Hasegawa 1/72 AV-8A Harrier

HASEGAWA 1:72 AV-8A HARRIER
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Myself (smakr@bigpond.com)

Kit: Hasegawa B10 (or BT15) 1/72 AV-8A Harrier

Aircraft: The Harrier was the world's first operational V/STOL aircraft and the AV-8A is essentially a USMC close air support fighter version, which in turn is fundamentally the same as the British GR.1 version, produced under licence by McDonnell Douglas, of which just over 100 examples were built.

Parts: Plastic bag contains four sprues of clean light grey injection molded parts and one sprue for the clear one piece canopy. There are 70 parts, including the canopy, in the kit.

Instructions: This is the usual Hasegawa fold out sheet containing a brief description of the aircraft in various languages (Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, German, French and Italian or Spanish I believe). Paint call outs are from Mr Color and Gunze Sangyo ranges and both overall scheme and individual parts are covered. There are 7 assembly views which are atypical Hasegawa and adequate for accurate construction. The instructions cover construction of either an AV-8A or GR.1 version so provides you with the prompts for different colouring in parts and different stores options depending on which version you are building. A sprue diagram is provided showing where the parts are located and it appears from this that all parts are used (depending on version of course). A stores diagram is also provided showing what weapons go on which pylon. Finally, four view diagrams of both versions is provided for markings and decal placement.

Versions: An AV-8A from the Tigers Unit, VMA-542 US Marine Corps in upper Dark Grey and Dark Green camouflage over light grey undersides. The second version is a GR.1 from No. 1 Sqn, RAF in essentially the same type of camouflage but different shade for RAF service (Dark Green, Dark Sea Grey over Light Aircraft Grey)

Decals: A reasonable amount of stencilling provided plus roundels for both countries as stated which are in very good register and of a glossy finish. The RAF red/blue roundel has the red very slightly off centre resulting in a slight strip of bleed through white. The RAF red/white/blue roundel requires the red dot to be put on separately. The smaller decals are a bit blurry and off centre.

Accuracy: Hard to make an ultimate judgement and I am sure there are some out there who have built this kit and can let me know?? From the measurements of the Fuselage halves and wings the overall shape looks well replicated. Undercarriage is a bit blocky and basic though and the cockpit is basic and too boxed in to be realistic. Perhaps the only real concern, and it may not be one because I am not an expert on the different Harrier versions, is that there are no different parts (other than stores) or changed options between the AV-8A and GR.1 versions in this kit. I know the versions are essentially the same but different positioning of aerials, different antennae - all that sort of thing, is not covered in the kit at all and one would think there are slight external differences between the two??

Detail: Surface detail is very finely raised and does not jump out at you as a superbly detailed kit. Control surfaces are engraved. The cockpit is pathetic, just a pilot, his seat and an instrument panel on top of the dashboard, with a decal provided for the console. Lots of scratchbuilding here would enhance the model, although admittedly the pilot is boxed in and one would not see anything anyway. This is an aged Hasegawa kit so don't expect a mass of external stuff.

Options: A pilot figure is provided. I would also expect that the side exhaust vents are moveable (at least according to the instructions they are, and my GR.3 Hasegawa Harrier had the same part breakdown in this regard) and being an older Hasegawa kit you get quite a bit when it comes to stores: Aden gun pod, Snakeye bombs, small bombs, rocket pods, Mk.20 Rockeye and drop tanks provided. Air brakes can be positioned open or shut. Of course the wheels up or down option is also covered.

Impressions: Parts breakdown suggest this kit has identical (and different where appropriate) components to the old Hasegawa GR.3 version which I completed many moons ago, see other comments below. A huge turbofan is encased between the two fuselage halves (minus nose section) with the exhaust vents glued to a circular stopper - but not to the fuselage - allowing them to turn. From the instructions you should be able to move one of the exhaust vents which will rotate the corresponding one on the otherside, ie: move either front or rear pair at once. Most of the parts are smaller pieces for gear doors, wheels, antennae, etc as the breakdown for the major components is fairly basic which I would think results in a reasonably quick build. Dry fitting a few components reveals no foreseeable problems although a bit of filler on hand will probably be a good thing! Overall seems that it is reasonable kit that will build into a decent replica of this early model Harrier. Recommended.

Other Comments: This is just an addendum for interesting information. Many moons ago (to long to provide an accurate Kit Review) I purchased and built a Hasegawa GR.3 Harrier. Not a bad replica and I can see that many parts are duplicated in this kit, obviously nose and a few other areas are different and I would think have been covered by a new set of sprue/s. The GR.3 was an easy kit to build, quite good fit and apart from gear doors for a wheels up model (and provided the fuselage halves were held together with pegs and rubber bands) no filler was required.

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