1:32 AV-8 Harrier - interior 3D decals for Trumpeter kit

Vertical takeoff and an unconventional workplace for the pilot

The Harrier can take off from a short strip or from the deck of a small ship, because its nozzles swivel downward. Flying a machine like that called for an extra lever compared with an ordinary fighter, and the layout of the cockpit differs noticeably from the classic types. The AV-8 version served with the United States Marine Corps and its interior is among the most interesting things a model of a combat aircraft can show.

Why reach for printing with relief

Painting gauges by hand is a chore at any size, but in 1:32 scale the result is mercilessly visible under a magnifier. Printing with relief gets around the problem: the print is finished, it stands above the plane and once applied it casts its own small shadows. The difference against flat markings shows above all on the screens and control panels, where there are many small elements close together.

What the build demands

Count on modifying the plastic parts; the work does not go without it. Anyone doing it for the first time should start with the panel that has the largest area; that one is the most forgiving of imprecision, and you get used to how the material behaves before you come to the small pieces beside the seat. Molded details are sanded flat and the edges leveled with a fine file, otherwise the new layer will not sit down anywhere. It is applied in water, but leave the material on the film longer than an ordinary decal, because a thicker layer releases more slowly. Never trim the overhanging edge on the model itself; it is easy to score the plastic. The Trumpeter kit in the large scale is a separate item.