| KIT #: | 00936 |
| PRICE: |
$27.45 at
www.greatmodels.com
during a half price sale . $53.50 SRP |
| DECALS: | Four options |
| REVIEWER: | Scott Van Aken |
| NOTES: | Limited Reissue - Two kits |
| HISTORY |
Still the world's only large scale production VTOL aircraft, the AV-8B Harrier is a major rework of the earlier AV-8A variant. Spurred by a USMC requirement for larger payload capabilities, the AV-8B was developed by McDonnell Douglas and after a rather protracted gestation period entered Marine service in the mid 1980s. The major differences between it and the earlier AV-8A are a larger wing of supercritical design and a different nose section, allowing the pilot a greater field of vision.
The increases wing size provides for more hardpoints, allowing the AV-8B to carry a greater array of ordnance than the earlier Harrier. The aircraft also has a more powerful engine and is a bit longer as well, enabling the plane to carry more fuel for greater range. Getting all of this together and staying within the required weight limitations was no mean feat. Development of the aircraft took a bit longer than one would have expected in order to make sure that all requirements were met. The RAF Harrier GR.5 is a very similar aircraft. The AV-8B has been developed into even more improved versions, most of which can be spotted by the different noses on the aircraft. The same can be said of the RAF Harrier GR.7 and GR.9.
As effective as the Harrier II still is, it has not been in production for many years and will be replaced by the Navy's version of the F-35.
| THE KIT |
I'm
not sure just how many times this kit has been reissued, but each one has come
with recent markings from the various units flying the type. Today, this
is good as Hasegawa's 'new' decals are as good as anything you can get from
aftermarket. Please note that I took the lazy way out and used the standard
AV-8B sprue image. Only difference is the inclusion of the plus nose and the
scabbed chaff/flare pods. Being a twin pack, you get two complete kits and two
complete sets of decals, which is nice if you want a lot of spares!
The moldings are in excellent shape; still nice and crisp with no flash. Ejector pin marks are, as is often the case, on landing gear legs, one side of the pylons, on missile bodies and the inside of gear doors. Cockpit is nicely done for this scale, with decals for the side consoles and main instrument panel. A somewhat basic seat is provided. Intakes are molded with the upper bleed down doors in the open position, as is the norm when on the ground.
Polycaps
are used to allow the exhaust nozzles to be rotated. The main gear doors are
properly shown in the closed position. One has a choice of lower fuselage guns
or strakes. A pair of Sidewinders is provided for the outer missile pylons and
fuel tanks for the inner wing pylons. Any other ordnance will have to come from
the usual weapons sets. A two piece canopy/windscreen is provided so the cockpit
can be more easily displayed.
Instructions are typical for Hasegawa and are well done with Gunze Paint references. I have my doubts about the colors for the camouflage as Hasegawa calls out 35237/36320/36375 for the three greys. I'm pretty sure the darker shade should be 36118. Decals are superbly printed and provide markings for four aircraft. Two are for VMA-513 and include a 'boss bird' with the fin in 'Character Blue' (whatever that is), and a standard greys aircraft. The other two are VMA-214 with the fin in 'Gross Black'. Again, you have another normally painted plane for an option.
| CONCLUSIONS |
For many modelers, one just cannot have enough Harriers and this is the kit for them. Two fine kits with a nice selection of markings. These double kits seem to be a relatively new marketing strategy for Hasegawa. They haven't done a ton in the way of new kit releases of late, aside from in 1/32 scale, and this is a way of providing a steady flow of of offerings to the buying public.
August 2009
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