AIRFIX 1/72 HARRIER GR.9 - GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN...
When
the news was leaked that Airfix was to release a new kit of this important
aircraft, many wondered how far it would improve on what was already available
(both from their own range and those of their competitors) and whether it would
further show how far Airfix had come since their takeover by Hornby. Well,
right from the off I can reveal that unlike the rather unimpressive Sea
Harriers released several years ago, this new Harrier is well detailed, well
appointed and accurate in outline and appearance. Set-up options abound with a
choice of intakes, LERX, raised or lowered undercarriage, raised or lowered
flaps (only appropriate in the main for a ‘flying’ model, though there are a
few odd exceptions when these can be seen ‘down’ on the ground…), refuelling
probe, weapons and markings, which is not bad for a kit that retails for around
£10!
With
the kit in hand, I certainly came to the conclusion that there was little to
differentiate an Airfix product from one produced by their competitors. Gone
are the raised panel lines, these now being replaced by sharply incised details
and though these are a little heavy here and there, they still improve the look
of the completed model immeasurably. I was also pleased to see that the
designers had not just relied on incisions, but had also chosen raised features
where needed, the rivets around the hot rear jet exhaust, being a case in
point. It’s a small detail, but one that helps create a further illusion of
reality.
Smaller
details are no less impressive; the front undercarriage leg is a superbly
detailed item, as are the mainwheels, with their prototypical ‘flats’ moulded
in-situ. Modellers often complain that these ‘flats’ are overdone, but even the
most cursory of glances at a fully loaded Harrier will reveal just how flat the
tyres become - especially when the aircraft is fully loaded with weapons and
fuel.
Though
the kit is well-designed in the main, there are a number of issues: the wing
for instance though nicely shaped, is overly detailed, many of the panels being
far more prominent than those found on the full-sized Harrier’s wing; the pitot
tubes that flank the nose are moulded onto large tabs that fit holes in the
nose, thus creating a scruffy finish and once again, the jet nozzles are
moulded in two halves that will be almost impossible to clean up neatly, though
in the main, these will be hidden on the completed model.
Where the panel lines
were a little deep (especially around the nose…), I filled them with Vallejo
acrylic putty, which was squeezed into the unwanted panels and then smoothed
over with a wet finger, the result being far finer looking features. As well as
the nose, I also used this technique on the upper wing – anywhere in fact, that
I considered the panels to be too deep.
The
intakes provide perhaps the most challenging aspect of the kit’s construction.
Because the modeller is given a choice of having the undercarriage up or down,
they are also offered a choice of having the doors that circle the intake, open
or closed. These are provided as separate parts that slot into the inner face
of the intake. This is a not an easy task; repeated dry-runs and attention with
a fine file were needed before they looked right and even then I had to apply
tiny blobs of filler to deal with some annoying gaps. But that was nothing
compared to trying to fix the intakes to the rear fuselage and separate nose!
At first I just couldn’t get them to line up, but eventually I had them in
place, repeated applications of filler, sanded between each one, being needed
to smooth everything out…
Finally,
I think that Airfix also need to deal with their sprue gates as those used in
this kit are at times huge and thus the chance of damaging the smaller parts
during their removal from the sprues, all too possible. There are some
interesting omissions too: no gun pods, no vent pipe under the fairing for the
front, right-hand jet nozzle and no glass for the HUD – but that’s about it.
Lack
of gun pods aside, the are plenty of stores in the kit including Sidewinders,
Paveway IV LGBs, underwing tanks, Sniper, DJRP recce and CRV-7 rocket pods –
the latter with separate, frangible heads which adds a further level of choice
to how the finished model appears. All of the stores initially appear well
detailed, but further research reveals a few issues; the Paveway IVs for
example are in fact little more than Paveway II in design, revealing little of
the smaller details that differentiate the two designs. As we’ll see later,
these really need to be replaced if an accurate Close Air Support (CAS) Harrier
is to be built from this kit – which is precisely what was done for the model seen
here. The drop tanks could also do with some work (not carried out here) to add
the oval panels that are found on their sides and not unfortunately, on the kit
parts.
If
the plastic parts are impressive, the decals are I am afraid less so. It’s not
that they’re poor, as they are well printed and perfectly in register, it’s
just that they are so dull! Despite the fact that the Harrier has been
decorated with all manner of nice tail markings, the three chosen in the kit
are simple, drab, squadron birds, the only highlight being the retro,
grey/green retirement scheme. At first, I thought that Airfix had been rather
measly in their choice of markings, but a chat to the designers revealed that
they had actually chosen aircraft that allowed the modeller the opportunity to
build the kit with a complete weapons load – as most modellers will want to do.
Electing to include some special markings would have meant that the weapons
would have been rather redundant (other than the tanks), which is why Airfix
chose the route they did.
The
choices offered by Airfix are as follows:
·
BAe Harrier
Gr.9A – ZD433, Harrier Detachment, Operation “Herrick”, Kandahar, Afghanistan,
2009
·
BAe Harrier
Gr.9A – ZD433, as seen on December 15th 2010 in No. 1(F) Squadron markings
·
BAe Harrier
Gr.9A – ZG506, RAF Cottesmore, December 15th 2010. This aircraft is in the
one-off colours of gloss Dark Green, Dark Sea Grey and Light Aircraft Grey
·
BAe Harrier
Gr.7A – ZD404, “Lucy”, Harrier Detachment, Harrier Detachment, Operation
“Herrick”, Kandahar, Afghanistan, 2006
·
BAe Harrier
Gr.7A – ZD404, as seen in October 2009 in Naval Strike Wing (NSW) markings
Addresses
Airfix
– All good model shops
Halfords
Primer – All Halford’s Stores nationwide. Website: www.halfords.com
Gunze Sangyo - Model
Design Construction. Tel: 1246 827755. Email: models@modeldesignconstruction.co.uk Website: www.modeldesignconstruction.co.uk
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