to make a credible attempt on the temporary white camo.



The grey one I am less happy about, particularly around the auxiliary intakes. Everywhere else, apart from the join at the tailfin and a bit underneath pass muster.



Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...



See what I mean? They probably won't look as bad in the very dark blue scheme, but even so.
I have sanded it down and tried to make the intake holes square since that photo was taken, so it's a bit better than that. I may give it a blast of dark grey primer, to see how it looks in a dark colour.

cheers

Andrew

[ShaunW]

Aarrrrrgh! that it a problem Andrew and is a challenging area to sand and clean up properly and, of course, the aux intakes are very visible on this aircraft. Dark paint could help to disguise the problem - I've relied on it a few times in the past where paint schemes have allowed!

[Stuart]

Aarrrrrgh! that it a problem Andrew and is a challenging area to sand and clean up properly and, of course, the aux intakes are very visible on this aircraft. Dark paint could help to disguise the problem - I've relied on it a few times in the past where paint schemes have allowed!

Yes I agree, It is a difficult place to get tiy, even the new tools not perfect as I'll have to do a little re-scribing.

I'm dark paint will help and don't forget - the fuse roundall goes over the flaps too - that'll help to distract the eye.

Regarfs

[AndrewR]

I'll get some dark primer on to see if I can disguise things

[jssel]

Andrew: I think your NATO green looks great. Also, as posted on your Fokker Build thread, you Harrier windscreen is laying next to that project on the left of the photo. Don't be losing that now.

I finished the pylons last night. Now I need to blend in the intakes and come to terms with cleaning up the nozzles. Almost bold enough to think about painting the beast. I am doing "Lucy" from the kit decals.

Anyone using all of the stencils provided?

[Stuart]

ALL the stencils..! Maybe, I did on the Gnat!

Not sure about which marking option to do, shall I go for LG,DG and DGRN oooor LG,DG and DGRN? oh the agony of choice...

I still think the winter scheme would have been nice, or even USMC or Spanish Navy AV-8A...

Regards

Stuart

[AndrewR]

Andrew: I think your NATO green looks great. Also, as posted on your Fokker Build thread, you Harrier windscreen is laying next to that project on the left of the photo. Don't be losing that now.

That's one of the best places in the basement lab to keep things!

Anyone using all of the stencils provided?

NO!

At least not on the winter cam one, the temporary whitepaint covers a lot of them, and the green is dark enough to obscure the rest.
Actually, on the demonstrator, the dark blue is dark enough to obscure anything that's not in white, so I can ignore most of the stencils there too.

cheers

Andrew

[Stuart]

Andrew: I think your NATO green looks great. Also, as posted on your Fokker Build thread, you Harrier windscreen is laying next to that project on the left of the photo. Don't be losing that now.

That's one of the best places in the basement lab to keep things!

Anyone using all of the stencils provided?

NO!

At least not on the winter cam one, the temporary whitepaint covers a lot of them, and the green is dark enough to obscure the rest.
Actually, on the demonstrator, the dark blue is dark enough to obscure anything that's not in white, so I can ignore most of the stencils there too.

cheers

Andrew

That's cowardice in the face of the enemy that is!