1:48 Bae Harrier GR.1/GR.3 exhaust nozzles

The real subject

The BAe Harrier was a British ground-attack aircraft famous for its ability to take off from a short runway or vertically. It owes that to the swiveling nozzles on the sides of the fuselage: the pilot directs the thrust rearward for level flight or downward for hovering and landing on the spot. The GR.3 is a later development stage of the same aircraft and shares the nozzle arrangement with it, so the set covers both versions.

What the set contains

The set replaces the exhaust nozzles from the plastic kit in 1:48 scale with more accurately shaped parts. On the Harrier the nozzles are a prominent feature right in the middle of the side of the fuselage, so the eye can hardly be drawn away from them and any inaccuracy of shape shows. The manufacturer states the exact contents of the package and the recommended procedure in the enclosed instructions.

Building and painting tips

• The parts are not polystyrene, so use super glue for them rather than ordinary modeling cement for plastic.
• Cut the surplus material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest away so that the mating surface stays flat.
• Wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise paint will not hold on the surface.
• The nozzles are usually heat-stressed and discolored, so it pays to add soot and burn marks to the metallic shades only once they are glued in place.

Who it is for

The set is intended for modelers who are building the Harrier in 1:48 scale and want a better shape at the most conspicuous point on the airframe than the kit offers. It is an accessory for a model, so count on obtaining the kit separately. Paints, glue and abrasives are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.