1/48 Hasegawa AV-8B Harrier II Plus

VMA-223

by Tim Schneider

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After seeing this AC at both an airshow and as a feature AC for an aviation calendar, I just had to try and recreate it.  I built it mostly OOB but did modify a few parts including using a MV lens on the landing gear, scratch built HUD, GBU-12's from the Hasegawa aircraft weapons: D set, hydraulic lines for the landing gear, sheet lead for seat harness, wire oxygen hose for the pilot, TwoBobs Hard Corps Harriers decals, and some other bits an pieces here and there. This was my first Hasegawa kit and I thought it went together well and made a convincing looking model. There are some well documented fit problems with the wings that I also encountered with this kit.

Tamiya acrylics were used for the AC. Apparently the upper fuselage color indicated by the instructions is incorrect, so instead I used the color recommended by the TwoBobs decal sheet (FS36118). Fortunately, this color turns out to be essentially Tamiya XF-24. This color (plus 10% white for scale effect) turned out to match the color on my reference photographs well.

Click on images below to see larger images

This AC was very fun to weather since it is so dirty. You can add grease, grime, stains, and blotches to your heart's content and still not make it too dirty. I used oil washes to help create the illusion of overall grunge and to help unify the colors. I smiled for the better part of a day after a friend, who use to work on these AC in the Marines, told me I got the finish just right!

The diorama base is made using 600 grit wet/dry sand paper attached to a hardboard base. The tie-downs are from Tom's Modelworks. Again, the flight deck is very grungy so I literally just sprayed or splattered everything and anything on the surface to make it appear dirty. I even cleaned my airbrush out by spraying the residue out on the flight deck! The AC handler is a Verlinden figure and painted with Tamiya acrylics and oils. He has a few modifications such as a scratch built headset, walkie talkie cord, white dry transfer decals for reflectors on his vest, and epoxy lenses for his goggles.

This is my first submission to ARC and I hope you enjoy the images. Photograph credits actually go to my brother Don and his new Canon digital camera.

Tim

Photos and text © by Tim Schneider