Trumpeter 1/32 Harrier GR.7

By Piero De Santis

This is my latest Harrier in 1/32.

The kit I started with is the same old Trumpeter series... unfortunately Tamiya doesn't want to give us this gift…

The model represents a RAF Harrier GR.7 based at Laarbruch in Germany in 1994.

It has a beautiful tail adorned with the colors of the IV(AC) Squadron: this choice was adopted as a safety measure in terms of "visibility" during very low altitude flights and I believe also because this Harrier was used to participate in the summer airshows of that year.

Speaking of the model, as I have already said with the previous Harriers that I have made, there are many things that need to be modified and added to this kit:

A new resin nose made by myself replaces the same plastic part of the kit that is really poorly represented with completely incorrect details such as the FLIR and the ECM Zeus antennas. Furthermore, the panels are wrong, and a slight square bulge is missing in the lower part. Also, the RCV is completely redone because it was wrong. The glass covering the ARBS targeting system sensor must also be replaced with one of a more suitable shape.
For the cockpit I’ve chosen to use the Aires resin tub with a MK.12 seat made by myself based on an MK.10 resin seat. For the HUD I’ve used the beautiful resin piece made by Flying Leathernecks Decals.
The nose gear well also comes from an Aires resin set, the detail of which is unmatched.
The legs of the undercarriages were completely redone, while the wheels come from the Reskit resin set; beautiful.
I didn't spend much time working inside the large air intakes as I had already decided from the start to apply a couple of anti-FOD covers which give also a bit of color once finished.
This GR.7 had a 100% LERX since it left the factory: these pieces were scratchbuilt using plasticard and detailed to match the fuselage panels and wing edges.
The entire wing has been completely revised in its profile because the wing parts of the kit are really poorly done. Therefore, the only solution was to study the profiles carefully in photos and work hard on the plastic parts with putty and sandpaper. All the panel lines then needed to be redone as many were lost and those remaining were completely wrong.
The four exhaust nozzles of the Pegasus engine have also received care and details to make them a little more similar to the real ones, as well as the protection metal plates.
All nine pylons have been replaced with the Flying Leathernecks Decals resin set; great 3D resin pieces with beautiful details. However, work to the wing plastic parts is necessary here to adapt them and correctly align each pylon.
The empty gun pods are the plastic parts of the kit that needed to be shortened and heavily detailed... I feel like I'm being a bit repetitive...
One piece completely missing from the kit which is characteristic of all second generation RAF Harriers is the chaff & flare launcher box which should be behind the ventral airbrake. This is a resin piece of my own making.
As I said before, all the panel lines and rivets have been redone, as were the various antennas and sensors.
I’ve opened the access steps, added a retractable ladder and extended the In Flight Refueling Probe.

The model is painted using Gunze (H) and Tamiya (XF) acrylic paints: The topside is in NATO Green, obtained with a mix of H-64 and H-309.

The underside is in Lichen Green, obtained with a mix of XF-65 and XF-73.

The decals come from various sheets (Model Alliance, Xtradecals, Zotz…).

Enjoy!

Trumpeter 1/32 Harrier GR.7

By Piero De Santis

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