1/72 Airfix RTN AV-8S Harrier

Gallery Article by U.Chokchai on Dec 5 2016

Thailand National Day

 

      

AV-8S Harrier entered service in Royal Thai navy from 1996 to 2006. Seven AV-8S operated on board light aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri naruebet and two TAV-8S were used as trainer at U-tapao RTN base. This model depicted Harrier from 1st naval wing 103 squadron. 

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I built this kit straight from the box. Only additional was dorsal aerial fin on the engine hood. This new tooling Harrier from Airfix is easy and enjoyable to build. Few filling and sanding was required in some area. I finished this lovely Harrier with my own mixed colour of light grey on upper and greyish white underneath. The marking of RTN Harrier was from Siam scale as always for Thai subject. This firm does produced variety of very fine marking for both military and civilian machines in Thai service.

As harriers were carrier-based aircraft, so I wanted mine sit on the carrier deck. Thus I managed to make the deck of HTMS Chakri naruebet from reference pics and the result was quite satisfactory. I plans to build another Harrier GR3 in RAF service in cold war era with grey-green camo scheme. 

For now, Enjoy your model building.

U.Chokchai

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Photos and text © by U.Chokchai