1/72 Italeri Sea Harrier FRS.Mk.51

Indian Navy : 300 Sqn. INS VIRAAT

by Leonard Prakasam

--------------------

India Independence Day 2008

 

My earliest recollection of seeing the Sea Harrier in action was at AeroIndia 96, India's bi-annual air show held at the Yelahanka Air Force Station, near Bangalore.  Though most of the Harriers adorn a different color scheme now, some of the pictures I took of the Harrier at that air show, served well as reference while I was trying to model the aircraft IN 608 that belonged to the 300 Sqn. This aircraft was tragically lost at sea last year while trying to land aboard INS Viraat.

The Italeri kit in the 72nd scale has a lot of surface details and well defined panel lines.  The fit up was easy and I basically built the kit out of the box.  To add greater realism I made a few modifications, primarily to the flaps that are in the down position and reworked the auxiliary intake panels, half of them slightly open on each side. Though it was a real challenge to get part of the roundel decal to conform to the open panel, I feel it was an effort worthwhile.  I also replaced the plastic pitot tube with a sawed off needle.

The model received two coats of Neutral grey that was airbrushed.  A  gloss coat was then applied which made it easier for the oil wash to flow through the panel lines. Decal application was not a problem and the model was finally sealed with dull cote.

Overall, this was a good kit to assemble and hope you enjoy the pictures.

Jai Hind.

Leonard

Click on images below to see larger images

  

Photos and text © by Leonard Prakasam