BAe Harrier GR.9

All parts washed, including the Air-Graphic Models resin interior. 

A comparison of the resin interior and the original Airfix one. The Airfix interior is actually fine for a 1:72 starter kit, but the resin one is definitely better and would be a first for me. The pilot is the original Airfix part. Rather than file off all the detail on the resin seat, I hollowed out the pilot's back. I had not decided to permanently fix the pilot and wanted to keep my options open. 

As the resin instrument panel includes a top cowl the original cockpit halves needed to have their cowl sections removed. Auxiliary panels either side of the main instrument panel were also duplicated, so these were also carefully carved out of the cockpit halves. The HUD supports on my example of the resin cowl were malformed, so I stole the ones from the cut-off kit parts. 

Cockpit halves fitted well, once the trimming was complete. Instrument panel, seat and pilot were painted, but I decided to fit them after priming.  

The first of a couple of issues that makes this starter kit less than ideal for beginners became apparent at this point. The fuselage top section that should run from behind the cockpit to the front of the wings (and includes the chines) is too flat. If it mates as intended with the wing, it forms a significant step behind the cockpit and does not meet the top of the air intakes. In fact, the top edges of the rear fuselage halves also support it in this incorrect attitude. 

I trimmed the fuselage halves to allow the panel to be pushed down about 1mm at its front edge. I fitted the panel using plenty of cement at the joint to the wings and only let it set up overnight. Once the rear of the panel was solidly fixed I used a strong rubber band to keep everything together and allow everything to set up in the correct relationship. All-in-all this was a tricky joint.  

Primed and messily pre-shaded. Canopies were masked with tape and primered before fitting. 

I used the small pots of paint supplied with the kit, diluted with Vallejo thinners and put through my airbrush. I did this for the two grey colours and the green.  

When the time came to fit the seat, pilot and instruments there was an interference issue with the front half of the canopy. I had to remove some material from the bottom of the cowl and trim down the HUD a little. 

Decals were few in number. This is fine for a starter kit and at least they added a little colour. 

My other criticism of this kit is the general large size of the connection points between the frames and the parts. Some of these points are so large that they are hollow, so even when carefully trimmed flush, they leave a small tell-tale void on the surface of the part. This picture shows how large the connection points are relative to the pitot tubes and that access is also restricted. I cut the frames apart and then very carefully cut the connections from the parts, but this is less than ideal for inexperienced modellers.  

The finished item, fully loaded. 

The front canopy is cloudy inside. I think I must have fitted it too soon after using CA glue to fix the cowl.  

Looks like a Harrier. 

Just a touch of grey wash to bring out panel lines and puffer jets etc.