Splash's Sea Harrier FA2

[splash]

I have had a sort out of my stash and found these four kits, plus deep in my stash I could see the old Airfix Airfield set with the early Harrier, scimiter and NATO troop set, plus the Airfix First & Last boxed set.

As I only have limited time to play in this GB I'm going to chicken out and go for the easy option and build the recent Airfix Sea Harrier FR2.

[splash]

I'm going for the Airfix Sea Harrier, first impressions are very good the parts look good with fine detail and a good choice of payload and a choice of markings.

Past experience has taught me that the newer Airfix kits have very tight tolerances so I'm assembling most of the body befor painting.

[splash]

The parts fit on this kit is excellent, the wings fitted with no need for any trimming or filler and its difficult to see where the parts fit as Airfix have used the panel lines for the joins.

[AndrewR]

Those of us with the Matchbox kit can only watch in stunned silence

[splash]

I'm enjoying this build so much, I popped out to my LMS and picked up an Airfix GR9, looking in the box Airfix has gone to town on it, in fact, apart from maybe their older Sea Harrier FA1, all of the current 1/72 Airfix Harriers are really nice kits.

[JamesPerrin]

At least the fit is good, I got this kit during my single year as a member of Airfix club and was disturbed by the gulleys for panel lines. The ones around the control surfaces are even bigger.

[splash]

At least the fit is good, I got this kit during my single year as a member of Airfix club and was disturbed by the gulleys for panel lines. The ones around the control surfaces are even bigger.

That is the one thing that lets the kits down, but it's easily fixed with some water based filler.

Regards Splash

[shangos70]

They are a tad deep but I won't lose any sleep over them as I never highlight panel lines. As the newer kits have come out they have diminished somewhat. You know us lot, we are never happy unless we have something to moan about.

[splash]

Looking at the GR-9 kit the panel lines are finer than the FA-2.

[splash]

To reduce the panel lines I have filled them with filler.



These arrived today from eBay, looking at the instructions nearly every mark of Harrier is covered

[shangos70]

Lots of options on that sheet, keep you busy for a good while.

[skypirate]

Splash,
how do you thin that Vallejo filler in your panel lines, please?
I have just bought some of this stuff. I can never get through my preferred Humbrol filler before it dries up.

cheers,

David

[AndrewR]

Splash,
how do you thin that Vallejo filler in your panel lines, please?
I have just bought some of this stuff. I can never get through my preferred Humbrol filler before it dries up.

cheers,

David

A drop of water will thin down Vallejo acrylic putty. I wipe over the putty with a slightly damp cloth to remove excess.

[skypirate]

A drop of water will thin down Vallejo acrylic putty. I wipe over the putty with a slightly damp cloth to remove excess.

Thanks, Andrew.
I use enamel paints. Any problem applying that over this putty? I did not realise it was acrylic (though it does state 'water cleanup').

David

[splash]

Splash,
how do you thin that Vallejo filler in your panel lines, please?
I have just bought some of this stuff. I can never get through my preferred Humbrol filler before it dries up.

cheers,

David

I just smeared on the filler then scrapped it off with a piece of thin plastic card, any remaining filler in the wrong place was removed with a q-tip soaked in Tamiya thinners.

Here is what it looked like after a coat of Tamiya primmer, you can still see the lines but they are nowhere near as deep.