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US Navy FV-9a Sea Harrier

Started by HarryPhishnuts, August 21, 2023, 07:33:40 AM

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HarryPhishnuts

August 21, 2023, 07:33:40 AM
A little what-if build. In the 1970's the US Navy looked at the idea of building light aircraft carriers (Sea Control Ships), essentially a modern day version of the WW2 escort carriers, to augment the larger fleet carriers. These would field a small contingent of ASW Helicopters and a handful of supersonic VTOL fighters for AAW. The fighter role was to be handled by a derivative of Rockwell XVF-12. However this was a failure and the whole idea ended up being scrapped (Note a number of other countries did go forward with this idea)

What-If, instead of of canceling the whole program the Navy instead asked McDonnell Douglas to build on their work with Hawker Siddeley for the AV-8 to adapt the then in development FRS.1 Sea Harrier for use by the US Navy. While it would never be supersonic it could meet other requirements such as BVR with the AIM-7. So this is my idea of a FV-9A Sea Harrier.

The build took a lot longer than I had anticipated but that was all on me. The base kit is a 1/72 Hasagawa Sea Harrier. Nice kit that went together pretty well (though for the life of me I can't figure out what's up with the pogos). However as I was kinda winging this whole idea as I went, and have never done this level of mods before, I ended up going down a couple of dead ends and failed experiments on some things. A number of mods were from F-4 kits. The wingtip extensions were built using  F-4 horizontal stabilizers, the revised radome was from a F-4 centerline drop tank and RHAW antenna on the intakes were leftovers as well. The additional pylons and rails were modded from ones in a Hasagawa weapons pack as were the Sparrows. I tried to make a dorsal hump similar to an A-4 so did a bunch of trial and error with different materials but never could get anything that looked right so I ditched that idea.

I also spent a lot of time researching to figure out what squadron to use. I was looking for one that had been deactivated before the FV-9a would come into service. Ended up picking the VF -92 Silver Kings. That then led to needing to create custom decals with turned into another learning adventure. Had trouble finding  a suitable printable image of the insignia the unit used so had to come up with my own. Most other decals were sourced from other kits but I had to create my own for some of the other stencils on the aft fuselage. In the end, not my best build or paint work but still learned stuff and had fun.

Martin H

#1
August 21, 2023, 11:49:13 AM
I like the idea of the rhino horns over the intakes. I may just have to steal that idea at some point...........

Welcome aboard, I like what youve done to the SHAR.  :thumbsup:
I always hope for the best.
Unfortunately,
experience has taught me to expect the worst.

Size (of the stash) matters.

IPMS (UK) What if? SIG Leader.
IPMS (UK) Project Cancelled SIG Member.

PR19_Kit

#2
August 21, 2023, 11:50:15 AM
I get 403 errors for all the pics. :(
Kit's Rule 1 ) Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings, and/or a longer fuselage
Kit's Rule 2) The backstory can always be changed to suit the model

...and I'm not a closeted 'Take That' fan, I'm a REAL fan! :)

Regards
Kit

Martin H

#3
August 21, 2023, 12:42:15 PM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 21, 2023, 11:50:15 AMI get 403 errors for all the pics. :(
Try it now kit.
I always hope for the best.
Unfortunately,
experience has taught me to expect the worst.

Size (of the stash) matters.

IPMS (UK) What if? SIG Leader.
IPMS (UK) Project Cancelled SIG Member.

PR19_Kit

#4
August 21, 2023, 01:05:07 PM
That's better, thanks.  :thumbsup:

What did you do to fix it?
Kit's Rule 1 ) Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings, and/or a longer fuselage
Kit's Rule 2) The backstory can always be changed to suit the model

...and I'm not a closeted 'Take That' fan, I'm a REAL fan! :)

Regards
Kit

sandiego89

#5
August 21, 2023, 01:58:47 PM
Quote from: HarryPhishnuts on August 21, 2023, 07:33:40 AMNice kit that went together pretty well (though for the life of me I can't figure out what's up with the pogos)........


Many Sea Harrier/Harrier kits contain both up and down pogos, to reflect their longer configuration when down and extended (the strut extends when the gear goes down).  You may have used the shorter, retracted, pogos, but installed them in the down position. Check your sprues.   

Nice job, really like what you did with it, especially the radome and FLIR!
Dave "Sandiego89"
Chesapeake, Virginia, USA

kerick

#6
August 21, 2023, 03:08:31 PM
That's a great whiff! From the look of this I'm looking forward to your next project.
" Somewhere, between half true, and completely crazy, is a rainbow of nice colours "
Tophe the Wise

DogfighterZen

#7
August 21, 2023, 05:55:52 PM
Nice work! IMO, long nose Harriers are the most elegant and yours fits right into that category. :thumbsup:
"Sticks and stones may break some bones but a 3.57's gonna blow your damn head off!!"

kerick

#8
August 21, 2023, 08:25:02 PM
Are there any ship or AEW systems that can guide a missile launched from an aircraft? That would make the aircraft sort of like the missiles first stage and initial guidance. Probably is I just can't think of one.
" Somewhere, between half true, and completely crazy, is a rainbow of nice colours "
Tophe the Wise

Wardukw

#9
August 21, 2023, 09:42:28 PM
As a Harrier fan I'm liking this one alot  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:
If it aint broke ,,fix it until it is .
Over kill is often very understated .
I know the voices in my head ain't real but they do come up with some great ideas.
Theres few of lifes problems that can't be solved with the proper application of a high explosive projectile .

Old Wombat

#10
August 22, 2023, 01:54:41 AM
Nice work! :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:

I have that boxing in the Wombat Stash (yes, I do have some 1/72 "wrong-scale" kits) & you've given me some ideas to work with. ;D

Have a twin boxing of F-4's, too. ;)
Has a life outside of What-If & wishes it would stop interfering!

"The purpose of all War is Peace" - St. Augustine

veritas ad mortus veritas est

Wardukw

#11
August 22, 2023, 02:02:24 AM
I've gotta get a Harrier ..finding em here is the issue and I've looked..so far I no find  :-\
If it aint broke ,,fix it until it is .
Over kill is often very understated .
I know the voices in my head ain't real but they do come up with some great ideas.
Theres few of lifes problems that can't be solved with the proper application of a high explosive projectile .

Dizzyfugu

#12
August 22, 2023, 02:04:28 AM
Nice, even though I am not certain about the Sparrows so close to the nozzles under the fuselage?

NARSES2

#13
August 22, 2023, 06:28:20 AM
That's come out really well  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.

HarryPhishnuts

#14
August 22, 2023, 06:39:11 AM
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on August 22, 2023, 02:04:28 AMNice, even though I am not certain about the Sparrows so close to the nozzles under the fuselage?

I actually spent a fair amount of time dry fitting things to see how to make that work. They are roughly in the same position as the gun pods would be carried. I know that the FA.2 carried Amramms on the fuselage but the sparrow is a bigger bird. The control fins should be 'just out of the way' but it would be tight.
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