Airfix Harrier GR5 1/72

[Guest]

Just started this a couple of days ago, dry fitting, testing planning and so on.

This is the first real model of a jet i've built, (prefer piston engined warbirds), but this is for a jet mad friend, was to be an xmas pressie but doubt it'll be ready in time to post.

I have built an F-15 Eagle before but that was very basic, almost snap together basic and little detail.

This looks good to me, (nothing to really compare to but i think it looks decent)

First surprise was the amount of stuff to be crammed in between the fuselage halves before gluing together, i'm used to just having a cockpit.

In this one:

Cockpit tub

Inlet for turbine

front wheel well

rear wheel well / airbrake inner

vectoring thrusters

tailplane locking ring

no way to balance it so plenty of dry fitting then pick one half and start gluing.

Now, for the ease of painting the fuselage, i'm going to temporarily tack the wing on, (dot of superglue) and paint then remove, fit the thrusters, (they have a locking ring behind allowing them to rotate like the tailplane), and refit the wing touching up where necessary, hopefully that'll be less hassle than trying to mask the thrusters.

Will be painting in a different GR3 paint scheme as I think the green on green is a bit bland.

PIcs of the cockpit tub, brush painted as theres no easy way to airbrush this one and a mock up of the plane dry fitted.

[Guest]

I've always liked the Harrier , eagerly watching this build

[Guest]

There certainly is a lot of gear crammed into a very small fuselage. I've still got two of the original P 1127 models stashed away somewhere so I can see how much they have progressed this model over the years.

[Guest]

Also watching this as I have been given a Fujimi 1/72 Harrier gr3 and need some pointers.

[Guest]

Been a while, this was intended as an xmas pressie for a friend but clearly that didn't happen, (he's still getting it just belated xmas or early birthday)

Kind of ground to a halt over xmas and lost the mojo on this one a little, (not to mention getting sidetracked with the Sweet models)

Finally gotten around to throwing some paint at it, was going to go with the winterized version, Grey/Green with green overpainted white but to be frank every pic of a model painted this way I thought looked naff, just doesn't reflect the scale of the full size so Grey/Green it has gone, will get pics on tomorrow then can get the thrusters painted and fitted and re-glue the wing permanently then touch up if required.

[Guest]

I think we've all been impressed with the Sweet models so don't see it as loosing out on this one rather than gaining the delightful Sweet model posts. I do wish they would change the name though as i do feel a bit of a berk referring to Sweet models.:laughing:

Don't put pressure on yourself, just enjoy what you do when you want to do it and we can all look forward to watching it.

[Guest]

Piccies so far.

[Guest]

Looking good, ive got an airfix twin pack off these

[Guest]

ive got an airfix twin pack off these

Now that's just greedy

[Guest]

Now that's just greedy

I know shocking eh lol, there the special edition ones airfix gave away with the club offer.

[Guest]

Wow that looks good! Gotta have one of those one day! Great inspiration!

cheers

[colin m]

Looking very nice, with the recent demise of the Harrier I need to build something like this.

Regards

Colin M......