Monogram 1/48 AV-8A Hawker Harrier - WIP

Well those markings don't allow for a pilot of Austrian origin, with a teenaged girl clinging to the windscreen and a terrorist hanging from one of the missiles.  

Aggieman

Well those markings don't allow for a pilot of Austrian origin, with a teenaged girl clinging to the windscreen and a terrorist hanging from one of the missiles.  

 

No they sure don't... a bit older than those days 

It's a good kit, I remember building one way back in the day. I found a special boxed version at a Michael's store in the clearance aisle. It included a book and a resin nose. It's by Revell, but I think it's the same base kit.

This should be good. 

Thanks Joe. I hope that you enjoy the show.

Rob Gronovius

I found a special boxed version at a Michael's store in the clearance aisle. It included a book and a resin nose. It's by Revell, but I think it's the same base kit.

That was based off of their AV-8B Harrier, and it had the resin nose for the Night Attack version, with the FLIR camera. You got a great score on that clearance find at Michael's. I built their basic AV-8B many years ago. That's a newer better detailed kit. 

That looks like a pretty smart kit, I'm quite impressed with the level of cockpit detail.

Hutch, it is indeed a nice kit. Until the new Harrier kits in 1/48 came out recently, this was the best kit in town for an early Harrier in the scale. 

Stik, I have that same kit, and for probably as long, so I'll be watching this build with interest.  Fine job so far.

Thanks Mark. I hope that you enjoy the show.

Any chance we'll be seeing that snow camo?!  They really did set the bar in the 80's with their 1/48 aircraft. 

Mopar Madness

Any chance we'll be seeing that snow camo?!  They really did set the bar in the 80's with their 1/48 aircraft. 

 

Hello Chad. Nope, sorry, this one won't be in snow camo. I'm really leaning towards the 70's RAF colors and full color markings on this one. 
And yes, the 80's Monogram 1/48 kits were the king of the hill at that time. Those kits still hold up well today. 

stik,

I have the same kit and same sheet. I'm watchin'...

-O

Omar, very cool that you're gonna watch this! I love your work!

WQell, this is something new. Nice subject and kit, look forward to the build.

Bill

GMorrison

WQell, this is something new. Nice subject and kit, look forward to the build.

 

Bill

 

Yeah, something old and new at the same time. Thanks for looking in and I hope that you enjoy this project.

I’ve got an oil wash done in the cockpit and have started on more detail painting...

I have some instrument decals on the way for the IP.

Still looking good. My last Harrier was the old 1/16th scale AV-8A kit by Airfix that I got from MPC for mailing in "Golden Wings" or "Golden Stripes" or Golden Wheels" from the box sides of various MPC model kits.

It was huge and ill fitting, but it was free (I guess I may have paid shipping). I know buying those Return of the Jedi Star Wars kits on clearance in 1984 helped greatly in achieving that promotion.

Oh hell yeah I'll be watching this.  Cockpit details are pretty good.   If I didnt already know I wouldn't have guessed the kit is 40+ years old.

wpwar11

Cockpit details are pretty good.

Yup.  I remember learning that about the two main model brands back then...that if you bought a Monogram instead of a Revell, chances were that you were going to be much happier with the cockpit detail.  It'll be cool to watch this build.  There were a lot of those old Monogram kits that were great quality, even by today's standards.

Years Ago;

     It was an Airshow at Little Rock Air Force base. They had the British there with a wing of the Early Harriers. The grand Prize was this. During the show, The ground crews would collect tickets .The one chosen LAST got a ride in a two place version of the early Harrier while it danced to the Blue Danube waltz!

      That was my lucky day. My Son and I had turned to go when they announced my number. I was the last! You had to be eighteen to accept the prize. Nuff Said! I went straight to Jacks Hobby Shop and bought two, One for me and one for my son.

 I think our dancing Altitude was about 150 feet from the bottom of the landing gear to the Ground. But, what an experience. Oh, that Rolls-Royce NE-NE engine was deafening in the cockpit!

Nice work so far Stik. like the others I've had and built this kit many, many moons ago. As I remember, you are spot on with the ordanance comment, but otherwise it was an enjoyable build. Do you have other ordanance spares to spruce it up?

Being a fan of the Harrier, I also have the kit in 1/144 Dragon "GR5", 1/72 Hasegawa "A", 1/48 Monogram "A", 1/40 (die-cast toy), 1/32 Revell "A", 1/24 Airfix "A" or "GR1" , and 1/18 HobbyBoss AV8B Harrier II.

Good luck, enjoy the build, we will enjoy watching it go together.

Ben

Rob, I always wanted one of those huge Harrier kits. When I was overseas I tried to get ahold of one to build while I was there because I knew it would stay there and I didn't have to worry about display space. But they were stupid expensive with shipping to an APO address. I still would not mind getting one someday.

WP, for its vintage, it's a damn good kit. And Monogram has only reissued it once or twice, so the molds should still be pretty good, if it's ever reissued.

Eagle, I know what you mean. If you compare the Monogram and Revell F-16, F-14, F-15, F-18, or A-10 issued around the same time, pre merger, the Monogram kits were way superior. Their Century Series kits still rock!

Tanker, you were one lucky dog to win that ride! I can only imagine the noise of that engine up close. Seeing the every year at El Toro was always a treat, from the A to the B. I'm looking forward to seeing a F-35B in person doing V/STOL someday.

Thanks Ben. Yeah, for ordnance I'm gonna use a pair of resin tanks from a Missing Links GR.3 conversion kit for the inboard pylons and some Rockeyes for outboard. I have plenty of other options in my spares if I change my mind.

stikpusher

Eagle, I know what you mean. If you compare the Monogram and Revell F-16, F-14, F-15, F-18, or A-10 issued around the same time, pre merger, the Monogram kits were way superior. Their Century Series kits still rock!

Ok, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought this. If I bought a Revell kit and a Monogram kit of the same/similar subject, I always thought the Monogram kit was superior regardless of whether it was a car or plane.

stikpusher

Eagle, I know what you mean. If you compare the Monogram and Revell F-16, F-14, F-15, F-18, or A-10 issued around the same time, pre merger, the Monogram kits were way superior. Their Century Series kits still rock!

Stik, yup.  I had built both the Revell and the Monogram A-10s when I was a kid and there was no comparison in the quality and level of detail.  My second model after my 25 year hiatus from modeling was Monogram's Blue Thunder (I had also built that one when I was a kid), which I scored off of Ebay.  That was one of the coolest builds I think I have ever done.  All kinds of detail on every part of it, along with the movable gun and turning rotor.  I agree on the Century Series kits too.  Got an F-105G in 1/48 a couple of years ago, so it has the Revell brand on it, but I remember who actually made it back in the day.  Also kind of liking the old, original, Monogram B-36 I just added to the stash from another Ebay search.  The Monogram SR-71 was also second-to-none for detail in that scale (1/72).  The offerings from other manufacturers didn't even come close.

Kind of off topic but have you worked on their 1/48 F-14?  Im thinking about getting the Revell re-issue of the F-14D Super Tomcat.  Raised panel lines and all.  I fell in love with the picture on the box years back with the plane sitting on the tarmac and the ominous storm clouds behind it.  

Mopar Madness

Kind of off topic but have you worked on their 1/48 F-14?  Im thinking about getting the Revell re-issue of the F-14D Super Tomcat.  Raised panel lines and all.  I fell in love with the picture on the box years back with the plane sitting on the tarmac and the ominous storm clouds behind it.  

 

No I have not. I have only built the older Testors/Fujimi F-14 in 1/48. Although I do have a couple of 1/48 Monogram Tomcats in my stash: an A and a D to build one day. 

Stik,

That's one Monogram kit I failed to get when they were new.  Always loved the Harrier.  Imagine, it took 40 years to get a new 1/48 kit of the first-gen "Jump Jet".  I built the Tamiya kit back in the day, in RAF colors.  Ever since the Falklands conflict, I have wanted a good RAF GR.Mk3.  I have the monster 1/24 Airfix kit in the stash, but it's pretty unsophisticated.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing your build!

Well;

     To tell you the truth Stik. Even with a helmet on and something covering my ears I thought I was IN that Ne-Ne engine, Not in front of it! It was like putting your ears to a Kirby Vacuum Cleaner on high!

 I may have commited Ear Canal  Hair Murder that day, But I would do it in an F-35 in a split second( if my old bones would allow it!) To bad they would NOT allow cameras in the A/C. Kin youse imagine the awesome photos I woulda Had?