Harrier GR.5 A&AEE Boscombe Down 1988

[Stevepd]

Hi all this is my latest build having finished it at the weekend. It’s the Trumpeter GR.7 kit and modified to a GR.5 with an adjusted instrument panel and a new nose from Miliput. The camera pods casings are made from the kit weapons by cutting and extending them to the correct length of CBLS2000 which were the base for the camera pods. The cameras and mounts were scratch built using plasticard and 0.2mm lead wire. The engine face has a clear disk which I roughed up to give the impression of engine running, including all the blow in doors open. This particular colour scheme is one of the first 3 which was then additionally painted blue and white for rough ground trials at Boscombe. This meant that it got plastered in earth and I’ve got reference photos but cannot share them. So for the first time I’ve done this and watched a few videos on YouTube from the Armour modellers, I sprayed away with light coats and then with dried out garden earth added to the paint, I dabbed it on with a brush. The black n white squares on the nose are one decal but the larger item on the fin is 2 black & 2 white positioned together. If you look at the fin one checker is over the formation strip and the other side has the strip going through the checker. This actually on the real thing. 
 

As usual my photography is not the best and it looks way better in the plastic as such. Thanks for looking.

 

 

Steve.
 

 

Edited November 22, 2022 by Stevepd

[MikeMaben]

Yeah, nice work Steve 

[geedubelyer]

That’s a really cool subject and a neat conversion. 

I’m surprised she could take off carrying all of that extra weight 

 

The weathering looks superb, well done. 

One teensy, tiny detail that didn’t look quite as tidy on my tablet as everything else is the pilot’s eyes. Not meant as a criticism, simply observational feedback.

There are a few articles on here that discuss figure painting, in particular the eyes in this scale. Well worth having a read as figure painting is an art in itself.

The bright orange flying suit gives a great pop of colour and was a good decision that brings even more interest to an already super model. 

The spinning engine fan looks extremely convincing too. Nice one 

 

Thanks for sharing your Harrier. She’s a treat to see.

 

Cheers.

[Stevepd]

35 minutes ago, geedubelyer said:

That’s a really cool subject and a neat conversion. 

I’m surprised she could take off carrying all of that extra weight 

 

The weathering looks superb, well done. 

One teensy, tiny detail that didn’t look quite as tidy on my tablet as everything else is the pilot’s eyes. Not meant as a criticism, simply observational feedback.

There are a few articles on here that discuss figure painting, in particular the eyes in this scale. Well worth having a read as figure painting is an art in itself.

The bright orange flying suit gives a great pop of colour and was a good decision that brings even more interest to an already super model. 

The spinning engine fan looks extremely convincing too. Nice one 

 

Thanks for sharing your Harrier. She’s a treat to see.

 

Cheers.

Hey no problem at all and always an open door to feedback. His eye balls are white with the 2 black dots but I agree it is a little unrefined, giving the near death expression. I’ve just boiled the kettle so I’ll have a quick search as I am able to redo it.

[Stevepd]

1 hour ago, MARU5137 said:

Very well built with the weathering giving the Harrier the Dirty look about it.

Your pilot reminds ME of someone who is astonished to be in the cockpit !!

But not death !!

I think your model is AWESOME. 

   

If Hammer House did pilots…..(Christopher Lee reference)

[LSP_Kevin]

Nice!

 

Kev

[Rockie Yarwood]

Beautiful build and finish, Steve!

[Greif8]

Very nice work Steve!  Sound like you did a fait amount of scratch building and it turned out great.

 

Ernest

[Jim Barry]

Love it. I have just added a 1/24 GR.1 to my stash. You've handled this really well! 

[Cicciuzzo]

dirty underneath and clean above, is this really the real aircraft? Anyways, excellent creation 

[MikeC]

5 hours ago, Cicciuzzo said:

dirty underneath and clean above, is this really the real aircraft? Anyways, excellent creation 

If anyone is an expert on Boscombe Down aircraft it's @Stevepd and given that fact, plus what I know of the Harrier,  I think it's entirely plausible.

Great work Steve. 

[scvrobeson]

Excellent work. I love the transitional phase between the Early and Late Harriers, and you've done a brilliant job on this one

 

 

 

Matt 

[Stevepd]

20 hours ago, Cicciuzzo said:

dirty underneath and clean above, is this really the real aircraft? Anyways, excellent creation 

 

14 hours ago, MikeC said:

If anyone is an expert on Boscombe Down aircraft it's @Stevepd and given that fact, plus what I know of the Harrier,  I think it's entirely plausible.

Great work Steve. 

Hi folks, yes this is exactly as the photos (can’t get a better reference) I have of the trial. I have copies of the photos and trial report but have been asked not to publish them.

 

Cheers MC, I grew up next to BD which probably sewed the aviation interest, so naturally became my special interest. I do find that I build better BD models than other subjects. I could go on, but I won’t bore you all.