Completed 11/26/16 Trumpeter 1/32 AV-8B Night Attack Harrier II

Greatmaker

Coming along nicely Toshi. The cockpit looks fantastic

 

Toshi

Planning the next step of this Harrier build, I used fermis's WIP Harrier as a base on what direction I should be going in.  I'm extremely greatfull of his assistance with my build as this has helped me so much.  Thank you fermis!

I've also learned through many mistakes to utilize photos on the Internet of which Mrs. Toshi helps me with for examples on how this build should look.  What was really cool is that last night I got to see True Lies playing on HBO. This is one of the major ideas, reasons, and inspirations in building a Harrier kit.  Plus you've got to love a jet the can do a vertical takeoff and landing.

Watching True Lies for the umpteenth time, I never bore of the Harrier scene.  At the very least, I was able to see what I was doing wrong and how to correct any issues to the best of my abilities.  What you see above is what was done last night as well as this mornings bench time.  I've got several doctors appointments so I won't be able to do anything else with this kit until the early evening.  Thank you forum members for your dedication in following my builds!

Toshi

P.S. The Eduard PE is really a great and accurate representation of what the parts and pieces it replaces should look like.  For anyone interested in building this kit with an aftermarket Eduard PE set, the set number is 32673.

Your model building is very impressive, Toshi.  And, I see you are now working on your photos with a graphics program to add text.  Might I suggest that you keep the text out of the subject area?  I may be the only one afflicted with this, but it confuses my eyes when it is on or near the model.

jeaton01

Your model building is very impressive, Toshi.  And, I see you are now working on your photos with a graphics program to add text.  Might I suggest that you keep the text out of the subject area?  I may be the only one afflicted with this, but it confuses my eyes when it is on or near the model.

 

I just found out how to use the graphic text yesterday.  It was fun adding something in that was different.  Still, I completely agree with you as it does distract from the main subject of which is the kit itself.  Thank you so much for always visiting and supporting my projects!

Toshi

To my fellow forum members,

This is what I have done today.  My next step is to mask certain areas and pre-weather the Harrier.  Thank you for the visit.

Toshi

Looking good, Toshi! :)

cant wait to see the next installment. :D

M. Brindos

Looking good, Toshi! :)

cant wait to see the next installment. :D

 

Toshi

Looks great, Toshi!

WannabeFarmboy

Looks great, Toshi!

 

Toshi

Looking good, Toshi. It's nice watching you take on increasingly challenging builds. I need to add a Harrier to the stash. 

BK

That looks like a super-fun kit. Again, great to see you back and building in your new quarters, Toshi.

Been meaning to comment on the beautiful cockpit, stuff kept popping up and now it's a bit late, but, I love that cockpit!

Can I come over for Heads-up-display assembling lessons? Yours looks great, mine look like crap. Every time.

BrandonK

Looking good, Toshi. It's nice watching you take on increasingly challenging builds. I need to add a Harrier to the stash. 

BK

 

I on the other hand do not have the ability to scratch build.  What I did was to modify the flawed part with some sanding and cutting.  That's the only way I could build this kit and there was only one piece that needed modification.  

I am excited for you in that you will add a Harrier to your stash.  This is a really cool plane.  I did not know that the Harrier is still in service until 2025.  That's pretty amazing for a 70's designed aircraft.  BrandonK, thank you for always supporting my builds and visiting my WIP threads.  

Toshi

This is looking really nice, fine work on this one.

Mike

Greg

That looks like a super-fun kit. Again, great to see you back and building in your new quarters, Toshi.

Been meaning to comment on the beautiful cockpit, stuff kept popping up and now it's a bit late, but, I love that cockpit!

Can I come over for Heads-up-display assembling lessons? Yours looks great, mine look like crap. Every time.

 

 

With your support as well as FSM forum members, I was able to learn how to correct these errors and move forward with this build.  As for things"Popping up", I want to thank you for your inclusion of my WIP in your very busy schedule.  And you're never late to any of my threads!  LOL!

I don't think your cockpit looks bad at all, I think it's quite the opposite.  As for coming over, I would be estactic to have you over!  LOL!  In all seriousnes, it would bring me great pleasure if you did come over.  We can have coffee and or tea, talk shop, I'll even cook a meal for us, and you'll get to meet Mrs. Toshi.  That would be a very exciting day.  You're always welcome as well as other FSM forum members!

Toshi

Buckeye

This is looking really nice, fine work on this one.

Mike

 

I've learned to appreciate and respect even more so now having this hobby almost taken away from me due to the move in regards to space constraints.  Thank you so much for the read and reply.

Toshi

This is what was done from this morning.  I still need to clean things up yet I'm very pleased with the outcome of the AB process of the fueselage.  I'm planning on painting the tail black.  After that I'll add the camoflauge to the top of the wing.

From that point, I'll apply the decals, seal it in, and work on the canopy last.  Please enjoy the photos below and thank you forum members for your support in my Harrier WIP thread.

Toshi

WOW what a beautifully detailed kit . You're doing a stunning job on it as well and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest .

The primer makes evident lots of nice surface detail on that kit.

Jay Jay

WOW what a beautifully detailed kit . You're doing a stunning job on it as well and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest .

 

Thank you for the compliment, I don't know that it's; "Stunning" as you mentioned but I gave it all my best.  It's definately a very nice kit to build.  Looking forward, I have some small detailed parts to glue and the application of decals.  Thank you for always supporting my builds and visiting my WIP threads.

Toshi

Greg

The primer makes evident lots of nice surface detail on that kit.

 

Toshi

I did some of the AB portion on the patio last night.  Yes it was that nice especially during this time of year during mid-November part of which is very rare.  Today is supposed to be in the high 60's with tomorrow's temps breaking records within the 70's.  Wow!  More work on the Harrier can be carried on outside on the patio.

I'll spend today cleaning up the Harrier and applying the decals.  Then it's time to seal it in.

Toshi

I tried to copy the fermis technique in (Det Cord) that you do a quarter inch at a time and lightly wipe away the excess with your finger.  I tried that four times without success.  Each time it got worst.  LOL!  Sorry fermis, I did try my best.  Also I did use craft acrylic paint as per his recommendation.

I finally just held my breath literally and took a very small brush and hand painted the detail in with Testors white enamel.  It's not perfect yet I think once it gets mounted on the frame and attached to the cockpit, it should look somewhat exceptable.  I hope?  LOL!  Honestly, I was disappointed in not being able to follow fermis instructions.  I don't know what I did wrong.  But I did correct the issue at hand so here is the canopy with the Det Cord hand painted in.

This is typical Ohio crazy weather!  On Friday the 18th, it was 71 degrees and I did some AB outside on the patio.  It was a very lovely day.  On Saturday the 19th, we had hail, snow storm, and temps in the 30's!  I thought the snow wouldn't stick due to the ground being too warm.  Boy, was I wrong.  Today, everything is blanketed in white.  I definately won't be AB outside!  LOL!  Thank's to my portable paint booth, the only thing that'll stick outside is the air vent.  LOL!

fermis is building the same exact kit on his thread as I am.  At least that's what I thought so until last night.  He mentioned that his kit did not come with any rails to accompany his ordinance.  So I thought I was in trouble due to this issue.  To my surprise, I noticed an extra insert in the assembly book that contained the instructions on how to assemble all the ordinance to the rails then to the Harrier itself. 

When I carefully checked all of the required spruces, there it was.  Every single rail needed to comply with the ordinance.  I have come to the conclusion that this is an updated kit.  Some of the step by step insert instructions are printed on another piece of paper and crudely glued onto the updated insert page sheets.  

I have photos below of the Harrier from VMF-311 Tomcat.  I, being a cat fanatic had to have the Sylvester the cat decal on the tail.  It looks like Sylvester is riding a bomb.  How cool is that!  I also chose this squadron as the tail is painted black.  It offsets all this gray and really brings out the detail of the Harrier.  Today, I'm going to spray a Model Master flat coat #4636 onto  the aircraft  to seal  in the decals. Then it's a wash followed by the attachment of the ordinance as im going to load the Harrier up with everything possible.  Please view the disclosed photos of the updated kit assembly.  Thank you so much for visiting and supporting my build thread!

Toshi

Here's the GUB-12 with rail.  There will be two sets of three GUB-12's to total 6 all together.  This will look really cool.  I'll also be adding two huge fuel tanks and a pair of AIM-9L's.

Wow, Toshi! Looking excellent, my friend!

M. Brindos

Wow, Toshi! Looking excellent, my friend!

 

Do you remember my Academy M1 Abrams tank build?  I learned so much from you during that build.  We went back and forth in real time trying to highlight and weather the Abrams.  Ever since then, I've been trying to improve on that technique that you've taken the valuable time to teach me! I will never forget that, once again, thank you M.Brindos!

Toshi

Looking good there Toshi. I like the markings on the tail.

Any time you want to learn more tricks for armor building, all you got to do is ask, my friend.

Any time.