AV-8B II PE Question

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I recently received Two 1/48 Harrier kits from Hasegawa. ( it was a good father’s day to say the least). [:D]

I picked up a PE set from Eduard for the Harrier II Plus. The question I have is.
Can I use this same set on the “Desert Harrier” or is there a set out there that is made specifically for the regular AV-8B II??

Thanks
Paul

2

Warlock: Does the “Desert Harrier” have a FLIR blister on top of the nose, just forward of the windscreen (forward canopy)? The Harrier II Plus is the Radar attack version. The Harrier II is the Night Attack, has ARBS (Angle Rate Bombing System is a camera in the tip of the nose cone) with FLIR on top the nose. The cockpit layout for the Harrier II and II Plus are pretty much identical. If the “Desert Harrier” is a Day Attack (no FLIR on the nose) the cockpit is different.

Hope I didn’t confuse you.

3

Dragonfire:

Thanks for the info. As far as I can tell. The "Desert Harrier"is not the night attack version (there is no FLIR on the nose).
The explaination was great no confusion here. thanks a bunch.

The only thing that confuses me is why Hasegawa would put a seam line down the middle of the canopy though.

thanks again
Paul

4

It allows for the proper “bubble” cross section of the canopy to be molded. Still a pain though to sand out. Those three-way fingernail buffers work great for getting rid of that seam.

Cheers,
Albert [:o)]

5

Albymoore:

I didn’t know that about the molding. I just got finished with the old Monogram harrier and it didn’t have it there. It just caught me off guard when I saw it.

Thanks for the buffer advice. I do have a couple of those 3 way buffers you mentioned. Plus one that has a 12000 grit also. Removing that seam line is going to be new territory for me.

Paul

6

Hi Paul,
Glad to help. I must get one those Hasegawa Harrier kits (along with their F-8E Crusader kit as well).

The key is to work slowly and not to push too hard on the buffer. Aside from the possibilty of cracking, sanding too hard can also flatten the area where the seam was, throwing the overall shape out of whack. After buffing the seam out, a dip in some Future floor wax will make the canopy crystal clear. Good luck [tup].

Cheers,
Albert [:o)]

7

Warlock…glad I was of help. How is the second Harrier kit? Is it the 1/48 Radar Attack that Hasegawa just released?