Subject: Re: Hi Steve - article for ARC attached
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Malcolm Reid" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:09:14 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Malcolm Reid 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 11:43 PM
  Subject: Hi Steve - article for ARC attached

  Gallery Template #05

  1/48 Hasegawa AV-8B Harrier II

  by Malcolm Reid
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

   

  It was with great enthusiasm that I bought this kit. On first glance everything looked really good - hundreds of beautifully molded sprues firmly packed into Hasegawa's usual high quality boxing.

  Click on images below to see larger images

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       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  It was only once construction commenced that the horror became evident. Nasty fit everywhere. The engineering of this kit in the forward fuselage / intake area is not good - I suppose Hasegawa were trying to accommodate future releases of GR.7/9 versions ? Problem areas aplenty:

  ·        Nose to fuselage fit

  ·        Intake to fuselage fit

  ·        Gun and ammo pod to fuselage fit

  ·        Incredibly nasty seam between upper wing and fuselage on underside of LERXs

  ·        Unsightly gaps between intake trunking and forward fuselage

  ·        The nasty seam on the canopy which required an hour's worth of fine sanding, polishing, more polishing and more polishing and finally a hairline fracture in the embrittled clear plastic just added to the frustration.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

   

  Anyway, after several on and off builds over a period of two years the model was ready for painting and an end to the frustration was in sight. Painting was quite complex around the intake area and exhaust areas. I used a combination of XtraColour gloss and Model Master matt greys. Happily, the decals were the usual superb Hasegawa offering and went on very well with MicroSol/Set. Weathering was achieved with pastels and a final coat of XtraColour matt varnish ended the project. The kit comes with wing tanks, LANTIRN pod and Sidewinders. I added an LGB from the Hasegawa weapons set for a standard operational weapons setup

  Anyway, I suppose the end result is OK and it goes nicely with the rest of my modern jet collection.

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