discussion Joe's 1/72 Fujimi Sea Harrier FRS.1

[flyjoe180]

My entry into the FAA build will be the old Fujimi 1/72 Sea Harrier FRS.1. I got this one cheap a few years ago. Looks to be a pretty good kit for its age (1983), a bit of flash but very finely engraved lines and very similar to the Italeri GR.3, which is itself formerly an Esci kit.

The box:

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The kit:

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Decals:

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[flyjoe180]

I quite like the look of the 801 scheme so I think I will go with that version. All pre-Falklands of course as you can see.

 

[papa 695]

Looks a nice kit Joe

I will watch you do battle with this one

 

[flyjoe180]

Cockpit started. No decals on this old kit, so painted the side console details and used the old-style instruction manual instrument panel cut out for the main panel. Ejection seat straps and handle scratch built from tape and fuse wire respectively.

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This is no modern kit despite the fine engraved surfaces. So far the fit has been average and have had to deal with a bit of flash. All fun stuff though. As an aside, I read that the kit designer moved from Fujimi to ESCI and that is why there are similarities in the construction processes of the two kits.

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[flyjoe180]

This kit may have a resemblance to the ESCI kit in format, but that is where the similarities end. Nearly everything has required filling and sanding, parts have been aligned only to find that one section is larger than the other, and there are asymmetry issues with the intakes and canopy areas. I am battling through the issues, but can only manage an hour or two at the most each time before I get frustrated. The instructions are rubbish really, and the model has parts missing (as in not even included in the kit) which are presented on the paint guides and box. I've been referring to the Italeri GR.3 instructions for guidance as luckily they are similar in construction; I have scratch built some aerials and the top beacon and re-scribed some lost panel lines. I think it's nearly at the stage where if I sand more I will end up with holes in it, so it's off to the priming stage soon. I'll add some photos later, there really hasn't been much of interest to post so far unless you want to see the issues. First Fujimi kit I've built, and probably the last to be honest. Hasegawa's Sea Harrier cops a lot of flak but this one has to be close for it's problems.

 

[flyjoe180]

It's been a while since I updated this Sea Harrier build, but I have not been idle with it, despite it fighting me every step of the way. I have to do a little at a time or it has a habit of beating my motivation down.

I had filled and sanded the airframe within a millimetre of its life, any more and I would have seen daylight through it. Managed to save some of the lost lines and re-scribed the ones I lost. As I mentioned earlier I have had to scratch build some aerials and a top beacon.

The nose section did not mate properly and the nose landing gear had no walls or detail. I scratch built some walls with plastic card and forced them against the sides with CA glue:

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You can see some of the fit issues with the airframe here. Also I opened up the top engine vents:

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A lot of filler and sanding and time and we have a much better result, with canopy fitted. More sanding followed this:

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At last it was primed and ready for the next steps:

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Humbrol gloss white sprayed nicely and evenly on the underside. The new batches of Humbrol are a great improvement:

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Next was the upper surface colour of Extra Dark Sea Grey, again Humbrol sprayed nice and evenly:

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Seepage from the EDSG was cleaned up and the nose cone, various aerials and sensors painted. Wing stores and pylons and the landing gear are done as well and ready for later:

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Decals have been applied but there were various issues with the roundels and top decals. They were after all around 31 years old having been produced in 1983. A little out of register on the top but cleaned up with some careful masking and a steady hand:

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More to come soon, but should be completed in the next day or two if things go my way with the final varnishes. I will be using Humbrol Matt Cote (in the 28ml bottle) via the airbrush to tone the gloss down.

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[flyjoe180]

Today I managed to complete the Sea Harrier. I used Humbrol Matt Cote for the first time through the airbrush and it was flawless, using a 50/50 mix of the product with enamel thinners. One coat reduced the gloss to a nice sheen resembling a slightly dull satin coat. Exhaust blast plates, vectoring nozzles, wing stores and landing gear attached. Considering the trials and tribulations with this build the result is okay. Will post in the completed section shortly. Thanks for following this build.

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[flyjoe180]

Completed build thread here http://www.scale-models.co.uk/community/threads/joes-fujimi-1-72-sea-harrier-fleet-air-arm-sig.27608/