1/72 Esci Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR1a

Gallery Article by Bill Clark

 

XV801/"Y" No 20 Sqn., RAF Gutersloh - West Germany 1973-4. 
This model uses Esci's excellent kit as the basis. A white metal bang seat - from Chota Sahib- has been added. I've lowered the flaps and opened up the auxillery air intakes - no parked Harrier kit looks respectable without these mods!

 

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Decals come from Modeldecal.  All paints are from the Xtracolour range.The GR1a had an uprated Pegasus engine and other minor modifications. Most, if not all GR1's were converted to GR1a's - and then on to GR3's - but thats another story!!!

The scheme depicted is the "toned down" version; the national markings have had the white areas removed. RAF's No. 20 Sqn., have had a varied career over the last three decades, they had their ageing Hunter FGA9's replaced by the Harrier GR1, then converted to the Sepecat Jaguar, and then onto the Panavia Tornado GR1. Now nearly thirty years later are back flying Harrier GR7's (albeit as a "shadow/OCU" squadron).

Bill Clark

      

Photos and text © by Bill Clark