Airfix BAe Harrier GR.7 1:72 – build review

The last Jump Jet of the Queen

Feature Article by Aurelio Reale

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A note from Geoff…
It’s my absolute pleasure to welcome Aurelio to the SMN line-up. We recently met at the IPMS (UK) Scale Model World 2016 in Telford, UK and I’m so glad I did!

Here’s a quick look at his impressive build of the 1:72 Airfix BAe Harrier GR.7. What stuck me immediately about his work is the subtle, yet highly believable weathering he’s achieved.

We have already built the quite recent Airfix Harrier in this scale (both Dave C and myself – check out the Aircraft-Finished Now-Airfix pages in SMN if you want to see them.) For this reason Aurelio takes you through the build process but doesn’t dwell on that, rather heading mainly to the painting and that all-important weathering you can clearly see in his photographs.

Over to you Aurelio…

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Story

The British Aerospace Harrier II was a second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft used previously by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and, between 2006 and 2010, the Royal Navy (RN). The aircraft was the latest development of the Harrier Jump Jet family, and was derived from the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II. Initial deliveries of the Harrier II were designated in service as Harrier GR5; subsequently upgraded airframes were re-designated accordingly as GR7 and GR9. The Harrier II participated in numerous conflicts, making significant contributions in combat theatres such as Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The type’s main function was as a platform for air interdiction and close air support missions; the Harrier II was also used for presence projection and reconnaissance duties.

The kit

The kit arrives packed into a reasonably large box adorned with the kind of excellent artwork that has come to typify the latest generation of releases from Airfix. The kit’s 126 parts are split across three sprues of light grey plastic and one small clear sprue. The mouldings are very nice indeed, with plenty of crisp, sharp detail. Airfix’s much discussed panel lines continue to improve the quality, and we all love this!

The cockpit is comprised of a tub, a three-part Martin Baker Mk.12 ejector seat, a control column and instrument panel. The jet exhaust nozzles are moulded in two parts and will need to be cleaned up carefully. The undercarriage parts are particularly nicely moulded, with the tyres all featuring bulges and flat spots. A nice selection of ordnance is inside the box, giving the possibility to fully load your Harrier.

On to building…