and another Maritime Harrier.
A SeaHarrier S Mk-3 of 803NAS operating off the then very new HMS Invincible around 1979-80.
In simple terms the SeaHarrier S-3 was a navalized Harrier GR-3. Intended to give the Fleet Air Arm a dedicated VTOL surface vessel attack / Strike - Reconnaissance asset. leaving the FRS-1 to consentrate on Air Defence as its primary role.
The S-3 replaced the "Laser nose" of the GR-3 with a small surface scan radar optimised for guiding Martel air to surface missiles. Although the S-3 was more than capeable of providing close air support for troops ashore as and when required. As was proved very well in the south Atlantic in 1982.
803sqn had previously been a Buccaneer unit and retained their blue-grey codes and serials, However they experimented with a "Low Viz" version as seen here on XZ974. (the first of the initial batch of 14 production airframes)
Base kit is an ESCI boxing of what is now the Italeri Harrier GR-3 kit. Decals are a mix of various harrier sheets robbed from the spares stash, the codes and serials are home made, and were the result of a failed attempt to color match the correct shade of blue. I also had issues with color density on lighter color versions. I almost gave up on them before opting to go down the "experimental low viz" back story. The 803 Squadron markings on the tail are from an Xtradecal Buccaneer sheet.
The weapons load out was aided by using the gun pods that weren't used from the base kit of the Dutch SeaHarrier F/A-2 build. The martel, winder (plus launch rail) and ecm pod all came from the last issue of the old tool Airfix Buccaneer, The drop tank being the only thing used from the base kit. Oh! the launch rail the martel sits on was a sea eagle unit also a left over from the Dutch F/A-2 build. The nose cone was replaced with the front section of a droptank off a Matchbox Hawk 100 kit that ive had lurking in the spares box for ages.
