My project for the week

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well I've been out of building mode since my vacation because of work and some classes I'm taking before I start working on my Masters in Aviation Safety, but for the rest of this week I have time to mutilate plastic!

I was browsing around the attic stash trying to decide which of my pending projects to pres ahead with, when an old friend cought my eye, looking a bit sad and neglected.



I built this Harrier back in the very early 90s,and it was one of my first attempts at airbrushing.  It has followed me around through 5 moves, and spent a good part of the last 15 years in a box.  A close look revealed that while on stabilizer was broken off and some weapons were gone, the model was largely intact.

So a thought began to form...one of the projects I was thinking of starting involved a Monogram AV-8A.  If I restored and repainted this Monogram AV-8B instead, I cold devote more time to detailing!  So my alternate Harrier user has jumped up from the 70s to the 90s and re-equiped with Bs.

The original build wasnt too bad, with most seams acceptably filled, without too much raised detail being eliminated.  I'm not into rescribing lines, so I just accept the raised detail on Monogram's otherwise excellent kits.  

I have a little cleanup to do, add a little putty, then start putting it all back together.  Since I was using superglue exclusively when I built this all the bits that need to come off did so easily.  It took all of about a minute to get the gear, pylons, engine nozzles, and gun pack off with no damage whatsoever.

The resptoration will include a new weapons loadout as this AV-8B stands on alert ready to go smite the.........well, you'll have to wait and see who it is waiting to go smite!

[Shasper]

Lemme guess, Capitol Hill defender?

Shas B)

[AeroplaneDriver]

Lemme guess, Capitol Hill defender?

Shas B)

Nah, this one's going to be defending a hill a long way from Washington...

[Eddie M.]

Very nice Harrier! B) That's how I talk myself out of buying new kits(didn't work today. I got another F-15 and P-40) . I refurb my old crappy ones.
  Eddie

[AeroplaneDriver]

This evening's progress:

Not much to look at, but so far I have-

Stripped all non-airframe parts

Cleaned up a few seams, particularly around the intakes

Removed the seatback (seat pan is molded into the cockpit) and repainted to match the Stencel seat on the ARC walkaround page, added masking tape harness to seat

Polished and Futures the windshield and canopy

Seperated outrigger gear from the aft bays they are molded into

Repainted airbrake bay, outrigger bays, and landing gear

Cleaned up seams on the gunpack

Cleaned up instrument panel coaming seams, repainted black

Assembled 6 AGM-65 Mavericks from Monogram's A-10

Tried to straighten warped vertical stab wiht hot water-didnt work well, will do more tomorrow

She's not much to look at yet, but tomorrow I'll be making a trip to the LHS for a few paint colors I need, so she should be wearing new togs tomorrow night.

[Brian da Basher]

Looking great, AD! I think you neglected to mention the step when you add the spats. It's a proven fact that spats increase the coolness factor of every aircraft by 1000%!

I love spats!

Brian da Basher
(who is seriously impressed with your work on this jet-thingy refurb)

[AeroplaneDriver]

Had a few things to do today, so not a whole lot of progress from yesterday.  I did finish touching up the cockpit though, including Future on some of hte screens and instruments.  
I also scratchbuilt a new HUD, since the original made its way into an OA-37 a while back.  The HUD is styrene strip and sprue with an old combiner glass from the spares box.  I also drilled out a hole for the projector and painted it silver, followed by a dab of clear green, then topped of with Future.

Hopefully I'll get some paint on tonight.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well the paint is on.  It's not my best work, but for a redo of a model that has sat neglected for a decade I' happy enough.

Tomorrow will see the Future coat, decals, and weathering, which always make a model look better, then the weapons fit, gear, and details before the final reveal along with the backstory.

Until then here is a post-painting pic.  The sharper intellects among us may be able to determine the user from the camo.  

[Brian da Basher]

Wow looking good, AD! That camo looks Israeli to me, but I don't claim to be among the sharper intellects here. Unless it comes to spats, of course.

Did I mention that I love spats?

Brian da Basher

[AeroplaneDriver]

Right you are BdB!!

And you will be thrilled to know that it will have spats!!!

Though this model will depict an early IDF attempt at visual stealth, so the spats will be appear as the Harrier's normal retractable landing gear.   B)  

[Damian2]

Awesome work as always! I see your "old" Harrier was from the same squadron as my FV-9. So now we know where the AV-8s went too!

Can't wait to see the big reveal!    

[Archibald]

It's not my best work

 
Well I want to see the rest of your work !!!!
Just love those colors... good job!!  

[Captain Canada]

Looking good, Aeroman ! You sure are quick off the draw....took you no time at all to get all that work done !

Love the camo....thosIsreali markings are really going to look sweet on that Harrier !