All done! I have very fond memories of building this as a kid when it first came out, and it was both a labor of love and a reminder of how lucky us modelers are to have modern kits. It's basically OOB with some blow in doors on the intakes made form Evergreen card since the kit has nothing to represent these, just gaping holes. The Stencel seat firing handle is PE from an unused Trumpeter Sea Hawk seat bent a little to look at little more droopy like Stencel firing handles. I went back and forth on the weapons load. Spent most of this afternoon putting together Walleyes, Zuni launchers, and Mk83s. I initially thought Shrikes or Walleyes, but I currently have no Shrikes that are not already in use, and though I liked the Walleye idea the large wings interfered a little with the outrigger gear on the outer pylons. So in the end it was between real world AV-8A loads of rockets or iron bombs and I went with bombs to add a little more color. Plus I think it looks a little meaner with a pair of thousand-pounders. I tried my had at replicating the ablative finish on USN/USMC bombs with Tamiya cement and an old brush, and while it is subtle it is noticeable in person. I'm happy with it and will go a little more aggressive with it on my next build that needs heat resistant bombs.
It’s finished as a USN AV-8A from VA-106 aboard USS Independence in 1975. After the USMC were impressed with their evaluation of the RAF’s new Harrier the USN and USAF both jumped on the bandwagon and tried it out. Both were impressed but the Air Force passed on the aircraft, at the time being focused on large, supersonic platforms. The Navy on the other hand looked back at the still relatively recent USS Forestall fire and saw an advantage in an air wing containing an element that could operate from a fouled deck.
The USMC ordered Harriers in 1969 and not long after the Navy placed a follow on order for 178 single seat AV-8As and 18 two seat TAV-8As. As delivered the Navy Harriers were identical to Marine veesions but over time the Navy fleet gained more capabilites with more advanced navigation and targeting avionics and the ability to carry Shrike and Maverick missiles.
This aircraft is pictured with a typical strike load of two Mk83 1,000lb bombs and drop tanks painted in VA-106 colors.
