Sea Harrier FRS.1

[cph64]

As mentioned at the beginning of Chris W's GR.9 build here is the Airfix Sea Harrier FRS.1 in my stash. I obtained only the sprue trees so have had to download the instructions, and source the decals from spares. These are for various aircraft from both the British and Argentinian Air Forces during the Falklands War. My intention is to finish it as one flown from HMS Hermes which was the Flagship of the British Forces before being sold to India in 1986, renamed the INS Viraat it served until 2017.
The SHar kit consists of 3 grey sprues plus one clear. In my spares I have some metal Martin Baker Mk.10 ejector seats, obtained from the Col. Tony collection, and I'll see if I can get one of these to fit as they have better detail.

[chriswil42]

Ready for the next meeting then Chris?
What make is the kit?

[cph64]

Initially I thought it was Airfix but when I tried to match the parts to the instructions I'd downloaded they didn't match. A search on the internet showed the kit is by Esci from 2003 with parts in some areas having minimal detail. I was correct about the ejector seat it definitely needs replacing.

[Bigkev]

Hi Chris,
I'm sure you will soon get to grips with this one.
What scheme is it in, I know you said HMS Hermes aircraft, is it all over dark grey, or one with paler grey markings you intend to build?
Cheers,
Kevin

[cph64]

Just to complicate matters further apparently Italeri got hold ofthe Esci moulds and have also released the kit, so.... It's going to be finished in Extra Dark Sea Grey Kev but with a difference. The 899 RNAS aircraft embarked on HMS Hermes in the 'standard' EDSG uppers and white lower surfaces but on the way to the Falklands they were repainted EDSG underneath by brush as Hermes didn't have the facilities for airbrushing. So I'll paint the underneath white then over paint by hand. All the other Harriers sent were of a lighter grey and eventually those of 899 RNAS were resprayed lighter.
On with the build. The white metal seat has been painted and joined together, the sparse cockpit interior was painted Medium Grey and the decals added before the two halves of the nose were joined. The pitot which is moulded to one half was badly twisted and had what appears to be a re-fuelling probe on the end. This has been cut off and a suitable replacement will need to be found. The body halves were joined with the intake fan, rear wheels and air brake being fitted before hand. Once this had fully dried the tail, tailplanes and wings were fitted along with the nose section.

[chriswil42]

Coming along nicely.

[MSea]

Soon be flying Chris BUT remember to go up not down

[Bigkev]

Soon be flying Chris BUT remember to go up not down

I agree, unless you are flying a submarine........
Kevin

[cph64]

Anybody got a 'Voyage to the bottom of the sea' kit?

[Bigkev]

I wonder if Martin has?.......
Probably has a monster to go with it too.
Kevin

[MSea]

No Kevin I just sit with them on club nights - hohohhohoho

[Bigkev]

No Kevin I just sit with them on club nights - hohohhohoho

Can't argue with that..........

[cph64]

Undercarriage, aerials and airbrake fitted then Tamiya Gloss Whitesprayed from a rattle can underneath followed by masking and then initially Tamiya German Grey, my go to Extra Dark Sea Grey, airbrushed on the upper surfaces. I thought this too light so overpainted with Vallejo German Grey then brush painted over the Gloss White with the Grey as per the real thing leaving some see through as mentioned in online articles. The airframe was then coated in Klear ready for the decals. The wing tanks followed the same painting sequence as the airframe. The launcher rails for the AIM-9 Sidewinders are of the double missile type which was used later in the conflict but found not to be as good as the single launcher so they were replaced by some from spares, which were painted Grey. The kit Sidewinders also left something to be desired so I replaced these also from spares.

[Bigkev]

Looking good Chris.
Like your explanations on the Grey upper surface.
Will look good when the decals are on.
Kevin

[chriswil42]

Looking nice Chris.