A Couple of Jumpers 1/24 Harriers GR3/AV8

[TaffyMan]

Hi All - thought I’d resurrect these two from my BOD (Box Of Doom) I don’t have a Shelf.

 

A quick - where I am - These two where separate presents on my 50th - a couple of years ago now They laid around in my stash for quite some time. Then chatting with my Sister one day we where reminiscing of when these where a brand new item on the shelves in the 70’s. I had been plaguing my Dad for months about it. So came around Christmas and there under the tree was a huge box.

Baring in mind that we didn’t have lots of spare cash in them days and it wasn't a cheep kit! This was a massive thing for my parents to do for me. The other thing I remember about it was that because of the size and complexity of it - I was only 7 - my dad roped my big Sis into helping me. So we spent weeks both having fun putting it together and it still lives in my parents house to this day!

 

The box shot

 

 

Anyway enough of that. The upshot being I have these two kits so lets get um going - this is some two years ago. Did the usual tinternet searches found some amazing builds that gave me some pointers/insperation and started. But have to say not many seem to get made!

 

The first task - ohhh and boy is it a task - fill the bullet hole sized rivet detail and the wired texture there is all over the main Fus, Wings etc. I’m sure it was there but don’t remember it being there on from my boyhood experience. Then didn’t pay much attention those days. Sure I was like everyone else it was buy, stick, paint, stickers and hang it on the ceiling by tea time.

 

The first one (RAF) tried to use the car filler paint - it was ok just the paint spray and time! The other (US) one took a different approach with using some waterd down milliput. A bit like making a slip from clay, painted that over with a big old brush. This method worked a lot better and quicker for me. This is an horrible task - trust me - So do a bit then do something else then a bit more. still loads of sink makes and bits to fill - but it is an old mould

 

 

So in-between the constant rubbing back. I started the look at the next big thing, the air intakes. These are very prominent on the harrier and hard to miss. This is where the moulds are really showing their age as the detail on the intake doors is very soft now. I was always going to attempt to do something here - kind of a make or break on them both - so out with pencils tape and measure implements started the slice and dice. Firstly there is know way I was going to make this 100% accurate. Way beyond my skills. I was more after an improvement and more representative of the real thing. With a tape template draw in and marked the doors then chop out. Hindsight and all that and a recommendation. Just cut the whole back off. Then the doors rather than hollowing them out like I did. Just cut them - lot faster, lot easier to cut, could actually hinge if you wanted too and easier to do the final repair as this will all have to be blended into the fuselage.

 

 

Chopped and blending in the splines and walls. This has a more curved shape in the real thing just working and improving what is in the kit

 

 

Doors cut out and slight curve apply to the front edge

 

 

Little brass tool made for the little nicks on each door

 

 

All the doors in - I bagged these all up when I finally ran out of steam 2 years ago so hopefully there is still a full set for each

 

 

Then Gun pods - Started with a purchase from a few years ago at Telford - now to cut some lengths of Brass tubes

 

 

Once again this is more of a detail enhancement of the kit parts than a 100% accurate. Cut and opened up the pod ready to drill out and apply the gun cover. Then the ejection chute was opened up and reshaped. all looks a bit to square on the kit piece. there is some kind of slightly covered hole on the side which isn’t depicted so that got cut out and filled. Next there are some backward facing vents on the bottom. I made a template for these and formed some thin aluminium foil over it to make them. couple of holes and panels added and that was that. My tester done The gun cone needs to be blended in as there is no seam line as the kit depicts. Just needed to rinse and repeat three more times

 

 

 

 

 

A spray of aluminium paint from a rattle can to show any defects that need correcting - more sanding!

 

 

Final line up

 

 

So this is as far as I got before I lost the will to sand anymore  so hopefully my next update will be some new stuff!

Any help or pointer welcome. Especially on the US one as my knowledge is very sketch for them. till next time.

 

Happy modelling and stay safe!!! Taff

 

[mozart]

Good to see you in the GB Taff, looking forward to renewed enthusiasm and progress with the Harriers.

[Stevepd]

Excellent so far. I built a Sea Harrier some years ago, must have taken me 9 months!. Turned out quite well in the end so keep going.

[Uncarina]

Thanks for sharing your work on these epic beasts!

 

Cheers,  Tom

[TaffyMan]

Cheers guys and thanks for the encouragement.

 

Epic beasts is a good name for them Tom. Just where to start and how far to go. I’m just going to stick my head down and see how it turns out. I had written a big list of things to do and don’t bother to go there! Seems to have disappeared so think that’s where I’ll start. If I can remember it all!

 

Oh and Max you cost me money with the Fab Glad build of yours. So if I survive these two that’s next - thanks for the research Max it’ll come in handy.

 

Enjoy & stay safe - Taff

[bdthoresen]

Welcome Back, Taffyman. Always loved these old Harrier kits. Always wanted to convert one of these to a SHAR one day. But, it’s a huge undertaking that is at the bottom of the project list. Guess I will have to live vicariously through yours! 
 

Keep at it, man!

 

THOR    

[Alain Gadbois]

Very nice work!

I'm impressed! Building two 1/24 Harriers is very ambitious! 

 

Alain

 

[TaffyMan]

Cheers for the backing Thor and Alain - Yep two must be mental.  Thor a SHAR I thought I was going to chop these two about - do it you know yur want too!!!

 

Think it was the massive task I saw before me that made me put them aside 2 years ago After a week of filling and sanding I was broken. But at least I can start them now and most of that horrible task is done I have seen several built straight from the box and they look really nice.

 

So trying to find time to sort the wings first. at least they are flat-ish. When I get some decent progress I’ll post some pics.

 

Till then happy modelling

Stay Safe - Taff

 

[Derek B]

I love it Taff! (great work). I have one of these in my stash to build one day, so your work is pretty inspirational.

 

Cheers

 

Derek

[TaffyMan]

Hi All - well between work and sunshine (so must do outside jobs! according to SWMBO) I have been doing some work on these two beasties. Think might have mentioned how much I don’t love scribing lines in to plastic!!!

So seeing that you have to sand the living daylights out of this to get a smooth surface you ain't got much choice.

 

So I have started with the wings - you can kind of module the work into lumps on these - so decided to get the wings done. Chose the wings as they are flat so give me a chance to get into it before any of those pesky curves.

 

Started with the undersides first. Pretty much all straight lines and not many of them. The observant will notice that the landing flaps have been removed - and I am currently (b -XXXXXXick en them up) trying to beat them into submission - no pics yet!

 

My weapons and my first two victims

 

 

I made some templates up out of plastic sheet. I drew them up in AI and used the Silhouette to cut a line for me to follow. reasonable success so will do this again.

 

On to the tops. A bit more work here. I traced the placement then just flipped it for left and right. You can also see I have cut out and then filled in the missing directional nozzle on the tops. The top will be closed and the undersides are open on both set of wings.

 

 

Ok didn’t push it but couple quick sessions over the last evenings after work got them done.

 

 

Next got some Brass out - using the Flighpath one as a guide and with some carefully applied fettling managed to make a set for the other wings.

 

 

Ok just a quicken just to prove I have made some progress. I have done some other bits like cut the nose of one of them for the new snout replacment. But mostly I have been working on the landing flaps and how to re-attach them. Shame, Airfix made everything else movable but these - very strange and would have made my life a lot easier.

 

So till next time keep safe everyone - Happy Days - Taff

 

 

 

 

[Chek]

7 hours ago, TaffyMan said:

On to the tops. A bit more work here. I traced the placement then just flipped it for left and right. You can also see I have cut out and then filled in the missing directional nozzle on the tops. The top will be closed and the undersides are open on both set of wings.

 

 

 

Taff what I've done on my Harriers is to open the top and bottom openings in the wing fairings, then insert a rolled piece of plastic card whose diameter matches that of the cavity, to approximate the look of the reaction control valve within, which can point up or down. Just leave a slot in the roll that matches the dimension of the opening in the wing surface.

I then paint it gunmetal and call it done.

[TaffyMan]

Hi Chek - Yep not million miles away from what I have done. Just cut some plastic tube in half. Bottom half has some thin strip stuck on to represent the opening.

 

I cut them in half so that I can insert it into each wing - glue it! - forget it! - till I need to slap some paint on.

 

Thanks for looking in - your harrier on LSP?

 

Cheers - Taff

[mozart]

All looking good Taff, oh the tedium of scribing! We’ll get through it, and be better men for having triumphed! 

[Chek]

Sadly not Taff. I haven't had a camera since wet film days, and the one in my ancient flip top phone is about a half pixel resolution.

[TaffyMan]

Don’t knock it mate sometimes it really doesn’t pay to look to closely at your pictures - so half a pixel blurred can help!!!