1:48 BAe Harrier T.4/T.4A cockpit set

Aires 1:48 BAe Harrier T.4/T.4A cockpit set

A resin detailing set in 1:48 scale from the manufacturer Aires, intended for fitting out the cockpit of a model of the two-seat BAe Harrier T.4 and T.4A. The set is not a kit of the aircraft, but an accessory that replaces the simplified plastic equipment of the cabin with more accurate castings. On the two-seat version both stations are visible at once under the long glazing, so the difference against plastic is marked on the finished model.

What the set addresses

Injection-molded plastic cannot produce undercuts, thin frames, controls and the structure of the side panels. A resin casting manages these shapes and makes it possible to bring the detail out by painting and with a wash. The set is intended for more experienced modelers, because as a rule it calls for sanding the inner walls of the fuselage down, so that the cockpit tub will seat.

The real subject

The BAe Harrier was a British combat aircraft with vertical and short takeoff, powered by a Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine with thrust vectoring. The T.4 and T.4A versions were two-seat training machines derived from the single-seat GR versions. The instructor's cockpit is set higher and the fuselage is lengthened compared with the single-seat version, which changes the arrangement of the interior as well.

Building and painting tips

First wash the castings in lukewarm soapy water, so that the mold release agent disappears, otherwise the paint will not hold. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc, not with nippers. Level the surfaces with a file and sanding paper wet, always with respiratory protection, because resin dust should not be inhaled. It is bonded exclusively with super glue, that is, with cyanoacrylate. Apply a primer before painting. Paint the cockpit, bring it out with a wash and with a dry brush and only then close it into the fuselage. It pays to finish the instrument panels before installation, as afterward you will not reach them.

Who the set is for

• Builders of two-seat Harriers in 1:48 scale
• Modelers who want a well-drawn cockpit under an open canopy
• More experienced builders used to working with resin
• Collectors of British postwar aviation subjects

This is a detailing accessory, not a kit of the aircraft. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.