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.