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Old large scale Harrier aircraft, remember it?

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Old large scale Harrier aircraft, remember it?
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, May 28, 2020 11:20 AM

Years ago, around the time the Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi was released and model kits from MPC were made, if you cut out these little "Golden Opportunity" points (wings, waves, wheels) depending on type of kit (planes, boats, cars, military), you could mail in and get various kits for free by sending in a number of the points.

I bought a bunch of Star Wars kits that were on clearance from a local discount store (it was Ames). And I sent in the points for the largest kit they offered, which was a 1/24 scale USMC Harrier.

I built that kit and it was huge. I was leaving college for the Army and gave it to a friend who was in the Marine reserves. I wish I would have kept it.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/mpc-1-4606-av-8a-harrier--187444

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Thursday, May 28, 2020 12:24 PM

Very cool!  I never knew of that kit.  The largest one I knew was Revell's 1/32 kit.  I spent a lot of time looking at that in the catalog, but never got to build it.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2005
Posted by alxdotcom on Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:00 PM
It would have been an MPC boxing of the old Airfix 1/24 Harrier. I still have one in storage I believe.
  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:30 PM

I also thought of the 1/32 Revell kit. 

Airfix had a series of 1/24 aircraft that varied in quality, some were also sold as Heller kits.

I remember, sadly, the FW-190 A where the cowling did not fit over the completed engine. I did like the P-51, Heller had a recon version.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:59 PM

I remember seeing that kit in the hobbu shop, but considering its size I ernt with the Revell kit.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, May 28, 2020 4:09 PM

I remember the Airfix boxings. I thought about getting one years ago, but never went thru with it. I did build the Revell 1/32 kit back around 84 or so. Had it displayed at the LHS in Leesville LA, but when that shop closed somebody took it. They left all my armor builds that way had displayed there  though for me to get back.

 

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  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Thursday, May 28, 2020 5:13 PM

That big 1/24 Airfix/MPC Harrier is a GR.Mk1, which was upgraded with GR.Mk3 parts in later boxings.  I think a Sea Harrier variant was also offered.  Despite having a blah cockpit and landing gear wells, it is impressive when built.  Funny thing is that the pilot figure is pretty nice compared to his office, almost like they spent their tooling budget on him and had to skimp on the cockpit.  A comprehensive aftermarket cockpit would go a long way to improving the kit.  Need resin landing gear and tires too, but a better ones than the one currently available.

I have the GR.Mk3 boxing and have a PE set as well as the tires.  More is needed though if one does not want to do some heavy scratchbuilding.  Fit of the plastic is atrocious.  Even the ordnance halves don't line up!

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Friday, May 29, 2020 1:11 AM

alxdotcom
It would have been an MPC boxing of the old Airfix 1/24 Harrier. I still have one in storage I believe.

Yes, I believe it is an Airfix kit, the kit itself fit horribly.

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