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Tamiya's 1/48 scale
Sea Harrier FRS 1

by Tony Prince

 

Sea Harrier FRS 1

 


Tamiya's 1/48 scale Sea Harrier FRS 1 is available online from Squadron.com for $16.65!

 

Introduction

 

The recent release of the Harrier in 1/32 scale prompted me to keep an eye out for the old Tamiya Sea Harrier kit in 1/48th. This would not be my first effort with this kit as I made the original release way back…

Luckily I found a brand new kit for $20, which I snapped up immediately.

 

 

I resolved to bring the kit up to date, but without any after market items.

 

 

Construction


The first step in the build was to sand off all raised detail & rescribe. This proceeded well enough although I used a fair bit of Tippex along the way to correct a good many mistakes.

 

 

Other modifications were:

  • Thinning down all the wing spoilers.

  • Correcting the fit of the engine bay hatch.

  • Enhancing the ejection seat with belts & other bits.

  • Putting representative panels on the side consoles as well as some structural details

  • inside the sidewalls & rudder pedals (which can’t be seen anyway).

  • Removing incorrect air scoops from fuselage access panels & relocating correctly.

  • Opening up auxiliary air intakes.

  • Repositioning the front undercarriage knuckle to portray weight.

  • Constructing front & rear undercarriage bays as well as the air brake interior.

  • Removing the upper collision light & relocating a better shaped clear item.

  • Rebuilding & reshaping the jet exhaust nozzles using thin card stock, after removing

  • the over thick kit louvres.

  • Installing tailplane endplates.

  • Drilling out the camera lens & replacing with clear sprue, suitably shaped.

 

 

Painting and References

 

Paint is from Gunze & Lifecolor. The decals used are from Xtradecal .

The following excellent references were consulted:

  • “Sea Harrier” by Roger Chesneau, from Aeroguide.

  • “Sea Harrier, The Last All-British Fighter”, by Jamie Hunter.

  • “BAe Sea Harrier” by Kev Darling,  No.75 in the Warpaint Series.

And, of course, many internet sites.

 

  • Tamiya 1/48 Sea Harrier FRS 1 by Tony Prince: Image
  • Tamiya 1/48 Sea Harrier FRS 1 by Tony Prince: Image
  • Tamiya 1/48 Sea Harrier FRS 1 by Tony Prince: Image
  • Tamiya 1/48 Sea Harrier FRS 1 by Tony Prince: Image
  • Tamiya 1/48 Sea Harrier FRS 1 by Tony Prince: Image
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Model and Text Copyright © 2011 by Tony Prince
Page Created 4 January, 2011
Last Updated 4 January, 2011

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