waltmert Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 I am about to start building a couple of 1/24 Harriers, the GR3 and the Fa2. I am mostly and airliner modeler but I just about had enough of "white". Would you all be so kind to recommend a couple of good detail books on the subject? I was surprised that squadron signal does not have the Harrier in the Walk Around series. Thanks in advance. Walter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Squadron does have an “In Action” book on the Harrier, #209 Reid Air Publishing has a Harrier book in the pipeline, but I think it covers only AV-8B & GR.7 & GR.9 Edited February 8, 2018 by habu2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crash Test Dummy Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) The only Harrier references I have are from the '80s. There's an old Detail and Scale, but it only covers USMC variants. Bill Gunston's Great Book of Modern Airplanes has a pretty good section for the first generation Harriers. Warpaint and SAM Publications are two other more recent publishers that cover the Harrier. I don't have their books on the Harrier, but several on other types. If I got around to an early Harrier, I'd start there for references. Sprue Brothers carry them. http://store.spruebrothers.com/category_s/1995.htm?searching=Y&sort=7&cat=1995&show=60&page=1&search= Harrier Edit to add: I'd completely forgotten about AIRtime's Wings of Fame, World Air Power Journal and International Air Power Review. I think they had issues that covered Harriers. Edited February 8, 2018 by Crash Test Dummy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waltmert Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 Great thanks fellows, I had totally forgotten to look at Sprue Brothers. I will order some of the books from them. I also found some great builds here and in Large Scale Planes that I plan to use for color reference. I just received the Flightpath detail sets for the Airfix models and they are awesome. Also, just a quick note, the canopy on my GR3 was cracked down the middle. I contacted Airfix (Hornby Hobbies) and got a replacement shipped to my home in Houston in two weeks. Outstanding customer service! Once again thanks for the help. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 You might this stuff useful. Aftermarket for the Airfix Harriers. Very few left and I don't think they will be making anymore when gone. Intakes, cockpits, etc. https://www.kitsforcash.com/simian-stuff-conversions-c58.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waltmert Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 Thanks very much Mstor, that was exactly how the whole Harrier saga started for me. I ordered one of these; https://www.kitsforcash.com/1-24-sea-harrier-fa2-complete-kit-limited-run-of-85-i6590.htm Very nice conversion for sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 20 hours ago, Crash Test Dummy said: Edit to add: I'd completely forgotten about AIRtime's Wings of Fame, World Air Power Journal and International Air Power Review. I think they had issues that covered Harriers. They did. For currently available books, I would recommend the SAM Publications volumes for both. Regards, Murph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Specialty Press has a series of books called Warbird Tech, their volume (#21) on the Harrier by noted author Dennis Jenkins covers everything from the history of VTOL airplanes to the P.1127, XV-6 Kestrel, and all versions of RAF, RNAF and USMC Harriers. https://www.amazon.com/Boeing-BAE-Harrier-Warbird-Tech/dp/1580070140/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 22 hours ago, Crash Test Dummy said: Edit to add: I'd completely forgotten about AIRtime's Wings of Fame, World Air Power Journal and International Air Power Review. I think they had issues that covered Harriers. World Air Power Journal vol 6 covered the entire Harrier program, vol 32 focused on the USMC AV-8B, vol 41 focused on the RAF Sea Harrier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 6 hours ago, waltmert said: Thanks very much Mstor, that was exactly how the whole Harrier saga started for me. I ordered one of these; https://www.kitsforcash.com/1-24-sea-harrier-fa2-complete-kit-limited-run-of-85-i6590.htm Very nice conversion for sure. Very cool waltmert! I didn't see that. Great find. I ran across the Simian stuff when looking for Buccaneer stuff. I wish the Harrier stuff had been available when I built my GR.3 years and years ago. It looks like the Fa2 kit will fun to build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wafu Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 The SAM publications are the go-to books for the amount of detail you'll be modelling. I have both and they are the best. They ship internationally but I'm sure one of the big hobby shops in ten US will stock them. Quick google found this https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/kw/modellers-datafile-sam/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Bunker Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 There are walkarounds on Britmodeller. Sea Harrier here and Harrier GR.3 here. And they are free! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waltmert Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 I did order some of the Sam books as well as the "In Action" book but those walkarounds blew my mind, Thanks Nigel! I remember like it was yesterday when the Harrier Squadron flew out of Belize towards the Falklands/Malvinas. The Harriers were "the real McCoy". Now seen the jump jets falling apart in a field makes me realize how fast time goes by. I better get started on my models before I end up falling apart in an empty field! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Taylor Durbon Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 A really cool coffetable book about the Harrier with lots of colourpictures! https://www.bookdepository.com/Harrier-Tim-McLelland/9781906537203 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Matt Foley Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Search the Large Scale Planes forums. There was a gentleman who did the FA2 conversion in 1/24 a few years back. Very nice build, not for the faint of heart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Sprue Brothers has this one on sale right now, 20% off listed price http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/ardft002.htm Quote This walk around details the status of the Harrier II in RAF/RN service shortly prior to his phase out in 2010. In the book the reader will find a 5000 word introductionary text, describing the development and the most recent technical changes to the 'Jump Jet' including Operation Herrick. This is followed by 60 pages of action photographs divided by squadrons including units of the Joint Force Harrier, 1(F) Squadron, 4(AC) Squadron, 4(R) Squadron, 20(R) Squadron, 41(R) Squadron, 800 Naval Air Squadron and the Naval Strike Wing (NSW). Over 180 pages are dedicated to the modeler and contain the following:- avionics- cockpits- landing gear- engines- most recent armament- fuselage details- camouflage schemes- 1/48 scale drawingsAn absolute must have for the fans of this unique British aircraft! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joeltc Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 This one is an excellent resource for the RAF Harrier 1. https://www.amazon.com/British-Harriers-Germany-Deutschland-Aircraft/dp/3935687141 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waltmert Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share Posted February 11, 2018 Thanks very much fellows, I order about four of the books you all recommended. Now I got to wait for them to get here to look them over and see if they are going to useful as color references especially interior, engine colors, etc. I can wait to start these two monster kits though and this time I am going to have fun modeling and not paying too much attention to minor details. I have to increase my model production to more than two per year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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