Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Aeroplanedriver on May 24, 2020, 06:15:34 AM
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I've been in the mood for an old classic Monogram kit like I used to love in my youth. So this old favorite grabbed my eye as a possible entry in a Naval build on "the other site". Looking at it in the box, I thought "I know I can knock this out in 48 hours..." So here goes.
Time stamp on the box opening was 5:22PM US Eastern Time.
(https://i.imgur.com/q0DSb3Dl.jpg)
I really have a soft spot for this kit as I built it in 1982 for a local contest and took second place in the 12 & Under category. Unfortunately my best mate took first with his Monogram Mirage 2000. ::)
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I remember this kit - it was the first one I built when I got back into the hobby in 1989; I still have some of the parts. IIRC, it wasn't a bad kit at all; it fit fairly well and had good detail. Monogram had fit and QC issues at the time; the first of their Su-25 Frogfoot kits I built had a severely warped fuselage (in "yaw and "roll"). I contacted Monogram and they sent me another fuselage... which was warped just as badly.
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Calling it a day on this one. Main construction mostly done, but still some PSR to do before it's time to start any painting. Fortunately the paint scheme will be fairly simple.
(https://i.imgur.com/6R06P6Kl.jpg)
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The very thing with these older kits is you can crank them out at a fair crack.
500+ part kits from Bronco/Trumpeter/<insert modern manufacturer> no so much.
You sir have inspired me. Tomorrow is a new day
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The very thing with these older kits is you can crank them out at a fair crack.
500+ part kits from Bronco/Trumpeter/<insert modern manufacturer> no so much.
You sir have inspired me. Tomorrow is a new day
You are not wrong about that. It's a pretty simple kit really. I'm not, never have been, and likely never will be one to rescribe raised panel lines, so I'm just doing my best to preserve as much raised detail as I can, and hope a little preshading helps accent it. I'm not going for a museum piece...more of a nostalgia build. Monogram kits are great for that.
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:smiley:
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So clearly I failed yet again...I am now over 100 hours into my 48 hour build...SWMBO had other plans for Sunday and I rally needed to get the grass mowed in our brief rain break today so it's moving at a bit slower pace than I planned. I did a little work on it to improve the kit. There was no detail whatsoever in the intake blow in doors, just an empty area behind square holes, so I made drooped doors from Evergreen sheet. The kit depicts the closed doors as raised panel lines, so I cut them to depict the doors a little better. Not perfect but I"m happy with it. Should be getting decals on tomorrow. Just going to be a task looking through the USN decals in the stash and making a decision....
(https://i.imgur.com/yT3s7tQl.jpg)
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Harrier looks great in that scheme. :-* Can't wait to see what squadron you're going pick.
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Last update before she'll be finished, hopefully tomorrow.
So far I'm fairly happy with it considering it's a 40 year old Monogram kit that I built in basically 3 days. Decals are a mix of Aeromaster Sea Harrier stencils and Eagle Strike A-4 sheets with the national markings from a generic sheet and the BuNo from Kinetic's TAV-8A markings with the "T" cut off.
You don't realize how little vertical surface the Harrier has until you start trying to fit USN markings on it. Having all those nozzle thingies taking up all the fuselage side area definitely cuts down on options. The A-4 markings are for VA-106, "The Gladiators". The original markings had a yellow arrow with the helmet, but just no room for it on the Harrier so I decided to add some color by painting the tanks to match the blue in the helmet and putting the arrows on the tanks. I feel like that adds to the USN 70s feel of the build.
Still torn on the weapons load...Leaning towards Shrikes, just for something different for a Harrier.
(https://i.imgur.com/6n25xCNl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ex6ruZ7l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nHjERrkl.jpg)
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You've done that old kit justice! It looks great in all gray!
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That is gorgeous! :-*
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Very nice! Also a missed opportunity for the Harrier to be part of a composite air group on one of the LPH platforms such as the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) class (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iwo_Jima_(LPH-2)). As a detachment from the parent Navy VA squadron to augment the Marine Air Group. A what-if within a what-if :smiley:
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:smiley:
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Very nice! Also a missed opportunity for the Harrier to be part of a composite air group on one of the LPH platforms such as the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) class (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iwo_Jima_(LPH-2)). As a detachment from the parent Navy VA squadron to augment the Marine Air Group. A what-if within a what-if :smiley:
This build has got me entertaining the idea of a USMC Sea Harrier build to be deployed on an LPH alongside AV-8As c.1980.
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This build has got me entertaining the idea of a USMC Sea Harrier build to be deployed on an LPH alongside AV-8As c.1980.
Some further inspiration for you:
(https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/GTwiner145/SeaHarrierMarines_zpsgnjubt9n.jpg)
(https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/GTwiner145/SeaHarrierMarines2_zpsvnjzg7xx.jpg)
(https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/GTwiner145/SeaHarrierMarines3_zpsxomsihgi.jpg)
(https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/GTwiner145/SeaHarrierMarines4_zpsuxulnpnb.jpg)
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:-* :-* :-*
Love all of those but rally drawn to the Gull Gray over white. To me that is the classic USN scheme and one of my favorites ever. Thanks for posting!
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That is a treat to see. The markings really set this up
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All done! I failed at my attempt to get a model done in 48 hours. Again. It ended up being a 5 day effort, though in my defense once I missed the 48 hour deadline it became a more leisurely build.
It’s Monogram’s 1981 Harrier that I picked up on ebay in original first edition sealed box for $8. I have very fond memories of building this as a kid when it first came out, and it was both a labor of love and a reminder of how lucky us modelers are to have modern kits.
It’s finished as a USN AV-8A from VA-106 aboard USS Independence in 1975. After the USMC were impressed with their evaluation of the RAF’s new Harrier the USN and USAF both jumped on the bandwagon and tried it out. Both were impressed but the Air Force passed on the aircraft, at the time being focused on large, supersonic platforms. The Navy on the other hand looked back at the still relatively recent USS Forestall fire and saw an advantage in an air wing containing an element that could operate from a fouled deck.
The USMC ordered Harriers in 1969 and not long after the Navy placed a follow on order for 178 single seat AV-8As and 18 two seat TAV-8As. As delivered the Navy Harriers were identical to Marine veesions but over time the Navy fleet gained more capabilites with more advanced navigation and targeting avionics and the ability to carry Shrike and Maverick missiles.
This aircraft is pictured with a typical strike load of two Mk83 1,000lb bombs and drop tanks painted in VA-106 colors.
(https://i.imgur.com/CbFwqpgl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5L1rHcll.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fVVkF06l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wZD5KVIl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eh7eMVal.jpg)
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Great finish. Is convincingly RW. 8)
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:-* :-* :-*
Love all of those but rally drawn to the Gull Gray over white. To me that is the classic USN scheme and one of my favorites ever. Thanks for posting!
My pleasure. I agree, the Gull grey over white is my favourite too.
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Nice build too BTW. :smiley:
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Beautiful build of that old kit.
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Another great build, mate! :smiley: 8)