H A R R I E R G R. M k 3

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Randall Reed
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1 H A R R I E R G R. M k 3 Building & Finishing Notes for the Airfix 1:48 th scale kit By N I C K G R E E N A L L Introduction Over the years I ve answered many questions about how to improve the Airfix 1:48 th scale Harrier GR.Mk3 kits. and the promise of written details appearing in response to the many requests for them. In recent years these kits have become very hard to find but now that Airfix have re-released them to coincide with the 30 th Anniversary of the Falklands War. Here, is my own experience of building the kit, finishing it as XZ133/10 as she landed on HMS Hermes on 1 st June 1982 flown by Flt Lt Murdo MacLeod after an 8hr 20mins direct flight from Ascension Island. This is not a super-detailing article, for example I have not replaced the all raised panel lines with engraved ones, so the notes may seem long for simple modifications; they just highlight the areas of the Airfix kit that need to be changed to make a Falklands War GR.3. For the structural modifications to be made to the kit - to the intakes, gunpods, pylons, rear fuselage and tail units, RCVs, id lights and anti-collision beacons, etc., please refer to the Harrier SIG s FRS.1 Building and Finishing Notes pdf. The SIG s The Falklands War Harrier GR.Mk3 s document provides details for the colour schemes of all the Harriers involved. The specific areas these GR.Mk3 build notes focus on are: the I-band transponder, aerials, outriggers, ALE40 chaff units, The kit Airfix's 1:48 th scale GR.Mk3 kit first appeared 20+ years ago and many of the moulds were showing their age when I built my model a few years ago, not just because of the raised panel lines; a lot of filler will be needed for umpteen moulding flaws. (N.B. These notes are written without seeing the latest release of the kit.) Photos of real Harriers show that the raised panels on the wings and tailplanes can be virtually sanded off to leave just a very faint line and not re-engraved: only the major access panels are noticeable on the real aircraft. On the fuselage, the raised panel lines should be used as a guide for engraving, but there are inaccuracies: the access panels on the nose and the prominent rectangular panels aft of the exhaust shields; refer to photos and drawings. The panel details on the featured model are as they appear in the kit and were not engraved. Aftermarket accessories NeOmega s Martin Baker Mk9 ejector seat (E12-48) - available from Punctilio Models or Aeroclub - is a huge improvement on the kit s poor effort. Airwaves used to make some excellent resin nozzles, but these are not currently available: bother. v.2 Page 1 28/06/2012

Reference notes Paint references throughout are all Humbrol, unless stated otherwise.

The build Stages 1 to 6 Airfix s GR.Mk3 build sequence follows that for the Sea Harrier FRS.

Some work can be done to detail the instrument panel coaming using 5 thou and scrap card,

nose. The cockpit s canopy rails are built up using 10 thou microstrip if the canopy is to

The pitot mounting is refined using 5 thou, plastic rod and filler and the LRMS covers are

The kit s pitot tube is woefully undersized and should be replaced with one crafted from a

2 Reference notes Paint references throughout are all Humbrol, unless stated otherwise. A list of good GR.Mk3 references is given at the end of the notes. The build Stages 1 to 6 Airfix s GR.Mk3 build sequence follows that for the Sea Harrier FRS.1, so follow the SIG s FRS.1 building and finishing notes. Some work can be done to detail the instrument panel coaming using 5 thou and scrap card, which is also used to define the camera port and various aerials, intakes and vents on the nose. The cockpit s canopy rails are built up using 10 thou microstrip if the canopy is to be shown open. The pitot mounting is refined using 5 thou, plastic rod and filler and the LRMS covers are better if replaced with a new dome made from scratch. The kit s pitot tube is woefully undersized and should be replaced with one crafted from a spare SHAR FRS.1 pitot or plastic rod. The I-band transponder under the nose is made up from scrap card and filler. The camera port on the port side of the nose needs detailing too. Later details to be added include the extended step, if the canopy is to be open. v.2 Page 2 28/06/2012

The cockpit interior should be 164 Dark Sea Grey with a dash of white added, not 165 as

The bell-mouth and intake interiors are 164 Dark Sea Grey on the port side and 163 Dark

Mk3 s airbrake - but not the airbrake bay!

Main component assembly The rear fuselage, wing, tailplane and intake modifications for

3s rudders do not have the strakes fitted to them.

3 The cockpit interior should be 164 Dark Sea Grey with a dash of white added, not 165 as in the instructions (the actual colour is Admiralty Grey). The bell-mouth and intake interiors are 164 Dark Sea Grey on the port side and 163 Dark Green on the starboard side. An important change is that the GR.Mk3 s airbrake - but not the airbrake bay! - needs to be extended at its rear by 5mm using plasticard and filler. Stage 7. Main component assembly The rear fuselage, wing, tailplane and intake modifications for the FRS.1 should be followed, EXCEPT that GR.3s rudders do not have the strakes fitted to them. Add the bulges on the top of the rear fuselage over the tailplane pivots and tailplane end plates from 10 thou (see pages 5 and 6 of the FRS.1 notes). Where the intakes join the upper fuselage cut down and file out the GR.Mk1/3 s distinctive gaps for the canopy fillets. v.2 Page 3 28/06/2012

Stages 8, 9, 10 and 12. Undercarriage fitting options The undercarriage parts get the FRS.1 mod treatment EXCEPT for the front leg which doesn t have the tie-down rings fitted.

The main wheel hubs rapidly get dirty and can be liberally dry brushed with matt tyre black.

Fuselage details Small pieces of card sanded to shape are used for the upper and lower anti-collision beacons, the one moulded on part 52 being cut off and replaced.

4 Stages 8, 9, 10 and 12. Undercarriage fitting options The undercarriage parts get the FRS.1 mod treatment EXCEPT for the front leg which doesn t have the tie-down rings fitted. Colour notes for the u/c All the legs are painted Humbrol 127, with the nose leg s piping being dark grey and black. The nose, main and outrigger wheel hubs are also 127 on Falklands aircraft. The main wheel hubs rapidly get dirty and can be liberally dry brushed with matt tyre black. The interiors of the u/c doors are satin white; the nose gear doors have rectangular black rubbing plates inside them around their bulge. Stages 13 and 16. Fuselage details Small pieces of card sanded to shape are used for the upper and lower anti-collision beacons, the one moulded on part 52 being cut off and replaced. Both are offset from centre on the port side, page 12 of the instructions showing their correct positions. The cockpit conditioning system ram air intakes (parts 86 and 87) need beefing-up by mounting on some 15 thou card, cutting them out on this and sanding them to a more rounded shape before fitting - refer to photos. The UHF antennae (parts 84/85) need replacing with two new ones made from 20 thou using the template pattern on page 12 of the FRS.1 build notes. Fill the gap in the fuselage before fitting them in place. A further scratch-built UHF antenna is added (to replace part 79) on the lower fuselage offset to port at the front of the underfin. Two 3mm squares, 1mm deep are engraved 5mm aft of the airbrake and 3mm apart to represent the ALE40 chaff dispensers. (Note that in the above photo on page 3 they are slightly too wide apart.) v.2 Page 4 28/06/2012

The fresh air ram intake on the fuselage in front of the windscreen wiper fairing is poorly depicted and should be removed and replaced with one cut and sanded to shape from rod.

Use a small burr turned by hand to just indicate the many panel fastenings on the front nozzle fairing and elsewhere. Some GR.

Gunpods, pylons, AIM-9G Sidewinders and tanks Detail the pylons by cutting off the kit's weapon mounting lugs, using small pieces of rod for each of the sway braces, which should protrude about 1mm

5 The fresh air ram intake on the fuselage in front of the windscreen wiper fairing is poorly depicted and should be removed and replaced with one cut and sanded to shape from rod. A new IFF antenna is made from 15 thou and fitted centrally ahead of the windscreen. Use a small burr turned by hand to just indicate the many panel fastenings on the front nozzle fairing and elsewhere. Some GR.Mk3s had reinforcing strips added to their ventral fins which can be replicated with 5 thou microstrip. Stages 11, 12, 14, 15.2 and Gunpods, pylons, AIM-9G Sidewinders and tanks Detail the pylons by cutting off the kit's weapon mounting lugs, using small pieces of rod for each of the sway braces, which should protrude about 1mm from the undersides. Engrave the explosive release bolts on both sides - 2x 5 on the port side of each pylon, 2x 4 on the starboard side with a small drill bit or burr. The time spent on this is worth it as you'll see when the pylons are painted. The kit s AIM-9 launcher rails and their pylon mountings need detailing; refer to photos for guidance. If fitting AIM-9Gs I d recommend using those in Hasegawa s AAM accessory set, the kit s ones being hopeless. The kit s Royal Navy 2 rocket pods are correct for wartime GR.Mk3s on HMS Hermes; the un-insulated Matra 155 SNEB pods couldn t be used safely on the carrier. The gunpods will need some work on them to improve their shape and detail, and the kit s placement instructions are wrong; refer to the drawings on page 9 of the instructions for the correct positioning. The photo shows the main changes needed to the gunpods and their correct positioning: Various holes drilled out Scrap used for these two vents Ejector fairing reduced in length at rear Semi-circular vent Note also the airbrake bay detail. Note that the 4 vent holes on the gunpods are NOT handed, the leading hole is always on the same side irrespective of which side the gunpod is fitted to. For making the Blue Eric ECM fit - remove the ejector fairing on the starboard gun pod and use a piece of 60 thou to form the bulge with detail from 5 and 10 thou. v.2 Page 5 28/06/2012

6 Finishing The following painting notes clarify the kit instructions: All U/C legs and wheel hubs: Satin Blue Grey 127 Fin and tailcone RWR covers: Tan 94 All UHF, IFF, I-Band antennae: Matt Black 33 Two underfin radar altimeter aerials: Matt Black or Tan 33 or 94 Underfin rear IFF notch aerial and bumper: Matt Black 33 Fin VHF and HF notch antennae*: Matt Black 33 RCVs and meshed vents, fin pressure head: Gunmetal 56 v.2 Page 6 28/06/2012

7 Lights: Tailcone IDs - 2x silver; anti-collision beacons and port wing - red 19 + clear red; starboard wing - green 3 + clear green. * This runs along the top of the fin panel (in front of where the RN logo sits on a SHAR) and should be just over 1mm wide. The fin tip leading edge antenna is of similar width. Refer to photos. The Harrier SIG s The Falklands War Harrier GR.Mk3s document will give you the information you need for painting any of the Falklands War SHARs so I ll refer you straight to that document and the other references listed below for the possible schemes. Decaling For Falklands War GR.Mk3s the kit s decals and instructions (option B) are fairly comprehensive. The kit s decal quality is variable - in some the register is spot on, in others the white appears to one side of the red walkway markings and Xs. A steady hand easily rectifies this. Leave adding decals 94, 95 and 96 until the canopy has been fitted and painted. All the Falklands War GR.Mk3s are covered in the Xtradecal Falklands War Harriers and Sea Harriers sheets: X Highlighting and weathering Harriers weathered reasonably heavily in the South Atlantic as reference to photos shows. Also note that they had many panel lines sealed; again, see the Harrier SIG s The Falklands War Harrier GR.Mk3s document for more details. Final assembly and finishing Add the seat and HUD at this stage, painting parts of the HUD black to represent the frames of the real unit; photos will help you here. Modify the sliding canopy by adding the intake fillet fairings from shaped 40 thou to its sides. The MDC detonator cover on the canopy s rear bulkhead is the same as on the FRS.1. Attach the windscreen and canopy with Clearfix, using this to fill any gaps between them. Once set, use filler to blend in the windscreen frames. Paint the external frames the upper surface colour, using a thin line of MSG to represent the MDC just inside the interior edges of the rear canopy frame. The MDC in the canopy roof can be painted on in MSG, if you have a very steady hand! Pick out the wiper with matt black; its strut being the upper airframe colour. Add the remaining decals around the canopy. The yaw vane (part 83) should be thinned down and added now, the strut is, again, the airframe colour, the vane is aluminium with an orange front part. Unlike the on FRS.1 the yaw vane on the GR.3 is offset to port. Drill out the centre of the circular panel on the starboard side under the 'screen to take a 5mm length cut from a pin-tip, protruding 3mm, to represent the pressure vane. Fit the airbrake now if it s being depicted down. The airbrake should be dropped at a 25-degree angle for a parked Harrier. For a HMS Hermes non-ale40 equipped GR.3 you may wish to add in the Hermes SHAR chaff-fit inside the airbrake bay, as mentioned in the FRS.1 article. Simply use some scrap for the bundles of chaff and some thin rod for the securing rods. 5 amp fuse wire can be used for the cord between the rods and the rear edge of the airbrake. Carefully fix the pre-painted heat shields with a 1mm gap to the nozzle opening, sticking the side with the biro lines on it to the model - they are larger than the parts remaining on the kit, do not trim them down! Once the pylons are added, the model is completed. That should give you everything you need for producing a superb looking Harrier GR.Mk3 Good luck! v.2 Page 7 28/06/2012

Linewrights/Ad Hoc) 2. British Harriers - Pt1.

1/3 and T2/4 of the RAF in Germnany Marcus

Falklands - The Air War Rodney A Burden,

8 Harrier GR.Mk3 References (in addition to those in the Sea Harrier FRS.1 Building & Finishing Notes) 1. Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.Mk3/T.Mk4 Roger Chesneau (Aeroguide 12 - Linewrights/Ad Hoc) 2. British Harriers - Pt1. The GR.1/3 and T2/4 of the RAF in Germnany Marcus Herbote (AirDOC) 3. Falklands - The Air War Rodney A Burden, Michael A Draper, et al (Arms & Armour Press) 4. RAF Harrier Ground Attack Falklands Sqn Ldr Jerry Pook (Pen & Sword) 5. The BAe (Hawker Siddeley) Harrier Andy Evans (Modeller s Datafile 17 - SAM Publications) v.2 Page 8 28/06/2012

S E A H A R R I E R F A. 2

S E A H A R R I E R F A. 2 Building & Finishing Notes for the Airfix 1:48 th scale kit By N I C K G R E E N A L L Introduction The Harrier SIG's 800 Naval Air Squadron display at SMW04 and subsequent shows,