Heritage Aviation 1:48^th conversion sets for the Hasegawa Harrier II AV-8B kit

HACV48011  Harrier GR.5 - 9.99GBP

HACV48012  Harrier GR.7 - 9.99GBP

HACV48017  65% LERX for Harrier IIs - 4.95GBP

Before we start, a health warning!. For those of you with Monogram AV-8Bs, this set may not be the answer to your prayers, but with a bit of effort can be made to fit.  This set is designed specifically for the Hasegawa AV-8B, so much so that you will only be required to make ONE, count it, ONE, cut to the kit. 

So what do you get for 9.99GBP?  Basically all those bits that make a an AV-8B into a Harrier GR.7 (the only difference with the GR.5 kit is the nose, so all comments apply equally).  You get a resin nose (an accurate one, too, with that slight curve missing from all previous GR.7 noses), MB Mk 12 ejector seat, gun pods (each in two pieces), outrigger AIM-9 pylons (with a flat trailing edge to them - a first!), new wingtips (incorporating the ZEUS lumps and bumps - only the second manufacturer, after Airfix (albeit in 1/72 scale), to get this bit right), new ventral fin section, and ventral flare dispenser (again, second only to Airfix in 1/72 scale, the only manufacturer to get this right).

Second health warning - Check your references!!  This set will, with the Hasegawa kit, build a 100% LERX jet.  To make a 65% LERX Harrier you will also need Heritage's 65% LERX.

 As I have already said, Heritage have made the set such that the parts will just replace the Hasegawa parts where required. The only cut required is on the tail boom, to remove the USMC fairing forward of the RCV and replace it with the resin one.  This brings me on to the only downer from this advance issue - the lack of instructions.  Heritage will be producing a proper instruction sheet in future issues (and they only finished the one I got the night before!) although to be honest, if you know what a Harrier looks like you shouldn't have any real problems.

Are there any problems?  Well, and this could be biting the hand that feeds me review samples, the seat is a bit basic, but better than the kit one; the wingtip lumps and bumps are a little undersized (particularly the one located just behind the formation light) and the flare dispensers are incorrectly shown on the flare 'bump'.  That said, it's a giant leap in the right direction and, in my view, better than anything available at the moment.  I do know that Heritage will be looking to 'tweak' the moulds in light of new info, so expect to see these minor errors corrected!  Combine this with the Model Alliance markings (hey guys - see, I am plugging your stuff too!) and you will end up with a good GR.7 kit in 1/48th scale - at last!

In summary, this set isn't perfect (what set is?) but it produces an accurate GR.7 in 1/48 scale, fits well onto the kit and requires minimal cutting to get the end result.  Highly recommended! 

What else to look out for - well a T.10 in the near future!   Stu Fone

Indeed Stu!  Released at the Cosford Show on 4 April…

HACV48013 Harrier T.10 - 24.99GBP - a wholly new set comprising white metal, resin and photo-etched parts and decals.  Review to follow as soon as possible…!