Harrier GR Mk.7 Test Shots

[cousinvinny]

Trumpeter was kind enough to provide our club with test shots for their new 1/32 Harrier Gr.7. These are the distinct parts, all other parts are carried over from their earlier AV-8B release.

Here is the updated note with the British-style FLIR. I am tempted to remove the FLIR and use this to correct the nose of Trumpeter's earlier 1/32 AV-8B release. Note also the outrigger Sidewinder pylons which are unique to British jets.

Trumpeter also updated the bumps and humps on the wing tips. I am not an expert, so I have very little information as to the accuracy of these bumps.

Trumpeter also included a new tank sprue. The new sprue now includes the Sidewinder and Maverick launch rails which was not included in the earlier release.

Many thanks for Trumpeter for the sprue samples and Captain David Mason for bringing this to Manila from China.

Please visit our clubs website often for updates. www.ipmsphilippines.com

Edited March 22, 2010 by cousinvinny

[Dave Williams]

Thanks for the pics. Would have been nice if they had included the ADEN-type gun pods (that don't actually contain a gun). Also, don't see the BOL Sidewinder rails, nor any new ejection seat parts.

Edited March 22, 2010 by Dave Williams

[cousinvinny]

Thanks for the pics. Would have been nice if they had included the ADEN-type gun pods (that don't actually contain a gun). Also, don't see the BOL Sidewinder rails, nor any new ejection seat parts.

Dave:

We are keeping our fingers crossed for another sprue containing other RAF items for the GR.7 release. Check out the sprue containing the aircraft front. It contains the Sidewinder pylons for the outriggers (is this what you are looking for?)

As for the gun, as per Dave Mason, the Trumpeter folks are not inclined to re-do an accurate gun pod. I guess we are stuck with the inaccurate gun pod till Zactoman or some other guy comes to our rescue.

[Dave Williams]

I saw they added the new outrigger pylons, but the GR.7 also used a different style of rail for the Sidewinder, and the picture above just shows the US style rail. The RAF used the BOL rail, which is the same type that was used on F-14s later in life. Maybe they intend to put a sprue from the F-14D kit in there, assuming that kit had the proper rail.

The British Harriers also used a gun pod shape that was different than is used on the US AV-8Bs. It was similar to the 30mm ADEN gun pod as seen on first generation Harriers, although the pods did not actually contain a gun when used on the GR.7/9. Trumpeter would have to make new pods for this kit, not just fix the ones in the previous kits. Not a deal breaker since you can still use the strakes in the kit, but it would have been nice.

Hopefully you are correct about there being another sprue that will be included, but isn’t shown. While the gun pods are a nice to have thing, there are other differences that should be included in a GR.7 kit, like the different ejection seat used on British Harriers. I think they also used a different outboard pylon than the ones in the US kit.

As a comparison, here is a review with the changes Hasegawa made in their 1/48 kit for the GR.7.

http://kits.kitreview.com/harriergr7reviewdw_1.htm

Edited March 22, 2010 by Dave Williams

[Stephen]

The BOL rails are a loss unless building one of the very early GR.7's.The gunpods depend on what timeframe you're modelling as they were rarely carried and certainly replaced by strakes/targeting pod in Afghanistan.The seat is DEFINITELY different,Hasegawa made a feeble attempt to modify the Stencel seat with additional parts.

Stephen

Edited March 22, 2010 by Stephen

[Matt Roberts]

I would hope one thing they add if doing RAF weaponry is the strake mounted targeting pod and IIRC centerline mounted recce pod. Cannot think off the top of my head right now the proper names as I don't think TILAD is used anymore. But it is something that I'd like to see in 48th also.

[Dave Fleming]

Here is the updated note with the British-style FLIR. I am tempted to remove the FLIR and use this to correct the nose of Trumpeter's earlier 1/32 AV-8B release. Note also the outrigger Sidewinder pylons which are unique to British jets.

Hard to tell from the pic (Although I THINK they have it right) but the GR7 nose cone was longer than the AV-8B/GR5 one.

The RAF Harriers also have a small wedge shaped fairing on the underside of the fuselage

[spike7451]

I would hope one thing they add if doing RAF weaponry is the strake mounted targeting pod and IIRC centerline mounted recce pod. Cannot think off the top of my head right now the proper names as I don't think TILAD is used anymore. But it is something that I'd like to see in 48th also.

You mean Litening,DJRP & TERMA pods.

[xv107]

You mean Litening,DJRP & TERMA pods.

Spike - don't you mean Sniper rather than Litening?

[spike7451]

Spike - don't you mean Sniper rather than Litening?

Yup,I always the mixed get two them of up....

Age old & that all....