slick95 Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Well, after a few months hiatus, and the start of a new much larger project (new full scale Pitts wings - Ravens), I've decided to go ahead and dust off the building table and start another kit. This time I'll be building the 1/48 Hasegawa AV-8B Harrier II Plus in the colors of VMA-513 (still need to buy the aftermarket decals) to complement the CH-53E I completed last year. This build is also my first to try an aftermarket resin cockpit set. Up until now I've always used edward photo etch so this will be a nice new challenge. Anyway, on to some pics! The mandatory box shot! The larger Aires resin parts: SLICK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I like your choice of builds SLICK!... The Harrier isn't a bad choice either... B) I'll be keeping tabs on this one... Feel free to post some pics of that Raven wing if you feel so inclined as well... It wouldn't happen to be the 2XS your working on would it? Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jugjunkie Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Hi Slick, I'll watch your progress with a lot of interest. Reason is I'm sitting at about 50% through the same kit and i an stalled due to plenty fit problems. Main problems were: 1. The wing root extentions were a nightmare 2. The intakes were also very problematic 3. The nose needed a fair bit of filler 4. But the killer is the part that goes on behind the cockpit (will show it tomorrow) The size is simply too large and it doesn't fit. It may be that i'm not the best modern aircraft builder around and perhaps i've even messed up somewhere but it will be interesting to see your effort. Look forward to this. Geoff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jugjunkie Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Hi again Slick, These are the problems I encountered so far, actually I don't want to carry on for now because item 3 below is going to take some very careful work with plenty of cutting. Looking forward to your findings and how you overcome them (that's if you have the same problems) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 SLICK, Nice choice for a new project...Always nce to follow your projects...Good start... Wasn't this Harrier used in OPERATION RESTORATION HOPE ? HOLMES ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted March 19, 2010 Author Share Posted March 19, 2010 (edited) Thanks for the complements everyone! Here are a few pictures of some work so far on the Raven wings, Mark. The 2XS is an awesome plane! However, my wings are for the S-1. I'll be replacing my old "C" wings with the new "SS" Raven wings. So far I've only worked on the bottom wing rib kit. Next I'll start on the top wing ribs. Jugjunkie, as far as the fit issue on the kit, I haven't completely decided how I want to tackle this problem. I've found a few helpful hints online with different methods of solving/lessening the fit issue with the Harrier. I guess I'll just have to see what works as I go along. I'll be sure to share what I do! Holmes, I'm not really sure where the Harrier was used. I do know however, that it is the same harrier I saw in the two ship demonstration at Airventure 2007. I have a fairly mediocre video with some horrible editing I put together of the demonstration back in 2007: There are also some outstanding pictures of this aircraft in flight here: (Photos by Ted Carlson) http://www.asb.tv/files/photo/gallery/phot...rig_1_aab05.jpg http://www.asb.tv/files/photo/gallery/phot...rig_1_b2ff2.jpg http://www.asb.tv/files/photo/gallery/phot...rig_1_8e6a4.jpg SLICK Edited March 19, 2010 by slick95 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 SLICK, Thank you for the 2007 Airventure Vidoe..good editing and nice Thank you..one of your BEST ones .. The links for the photos are BRILLAINT ..thankx. HOLMES Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 I don't recall a gap on the top of mine, but I also assembled the top wing LEX and rear cockpit deck as one assembly before attaching it to the fuselage. Also you might want to add some styrene to the bottom of the intake where it meets the fuselage, as there are two triangular "holes" there. Here,s a pic of my upper, virtually no filler was used, sorry for the small picture, I just checked my files and the one there is the same size, odd as my personal photoas are usually BIG Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Thanks for the photo's Slick!...Excellent work on those wing ribs... :blink: It's a little different building something that once your done with it your going to strap it on and go fly it... I'd like to see more as it progresses...How long do you think it will take to complete the entire conversion? When I built my Harrier I found the fit to be quite good actually. The assembly sequence was the key I found to getting the best fit. Along with patience and a lot of dry fitting. Like Curt, I used very little filler on mine. I used a slightly different build sequence than he did, but if you notice that when Curt put the LEX and rear deck parts in place that the intake for the engine had not yet been attached. If you attach the intake to the fuselage assembly before you attach the rear deck part (it doesn't help that the instructions tell you to do this) the sides of the fuselage will get pulled in slightly. Just enough to keep the rear deck piece from fitting into position properly. I'd post a link to my build thread but considering I did it on that other forum that shall not be named, suffice it to say, it rhymes with "Bone Jive" and it's in the OEF/OIF GB section. There's also one by Craig Sargent there as well that has some good stuff in it. Keep up the good work! Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Nice work on the Harrier and the new wings for your Pitts ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 Thanks again everyone for the complements! I'd like to see more as it progresses...How long do you think it will take to complete the entire conversion? Sure thing! It will probably be about a year and a half or so before it is complete...especially at the rate I have to build. I only get work in while I'm home from A&M on the weekends. This week happened to be spring break, but that's over now...unfortunately. I decided to follow both Curt and Mark's method of construction and found it to work out really well. I can see how there won't be much filler on the model at all...at least not yet. Anyway, here is the work I got done today. I spent quite a few hours in the hangar building on the harrier after completing the 14th rib for the bottom wing of the Pitts. Today I completed the Aires cockpit set and began the major construction of the kit. This will be the last update until next weekend most likely. Until then! SLICK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted April 4, 2010 Author Share Posted April 4, 2010 (edited) Got a little bit of work done on the harrier this weekend. I was on a two week hiatus because last weekend I was down in Kingsville for the Wings Over South Texas Airshow. Here are some videos I have uploaded so far if you care to take a look: More videos are still being uploaded. Anyway, on the harrier I was able to do a lot of filling and sanding as well as mate the forward and aft fuselage assemblies. (That's a layer of liquid mask on the fan blades...not dust in the paint ) As for the Pitts, I was able to complete the first wing tip rib this weekend. SLICK Edited April 4, 2010 by slick95 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
otis252 Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Dude, you really do great "in progress builds". Looking forward to following this one also. Chuck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 (edited) SLICK. The fan blades looks Very neatly done... and the wing tip rib is coming along just fine I see... Keep up the good work.Can't wait for more updates... HOLMES Edited May 23, 2010 by HOLMES Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 Looking good! I am just one step ahead of you on mine, getting close to paint by end of the week if I do not have ant distractions...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 Thanks all for the complements! Well, it's been a long time since I've updated this thread, but I have slowly been making progress over the past month. Now that I have a year of college under my belt, I will be able to do some significant building for a week or two before I head off on summer cruise in Norfolk. Anyway, time for some updates! I added a few more parts to the fuselage that need to go on before painting. The lateral strakes are shown here. Other than continuous filling and sanding I've been doing a lot of cockpit work. Here is what she currently looks like with the drop tanks sitting under the wings. As for the Raven wings, I have one more rib to build for the bottom wing. Also, I was curious as to how many kits I have, so I pulled them all out and stacked them up. Currently I have 47 kits. I think that's a pretty comparable stash for now. SLICK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 I think we are neck & neck......I am about ready to but the windscreen on & hopefully paint this week. The only painting I did this week was the guest room closet...... BTW, noticed the FlightSafety crew badge, did you train with FSI? I currently work at FSI designing the simulators. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 Then it's a race! No, I didn't train at FSI. It's one of my father's many crew tags from when he trained to fly the DCH-7, King Air 350, and Citation 550. SLICK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Great looking Harrier you have there Tha Aires pit really was nice.... as was the HUD! Your stash pile kind of reminds me of the rule my GF imposed on me when we lived in a smaller apartment. She declared: -" When your stash pile reach as high as the light button on the wall then you aren´t allowed to buy anymore models before you have built a few of the ones you have!" Those days are long gone....now my Hobby cave is overflowing as everybody elses :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 Well it sounds like everything is going great then Aigore! I haven't done too much significant on the harrier lately. Just a lot of tedious filling and sanding as well as working with the landing gear and weapons...my least favorite part of a build Anyway, here are some of today's pictures. JDAM stolen from a Hornet kit: Some pictures of the work on the windscreen. I'm not sure what they are called, but I widened the two scoops a bit that are right behind the canopy. This way I am able to display the model with the canopy open. It shouldn't be too noticeable. I also added the center pylon between the lateral strakes. However, I'm not sure if this pylon is really ever on any of the aircraft nowadays. Does anyone know if I should have this pylon attached? if not I can easily remove it. One final picture with the proposed loadout. SLICK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Nice work Slick!...It looks like you have this one dialed in. Good catch on those air scoops. I found out too late when I built mine. Just goes to show that with this kit you can't take anything for granted, you have to test fit everything. I'm looking forward to seeing some paint on her. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I'm fairly certain the Harrier doesn't carry the BLU-109 based JDAM...might need to check with an expert, but the Harrier doesn't carry 2,000 lb class bombs, and that is a penetrator for hardened targets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightDog Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 "I also added the center pylon between the lateral strakes. However, I'm not sure if this pylon is really ever on any of the aircraft nowadays. Does anyone know if I should have this pylon attached? if not I can easily remove it." The center pylon is only ever on the jet when the ECM pod (ALQ-164) is carried which is not typically done (rare to never). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 You are good to go with the centreline pylon, but might want to try and source the ALQ-164. AMRAAM Line did one, and it may still be available. Have seen quite a few pics of current jets carrying them again. Combat Aircraft magazine Vol 9 Iss 3 even has a pic on the cover (and more inside including a full page centre section pic) of the 513 CO colour bird with the ALQ-164 on the centreline pylon. The full load on the aircraft in the pics is (from head on) AIM-9L, AGM-65, LITENING, ALQ-164 centreline, GBU-12, GBU-38 and AIM-9L. All weapons are light blue painted/striped inert warheads. The BLU-109 however is NOT a cleared store for the Harrier. The only JDAM they are cleared for is the GBU-38 500lb bomb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted May 23, 2010 Author Share Posted May 23, 2010 Thanks a lot everyone for the info! It's really helpful! I went ahead and gave the BLU-109 back to my Super Hornet and removed the center pylon in favor of this loadout: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...ska_Jun2007.jpg Now on to some updates! I got a lot done over the past two days. Yesterday I prepared the jet for painting by doing some final filling and sanding. Today I shot the coat of primer in order to find and correct any mistakes. Once the primer dried I finished the day by fixing all of these mistakes and replacing any lost panel lines and rivet detail. SLICK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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