Airfix 1/48 Harrier GR3

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 12:03 pm

As I have to shelve the 2 Migs (waiting for canopies) and I can't start the Canberra (waiting for decals), I thought I'd have a look at starting the harrier.

Big mistake! Lol. It's a re release of an old 1988 kit, and it shows. Lots of flash all over the place, raised panel lines, soft detail and mould lines.

I don't mind raised lines if the fit is good, but I foresee lots of filler, which means sanding down the panel lines

Oh well, such is life

Here's the sprue shots for your viewing pleasure

Looks like this kit has parts from another variant, there are gaps on the sprues where some large parts have been taken off?!

If you look in the top right of the third pic, there are a couple of bigass missiles. Haven't looked into what they are, but they look like anti ship missiles, so I assume that sprue is from the sea harrier kit?

I'll be building the Falklands version of this, brings back great memories of my time down there. I'd love to go again, it's a beautiful place.

Thanks for looking!

Post by **Lee** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 12:17 pm

The HORROR.....!!!

Good luck chief......

Post by **Bridon** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 12:29 pm

That is quite a lot of flash on those bits...but the model will look great when it is completed in Falklands era.

Brian

Post by **Paul** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 12:47 pm

Sod that, good luck mate

YouTube · Post by **customtk** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 2:14 pm

The decals look OK

Good luck

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 2:36 pm

Lol! Thanks guys! I'll try my best!

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:05 pm

Good luck on this build mate!

I'll know you will make it work!

I'm getting ready for this build....

Post by **chief5437** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:57 pm

First progress pics for the harrier.

Started with the seat. The kit seat is very basic so I thinned down an old Tamiya seat to fit the tub. But when I checked my references I found that it looked nothing like a harrier seat, so it's back to the kit one.

I wanted the pilot to have his visor down so can't use the kit pilot. I found one in the spares box that I liked but I've had to add some 'extra cushioning' to seat him correctly.

Still got some other bits to add, but that's his 'booster seat' done, lol.

I've found some tips on improving the Airfix kit, so I'm going to see what I can do.

Starting by moving the engine fan forward and adding some extra fairings to the intakes.

First, chopping the fan up.

Marking out section to be removed.

Two pics showing the fairing and trimmed down intake bell in a more forward position.

That's it for now, lots more to do. Let's hope it'll be worth all the effort!

Thanks for looking, cheers.

Post by **MikeyKb** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:01 pm

Looking good!
I love your ability to just, saw/fix and scratch build if you don't like the way something looks...
one day... maybe

Great skill, looking forward to seeing this come together.

http://m.youtube.com/user/MrBobsBuilds · Post by **Rob** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:21 pm

Soldier on - good work!

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 6:21 am

Looking mighty good buddy!

Keep it up!
I'm ready to see more...

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:12 am

Its a real shame that there isn't any other Harrier offering in 1/48. As far as I know there isn't many of any quality. Maybe now Airfix have re-tooled their 1/72 Harriers, they can upscale the molds and add some more parts and give us a new one!

Nice work on the seat and the intake moving. Should turn out just great.

Post by **chief5437** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 11:15 pm

@ Gav, cheers mate. Yeah an updated 1/48 would be great. I think Airfix are missing a trick there.

Quick update, not a great deal of progress, but it's taking a long time to make these adjustments!

I took half of one of the kit missiles (from the sea harrier sprue) sanded it round and trimmed it down to make the desired shape.

A pic showing it in position

Next I added some cabling to the cockpit bulkhead. Just for added interest, although I get the feeling it'll get in the way!

Then I added some evergreen to block off the nozzle holes, so you can't see into a huge, empty fuselage!

Finally, got the fuse halves together. Might need to buy shares in a filler company before I start on all these gaps!

One of the next steps involves chopping up the intakes so I'm getting a bit scared now!
Wish me luck!!

Thanks for looking guys!

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:06 am

Nice!
I really like the wiring, great detail!
Some huge gaps there Chief, better order a truckload of filler then eh?
Good luck filling and sanding them mate!

Post by **Nige201980** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:21 am

Wow this is great work mate. We really need a good harrier kit in 1:48

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:23 am

Coming together dude.

Your doing a great job on this less than great kit.

Post by **Paul** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:24 am

Good start chief, hope you can tame the kit

Post by **chief5437** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:26 am

NIGHTMARE!!!!

After joining the fuse halves together...

The detail lacking heat shields are too long. Have to cut them down and fill the gaps. Not too bad, got the first one done...

PITA, but then realised the heat shields are not part of the fuselage, so I'd have to totally remove the kit part and make new ones.

So I had to split open the fuselage, and stuff a load of milliput into the back of the heat shields, once dried I can sand them away.

While I was waiting for this to dry, I modified the air brake. Apparently the GR3 air break is 5mm (scale) longer than the sea harrier air brake?!

Kit part

Extended part

Next I drilled out the rocket pods. Kit part on the right, drilled part on the left. Takes a bit of time, but I think it looks so much better!

Still waiting for milliput to dry! So I cut out the nozzle innards. And replaced with spare PE.

Then I cut out the APU inlet and exhaust panels. They would just have decals to depict them, so I built an inlet from card and covered the outlet with brass grille.

So that's it for now, doesn't seem like much when I see it on here. But it's taking ages to get done! Just seems like cut, fill, sand, cut fill, sand...... It's soooo effing boring!!! Lol

I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end!

Thanks again for the kind comments, and thanks for following this tedious build!

Post by **gosselin2112** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 5:08 am

Great, another scratch builder. You got some great skills with the saw, my friend. Keep up the good work! Not much of a jet builder, but I am very impressed with how your tackling this Harrier. Model On!

Russ.

Post by **Nige201980** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:06 am

Some great work there mate.

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 9:05 am

Awesome scratch building Chief!

All filling and sanding will be worth it at the end!
kutgw

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:09 am

Cheers FD! I hope so! Lol.

Post by **Coen** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:25 am

This is awesome Chief. Very nice fixes buddy... it's like you've done them a hundred times!

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:28 am

Coen wrote:This is awesome Chief. Very nice fixes buddy... it's like you've done them a hundred times!

Thanks Coen, it's my first harrier, for about 25years anyway! But believe me, it feels like I've done it a hundred times, lol!

Post by **chief5437** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 11:59 am

Hey guys, thanks for all your comments!

So I spent the (wet) weekend sailing with my old man, so not a lot of progress to report.
Here's the latest:

Miliput has set, so I could finally sand off the moulded heat shields. I'll make some new ones later.
Original lower and sanded part above.

I added some detail to the air brake bay. It looks like there are still gaps here, but they were filled with CA.

Filled out the space inside the intakes. I'll be opening up the aux intake panels so these bits needed covering.

Last pic, got the drop tanks and rocket pods assembled and sanded.

That's all for now, short but sweet, lol!

See you next time

Post by **Coen** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 1:22 pm

That's really awesome work Chief.
I'm takin notes Dude... don't stop

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 1:25 am

Well I'm starting to question my sanity doing all these alterations. Another full night at it and not much to show!

Majority of my time was spent butchering the intakes.

Masking tape on to make sure I didn't go mad and cut the whole thing up!

Then out with the knife and files to cut it all open. Plastic strip to make the channel walls.
I've left these to set before I trim them to length. Then I can add the aux intake doors!

I'll be having the outriggers deployed, so I've squared off and hollowed out the outrigger housings. Original part on the right.
You can't see in this pic, but I've also taken the flaps off and drilled the wing for the fuel dump pipes.

While I was cutting out the wingtip lights I realised that one was way bigger than the other, nice one Airfix! Lol. Fortunately the bigger one is correct, so it was just a matter of cutting the other one to suit.

So, apart from lots of other minor filling and sanding, that's the sum total of my nights work!

I can't wait for it to actually start looking like an aircraft. But I want to get all the major stuff done so I can prime it to check weather I need to do more sanding, before I start adding the little details.

Anywhooooo, thanks for looking, and for being patient with me, lol!

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 6:12 am

Holy

Some awesome schratch building there mate!

Looking very good! Can't wait to see it come together

Post by **Nige201980** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 6:53 am

that is amazing work mate really looking forward to see this take shape.

Post by **Paul** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:44 am

Some nice scratch building chief, great job mate

Post by **FatFingaz** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:11 am

Really cool scratch building!

Post by **Coen** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:53 pm

That's nice work there Chief. Don't get too frustrated.
The end result will show it all off nicely.
It looks awesome so far.

Post by **PhildaFish** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 6:58 pm

Unbelievable work! I am in awe of your attention to detail.

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 12:28 am

Thanks for the kind comments guys!
Haven't updated in a while so thought I'd better get some pics done!

Not much to show, it seems like I get one bit finished, check a reference pic, and spot something else to add/change/take off! Lol.

I must make sure I but decent kits in future, then I won't fall into this trap again!!!!

Anyways, here's the latest.

I chopped down the front undercarriage to give a corrected 'weighted' appearance.

Added the 'bacon slicers', rudder actuator and tail rcv and hot air vents.

Detailed the Aden cannon, added a barrel to the port pod and 'Blue Eric' ECM antenna to the starboard pod and drilled out the vents.

Dropped the flaps and added fuel vent pipes. Looking at this pic, I think I need to build up the flap actuators a bit more!

Added a missing nose vent and closed up a huge gap where the pitot mount fits!

Built up the 'frog eye' ram intakes, added a few more missing vents, started building the canopy rails and cutting out the fillets from the intakes.

So there you go, it feels like this is going on and on and on and ...... You get the picture!

I can't wait to cover all this stuff in paint, it looks horrible at the moment, all white and green putty everywhere!

The idea is to make a simple base depicting the FOB at San Carlos so it'll be a well weathered GR3!!

Thanks for looking, let's hope it starts coming together soon eh?

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:21 am

Coming along nicely Chief!

Wel done on that wheel too

Post by **Radzy** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:48 am

Hi Chief,
Great update, buddy. It comes really nice.
You put a lot of effort. It will pay off with amazing model at the end. I'm sure about that

Cheers,
Radek

Post by **Coen** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:41 am

Ummm! So Chief knows his Harriers.

Haha
I may have mentioned this... I haven't scrolled back to see if I did... But when I get into the wee harrier that ChancerNW gave me I think I'll be using your awesome build as a reference. If you could Chief, before you start painting her, can you do a few shots of her from all around? I know very little about the Harrier ( other than how cool it is) and any shots you can do would be a great bit of reference.

Post by **Paul** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:42 am

Great work chief that front landing gear looks great

Post by **alextheblue** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:32 am

Incredible work Chief!! All the mods you are making are going to give it such detail and you're doing a fine job on it - great skills!!

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 3:42 pm

Coming on brilliantly there mate. Are you planning on re-scribing the panel lines at all? Or you going to leave them raised?

Post by **Jamesday1998** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:06 pm

the weathering on the wheel is amazing! love the scratch building!

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 5:25 pm

Coen wrote:Ummm! So Chief knows his Harriers.
Haha
I may have mentioned this... I haven't scrolled back to see if I did... But when I get into the wee harrier that ChancerNW gave me I think I'll be using your awesome build as a reference. If you could Chief, before you start painting her, can you do a few shots of her from all around? I know very little about the Harrier ( other than how cool it is) and any shots you can do would be a great bit of reference.

Will do Coen. I'll post a link to the site I found that explains the 'improvements' needed for the Airfix kit. But beware, it will lead you down a long dark path! Lol!

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 5:33 pm

Gav0909 wrote:Coming on brilliantly there mate. Are you planning on re-scribing the panel lines at all? Or you going to leave them raised?

To be honest Gav, I really don't know what I'm going to do with the panel lines?! My scribing experience is limited at best!

Also, after researching, I found that only the main, larger panel lines are visible, and most panels were sealed on Falklands harriers. To that end, I'm thinking of re scribing the larger engine access panels, and leaving the smaller panels raised. I'll try a wash to see how it looks before I start the main painting just incase!

Cheers Gav.

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 7:56 pm

Hey guys, thanks for checking my progress.

I got a bit more done, made some new heat shields from an empty tomato purée tube!

I wasn't happy with how the aux intakes turned out...

So I decided to re do them.
Loads of filler...

Then drill, cut and file...

I think they're looking a lot better now? Doesn't show up that well in the pics!

I'm hoping to get some time in this week, I really need to start making some headway on this. I hate it when a build starts to stall!

That's it for now, thanks for looking,

Post by **Coen** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 2:49 am

That's some great work there Chief! Nice save!
You should know... I live on the dark side muhahah!

Post by **chief5437** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 5:53 pm

Coen wrote:That's some great work there Chief! Nice save!
You should know... I live on the dark side muhahah!

ah yes, I forgot, dark LORD of the Sith, lol!

Post by **Jamesday1998** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:38 pm

looking cool you have done good on those holes! its coming along nicely!

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:02 am

Again, some great scratch building!

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 8:03 am

Your doing a great job on this one dude.

That detailing is really paying off.

Post by **chief5437** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 4:21 pm

This is finished now, well, it has been for a while I just haven't had the time to put it all on here!

First up, some pics with just the primer on, as requested by Coen.

Not sure if they'll be any use Coen but there they are!

As I said earlier, when I was researching this kit I found this site, http://www.harriersig.org.uk
Lots of info and links on this site, I'd recommend it as a start point for your old harrier kit.

Now this is where it gets messy! As the kit is a bit old and rubbish, the harrier sig page shows some alterations you can do to improve it. The problem being, you see it all and think 'I can do that' next thing, your doing them all! And a simple build turns into a monster! Ha ha!

Having said that, I think the result is much better for the alterations.

Here's a pic of the end product, I'll post some more in the reveal section.