
Specifically the Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR. 1
A quick intro courtesy of the kit instructions
Developed in the 1960s as the first truly successful V/STOL combat aircraft, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier proved a revelation upon entering service in its earliest GR. 1 form. However, its development period was not without issues, with various other NATO partners dropping out of the programme, some citing its lack of supersonic speed as a potential problem. The RAF persevered and despite criticism, the Harrier matured into a capable combat aircraft. Powered by a Rolls Royce Pegasus engine that vectored thrust through movable nozzles, the Harrier proved to be very manoeuvrable, enabling the Harrier to hover as well as take off and land vertically. With its small size and ability to operate from rough strips and even roads, the GR. 1 was soon accepted into RAF service in the Close Air Support (CAS) role. With much to the RAF’s Harrier force based in Germany at the height of the Cold War, the role of the Harrier, should World War 3 have broken out, was to undertake conventional strikes against Soviet Forces, combined with a secondary reconnaissance role. Detachments were also sent to Belize and there were various goodwill trips around the world, demonstrating to potential customers the versatility of Hawker Siddeley’s revolutionary design.

Speed: 730mph (1,176 km/h) at sea level
Combat Range: 230 miles (370 km)
Wingspan: 25ft 3in (7.7m)
Length: 45ft 8in (13.9m)
Armament: 2x30mm Cannon plus 5,000lb of underwing stores.
A total of 61 of the GR. 1 variant were built
Onto the kit and this is an Airfix starter kit - as you can see the Humbrol paints have already bitten the dust!

And the Hobbycraft security team has taken great care in placing their tape...

But everything's inside the box

The surface mouldings look good and crisp, but being Airfix there's a wide range of EPMs available... most are tucked away where they won't be seen but there's a couple I've already spotted that will need some attention

A comprehensive instruction sheet

Which somehow runs to a staggering 45 stages for such a small kit

I've got a small vignette in mind for this and as a child I always remember seeing video of Harriers lurking in unlikely places so I'm thinking of something suitably arboreal if I can make it work. And of course I want to show it in the hover if I can

























































