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Osprey Publishing |
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Modelling the Harrier I and II by Glenn Ashley |
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Reviewed By Jim Bates, #36213 |
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This book is the first in a new series of
modeling books by Osprey. The Harrier book is a very good basic
introduction to modeling the Harrier. This 80 page soft cover book opens
with an introduction to the Harrier in model form, and follows it up with
a chapter on tools of the trade. Then the fun starts. The third chapter
takes the old Airfix 1/72 P. 1127 kit and brings it up to a more current
standard. The author does a good job illustrating basic modeling and
scratch building techniques, but unfortunately builds the Harrier with the
outriggers on backswords. Oops! The fourth chapter is a gallery of 1/72
scale Harrier models with some very interesting schemes. We now get to
the 1/48 section of the book with a chapter on scratch building a Harrier
cockpit, and a set of landing gear for the 1/48 Airfix GR. 3. This
chapter also explains weathering techniques and figure painting. We then
have a gallery of 1/48 scale Harriers including a series of spectacular
Harriers by Piero de Santis. The next chapter deals with the big one…the
1/24 scale Airfix Sea Harrier. A full build of this big Harrier is
covered and the modeler does an excellent job of hand painting this
monster! To close out the modeling section of the book, a short chapter
is devoted to display bases and dioramas. The last three chapters are a
wrap up of available kits, a references section, and a short walk around
of a RAF Harrier GR. 7. There is a flap in the book with some paint chips
of various Harrier schemes. The book is illustrated throughout with many
excellent colour photos. Unfortunately, I do have a few complaints with the book. The first is that in a few of the chapters models are shown but never appear as a finished product. For example the 1/48 Harrier GR. 3 is never shown as a finished model and appears in a few photos with a completely spurious overall gray scheme. Also, some of the kit recommendations are interesting. In 1/72 the book recommends the Hasegawa series of Harrier Is as best in the scale. Unfortunately, these kits have some shape problems in the nose area. Most contend that the Esci/Italeri 1/72 Harriers are the best in the scale. Also, the nice 1/48 Monogram AV-8A is never mentioned in the book. Lastly, many European modeling products are mention that may not be available to U.S. modelers. Too bad some English to U.S. modeling translation wasn’t supplied. Even though this book isn’t perfect, I really enjoyed it and I recommended to anyone who wants to know more about modeling the Harrier. I look forward to future books in the series. |
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