1/48 Harrier GR7

[MagpieII]

Long time lurker, first time poster, very first group build anywhere !

As a child my favourite mode was a Matchbox 1/72 Harrier.
The VTOL was a bit of a novelty back than and I've always had a bit of a fascination with them.

Even more of a fascination was .... snow something we don't see a lot of in tropical northern Australia !

So I'm going to be having a go at making something like this :



Not sure on the kit yet probably the Hasegawa GR7 .

[Always48]

That is one very tasty looking harrier.

cant wait to watch it come together

[MagpieII]

Cheers mate, this will be my second non-wargame kit in over 30 years so we'll see how it goes !

[MagpieII]

Some progress

[MagpieII]

It has arrived !




Wow, It's a lot bigger than I was expecting ......


Plenty of bombs and pods to hang off her too



So tonight is studying the instruction sheets for tomorrow we RIDE .... errrr build

[MagpieII]

So tonight's work, doesn't seem like a lot but there was a lot of painting and detailing in the cockpit.

For the first time ever I've used the decals for the instruments. They were OK I guess but next time I think I'd be filing down the raised detail on the instruments and letting the decals speak for themselves.

Does anyone know when having a pilot figure stopped being a "must have" for 1/48 kits ? I was fairly surprised this kit came with none

[AdamLuscombe]

Nice work so far
I couldn't tell you about the pilot figure but i am sure someone can

[Always48]

Have a look on flee bay mate, there are some awesome harrier pilots in 1/48 scale by aerobonus.

Nice work on the tub. Hard to see in there I guess. I'm building a p40 at the moment that had a great cockpit build only for it to be mostly hidden once in. At least I know I did I guess lol

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cool build, I will follow along

I think all scale aircraft should have a pilot(s) included

[MagpieII]

Yeh sorry about the photo, on second look it really doesn't show very much !

I think I'll go with out a pilot and pose the canopy open, maybe in time have a guy standing next to it or something. Just seems a bit funny one doesn't come with the kit.

More pics soon, it's a fairly simple kit and coming together quite well won't be needing too much filler I think.

[MagpieII]

upload going crazy

[MagpieII]

upload going bonkers

[MagpieII]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! bloody thing !

[MagpieII]

A big night at the bench tonight ! Starting to look like something now.



The cockpit/top -front wing arrangement was designed by a very special member of the Hasegawa team, it's a nightmare of parts that have to all link together with one relying onthe next and no real clear order that they are supposed to go together in. Also they don't -quite- fit.

I think I've been spoiled by Tamiya kits





Off to the "hobby shop" (well shop that stocks some odds and sods or modelling gear) for some more Tamiya Thin tomorrow so I can start cranking away at some of those gaps.

Any tips on how you clamp something like the front section that joins to the main wing ? It needs a fair bit of force to hold it together but it's no hugely strong plastic on the leading edge

[ElCapitan]

Looks great!

Any tips on how you clamp something like the front section that joins to the main wing ? It needs a fair bit of force to hold it together but it's no hugely strong plastic on the leading edge

Would an elastic band work?

[MagpieII]

Looks great!

Any tips on how you clamp something like the front section that joins to the main wing ? It needs a fair bit of force to hold it together but it's no hugely strong plastic on the leading edge

Would an elastic band work?

I tried that, they can't put enough force on it, and the rounded edges makes them slide off !

[ElCapitan]

Sometimes I wrap masking tape tightly round fuselage to hold it together. Might that work in this case?

[MagpieII]

Hmmm, not sure. I'll get some Thin cement tomorrow and see what I can come up with

[MagpieII]

I may offer the patent for the "Magpie Hob and Skillet Clamp" to Ultimate for their next indispensable hobby equipment item.





It's closed those gaps up fairly well

[Avgas]

Brilliant!

[Always48]

thats a great idea.

[MagpieII]

We are wheels down, not too far to go now, then onto the paint.

One of the joys of the colour scheme I'm doing means I can actually attached the landing gear now as the main colour of the underside will be white

[MagpieII]

I got the load out sorted tonight

[MagpieII]

Winter has come !!

Words fail me to describe the love/ hate I have with painting white !!

[MagpieII]

OK back into it and making some progress on the camo

[Avgas]

Words fail me to describe the love/ hate I have with painting white !!

I hate it altogether, no love involved at all. Worst colour in the world to get right. I have the Eduard LTD edition of this (I think it's the same kit) so am following with interest. Looking good so far.

[Always48]

looking great now the grey is down

[Twokidsnosleep]

I know your pain in painting white (just finished Thunderbird scheme on a F4 Phantom) but you have done this marvellously
It looks spectacular so far, very much like the reference photo at the start of the thread. I love that camo scheme!!!
Such a cool looking plane
Post a pic into Dan's thread for the live show...lots of Harrier lovers in there
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=21655

[Smiffy]

Looking great so far

I know your pain in painting white (just finished Thunderbird scheme on a F4 Phantom) but you have done this marvellously
It looks spectacular so far, very much like the reference photo at the start of the thread. I love that camo scheme!!!
Such a cool looking plane
Post a pic into Dan's thread for the live show...lots of Harrier lovers in there
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=21655

I think you should get one, in fact you owe it to yourself and your Thunderbird's Phantom to get one and display them together

[Twokidsnosleep]

Oh god help me...it is too soon to do an all white paint job so soon again
I am gonna go crawl into the corner and go into the fetal position now

[MagpieII]

Marathon decaling effort tonight and I am on the home stretch now, just the touch ups and the final clear coat, on with the canopy and I am done!



Nothing I like more than a realistic but ludicrous load out !

[Tomcat64]

Looking really good - nice work

[MagpieII]

Cheers Neil,

I'll have better photos for the final reveal !

[MagpieII]

And I am done, see the reveal thread for the final pics

Thanks for letting me tag along, It's good to have a deadline to focus on for a build.

[aur0ra145]

Sweet build! That's a lot of ordnance for a little plane. Maximum awesome it seems!

[MagpieII]

Cheers mate, but check the reveal page ....... maor Ordnance

[Les]

Congratulations on your finished project!

[IanG]

Looks fantastic.