1/72nd Harrier GR.9A

[Bish1707821547]

Alongside the Shar, i am also doing a harrier GR.9A. This will be in the Op Herrick markings.

I'll be adding a resin cockpit as wel as resin exhauts and intakes. First task was to fit the side to the pit and get all the pit parts painted.

With the detail painting done the pit was fited into the nose which was then fitted to the main body of the fuselage.

Then got the wing fitted. There is a large gap behind the cockpit, but thats a resin piece so can't blame that on the kit. In general the fit has been very good.

[Bish1707821547]

The Harrier is now ready for priming and painting, just got to mask off the canopy and intakes.

The various doors and hatches will be painted off the kit.

While its in the paint shops, i will start on a weapons loader.

[Bish1707821547]

Been a while since i updated as the build slowed a bit, partly due to a painting issue. The Harrier has 3 shades of grey on it, though you can hardky distinguish the lighter 2 even in the flesh let along on the pics. I used Xtracolour for all 3 but for some reason the 3rd one took ages to dry, it was still tacky a week later. So i had to do quite a bit of repair work.

I put on a coat of Aqua gloss to seal the paint before adding the decals.

Next up some weathering.

[Dominic Thomas]

Another interesting post. It’s also fascinating [for me] to see the different approaches of modellers. I would never have started to apply markings until the build had been 95%+ finished, but that’s just a personal preference and some trepidation at having to fix something at a later stage which would damage and applied markings.

I am also keen to see the weapons fit you will apply as I noticed an unusual combination of under-fuselage stations.

[Bish1707821547]

Thanks Dominic. I tend to leave off open hatch's and doors as well as undercarrage legs until i am about to add the final mat coat. These things can be knocked off easilt and often they have decals on, as in this case. I find it easier to decal and weather them off the kit. And i prefer to keep the pit masked until after the flat coat, so the canopy is always one of the last things i add.

The loadout will be as per the box art. The kit does come with sindwinders, but even though the rails were carried, i can't see they had much use for them in Afghan.

[Bish1707821547]

A final short update before i wrap this up. Got the GR.9 finished with a flory wash. I have gone for a rather grubby lok which i think match's the pics i found quite well. Stores were adde along with the canopy and other final bits. I used the decal for the Det cord on the canopy as i didn't have a PE set for this kit. I am not as keen on the decal as i am on the PE i used on the Shar.

Just got to add some RBF tags, fit it to the base and sort out a figure.

[Dark Earth]

Very nice Harrier Bish.

Nice weathering !  And I look forward to seeing the finished presentation. 

Always inspiring to see your work.  I used to frequent another forum where I participated in a number of GB's that you hosted.  (AKA Bossman).  But it's been a few years.

Chris

[T2B]

Your Harrier looks very impressive!!

[Bish1707821547]

Thanks guys. Have not seen you around for a while Chris.

Time to wrap up the Harrier. Adde some RBF tags as well as a Hasegawa USAF figure painted in UK Desert DPM. The cut of the uniform looked close enough in this scale. Figures are always a let down.

This aircraft was base at Kandahar in 2009.

Thanks for following along guys. All comments welcome.

[T2B]

You have brought it to life. The little weapons trolley and figure on your base are great additions. The only things you could do better are .......... no only joking lol!

[Dark Earth]

Very nice vignette Bish !

The weathering, the weapon loader, the remove b4 flight tags . . .  All add lot of interest.   Grey aircraft don't have to be boring !

Nicely done.

Chris

 

[Bish1707821547]

Thanks guys.