Trumpeter 1/32 AV-8B Harrier II - Finished

So, I'm calling this done (for the moment......maybe forever). Built and weathered (lightly), load-out built....but just can't decide on where/what so will leave it there and revisit when decided. Doesn't help when the kit doesn't supply the Sidewinder rails, not the MER/TER's don't fit!!

So this is the way she'll stay for the forseeable: Happy to leave it this way, don't want to let frustration win and just throw the load-out on.

Dear Forum,

I find myself in need of your assistance (due to what I feel, are the shockingly bad instructions on this Trump Harrier)

I am about to embark on the load out but can't make head nor tail of the instructions (or lack of them).

3 pylons each wing, innermost on each will be the fuel tanks

In your opinion(s), what would be the 'most usual' loadout given the missiles provided in the kit (and which of them and how many go on the MER's / TER's. Only shows that 6 GBU's go on the TER's but no instruction for the MERs or what goes on them.

So, it's been a while since the last update. Seem to have lost my 'lockdown m0jo' and have just been plodding away for the last days doing just a bit each day. The model is now 99% built though not all attached. Still got the payload to build but that is going slowely as have little interest these last couple of days.

Paints were MRP again, I like these for the airbrush, they are ready to use straight from the bottle and (so far) I have had no issue with them.

A few pics of where I stand just now......made a start on decalling and weathering but not finished.

Well, thats it for now. More to come once the 'urge' kicks back in.

Undecided on what to build next. I build model to model and don't have a 'stash' so have yet to decide. Thinking of a Zoukei Mura 1/32 A-1H Skyraider....... expensive...... but looks like a challenge..............anyone have any comments good or bad about them??

Update: I finally figured out how to fix the wheel, when you fix the cockpit halves and wheel well inside the the front section of the model there are a couple of locator holes for the top of the wheel....phew! They just don't show it in the instructions.

So over the last couple of days I have been tinkering with the cockpit and filing/sanding/dremmeling to get the cockpit to fit inside the nose section. Now I know about the landing gear will probably close it up later today.

Engine has been built and painted, nothing special as it isn't going to be seen inside the model (no photos yet)

Photos of how things stand just now.

Cheers Capn & 1961.........though as mentioned before, this is way more down to luck than judgement 

After I had primed (Tamiya Fine Grey) I base coated with black (Tam XF01). Thru general/clumsy handling knocked off the black in a few places and so I stumbled upon it. I thought it looked pretty good so  I 'chipped' a few more places with an exacto blade! If I hadn't been so damm heavy handed in the first place this would never have happened!!

Tubosteve

    

That seat looks  like it ought to have that "well used" a/c "smell" to it.  Some serious realism there.

I love seeing chipping especially along edges your seats look well used, nice. 

To those that have gone before me, need a little advice.

The front wheel well. Instructions are not clear (to me at least!), and wondering how to attach the wheel strut? I can see the hyraulic ram pops into the corner.........but surely that cannot be the only attachment point as it is ridiculously weak! Just dont see how/wheel to fix anything else......anyone got any pointers?

Don Stauffer

Looks great!

Love that paint chipping on the seat.

 

Thank you, the chipping is just the black base picked off to show the grey primer underneath, simple but seemed to do the trick :)

Hear Hear 

Looks great!

Love that paint chipping on the seat.

Looks great Steve. 

This should be fun. Harriers are cool.

Great work on the ejection seat.

A little bit of playing during my Thursday lock-down, got the bang seat done. This is the Aires resin seat. Rather fiddly work, especially the belts.....this is the first time I've done PE belts............come to that, it's the first time I've tried a resin AM cokpit!

Lock-down Friday tomorrow so who knows what else I'll do. The missus has got some 'household chores' for me so maybe not too much!!

 Yes, that is the correct #. Sorry, i shoulda put that in when I mentioned it. That resin office does look better with it's minor differences. I thought about it(forgot to mention this too), i did use the Aires ejection seat which makes a huge difference in my opinion.

Absolutely right about the safety belts!! I'm not so good yet with the PE and I'm still trying to get the things to lay across the seats properly...... lol 

See below for comparrison between kit cockpit and Aires resin replacement cockpit (resin on right). Not too bad really, kit is a fair/basic representation, normally I'd just go with the kit as I don't really do AM stuff.......tends to get expensive if you do and kit is usually more than enough for my simple needs. Never tried AM seat belts before, they come in the Aires kit, boy...are they fiddly or what!

Also cut out the 'instrument cover panel' (for want to the proper name!) as per the Aires instructions, fair bit of sanding/cutting etc to get the cockpit to fit in nice.

Just washed everything, then primed and black-based it.

By the way, I said I'd bought MRP paints for the exterior..........forgot I had also bought the same 2 colors in Alclad MIL-Spec............anyone got any experience with the MIL-Spec stuff (good or bad?)

Good luck with your build Humper.

would the exterior kit be this? https://www.scalemates.com/kits/eduard-32254-av-8b-exterior--116953

 Neat, I'm working on this exact kit! Wanted something with a little 'color' to it, got some suggestions on the Flying Leatherneck decal FL32006. I went with it and decided on VMA-542.

 I like the Trumpy kits but as you've noticed, sometimes color callouts arn't there. I wasn't sure about the office color either and went with xf-19, probably not the right choice but it looks close to the photos I'm using. I used the kit cockpit with the Eduard PE, also the exterior detail set i do recommend, definitley adds a lot!

Far as resin, you want to make sure it's clean, I use Westleys, before priming.