Hawker Siddeley
Harrier T Mk.2/2A & TAV8A
Harrier T Mk.4/4N

Sword, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

The general history of the Harrier is well known to many, so I shall just cover the key features of the versions reviewed here. As is the case for many single-seat military aircraft there was a need for a trainer version of the Harrier; this was especially so given its differences to all other types of aircraft. Hawker Siddeley began work on a trainer around the same time it was developing the Harrier GR.1 from the Kestrel. This trainer version was to become the Harrier T Mk.2.

The Harrier trainer’s first flight was in April 1969. It differed from the single-seat version in a number of significant ways. These included a 47-inch longer forward fuselage; a second cockpit raised by 11 inches, a larger ventral fin, a longer ballasted rear tail cone, and the fin moved 33 inches to the rear mounted on an 11-inch tall stub. An 18-inch extension to the fin was introduced during the production run and earlier aircraft had this retrofitted. The T Mk.2 used the Pegasus 101 engine, whereas the Mk.2A used a Pegasus 102, and so it paralleled the engine change made with the Harrier GR.1A.

The GR.3 was the next single-seat Harrier and was powered by the Pegasus 103 engine. It underwent an avionics upgrade during its service, with a laser range finder in the nose and Passive Warning Radar (PWR) in the tailfin. This led to the need for an equivalently equipped two-seat trainer. This was the T Mk.4, although few of them had the same updated avionics fit as the GR.3. The Royal Navy used the T Mk.4 without the laser nose but with the PWR fitted, and were designated T Mk.4N. The fitting of the PWR led to the use of the original GR.1 tailfin, still mounted on the 11-inch high stub, as otherwise there would have been too much side area to the fin.

Whatever the reasons for their shape, I think that the T Mk.2 and Mk.4 Harriers are among the best-looking members of Hawker’s VTOL family. However, I realise there are those who think that they are the ugliest; such can be their polarizing effect. Of course, none of this has any bearing the aircraft’s history, but I for one am glad to see modern kits of these subjects.

Previous 1/72 scale Harrier T Mk.2 & T Mk.4 Kits

I am aware of a few previous Harrier T Mk.2 & T Mk.4 kits and conversions. The only injected kit was Heller’s T.Mk4, which is part of their Bobcat range of simplified snap-together kits. This very simple kit is better than it sounds, although it is best used to convert a mainstream single-seat Harrier kit. Heritage Aviation Models released a multi-media resin kit. I read in an article in the July ‘05 issue of SAMI that this is the same as the earlier Aardvark Resin kit. The article indicated that with quite a lot of effort a reasonable model can be made from this kit. I also know of three T Mk.2/4 conversions by Airmodel, Pegasus and Veeday Models. However, and without getting too far ahead of myself, I can advise that the new Sword kits blow these predecessors into the weeds...

Contents

The kits come in end-opening boxes with reasonably appealing artwork on their fronts. Sword’s instructions provide a parts map and a generally easy to follow diagrammatic assembly format. The diagrams are well drawn and better than some long-run brands. There is also a longer than usual, for Sword at least, history of the aircraft; however, this is because the same text is repeated in full!

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Paint colours are in Czech and English, with all other text in English. The painting and decal guide uses quite adequate black & white shaded 4-view drawings with colour profiles on the rear of the box. There is also a two-page stencil placement guide. Sword uses generic and military colour names for colour call outs, for both detail painting and the paint and markings guide. The parts and decals come enclosed in a zip-lock bag, with the clear parts and PE fret further protected in small bags of their own.

This is a typical Sword kit in that the plastic has a more shiny finish than many other limited run brands. It has nicely moulded parts with quite fine surface detail. Parts break down is conventional for the type. The sprue gates are narrow, but there is some flash in most places, but this a minor issue. High production standards apply to the resin, clear and coloured PE parts too.

The T Mk.2 and T Mk4 share the same sprues; only the decals, instructions and box-art differ.

The Airframe

The assembly stages for both kits are essentially the same; any variations occur around the choice of which nose and tailfin to use. I will not describe these in any detail; instead, the following description covers both kits and all versions.

Cockpit detail is a combination of plastic and PE parts, with extensive use made of the latter in pre-coloured and plain forms.

It is used for the seat details, instrument panels, side consoles, HUDs and rudder pedals. It crossed my mind that some might be tempted to use after market resin seats, but I am inclined to think that the kit seats will look great as they are. The Harrier has very small cockpits, but even so, these should look superb when finished. The three-piece canopy is very fine and clear, and is dressed with PE mirrors and a windscreen wiper. There is also a fourth clear part for the interior rear seat screen. I am sure that some will be tempted to model the canopy open given the level of cockpit detail.

The large front fan of the Pegasus engine is very evident and this mounts to a structure extended up from the nose wheel well. This and the rear main wheel well have quite reasonable detail within. The interior to the airbrake is a resin casting.

The fuselage halves enclose all of these parts. A nice touch is the way that both sets of the cockpit coaming with their HUDs are separate parts that can be left off until just before the canopy is fitted.

Now I come to the only real weakness of this kit, and it is one that many Harrier kits share. The auxiliary intake doors are closed rather than drooped open, as they are when the engine is shut down. This is due to the limitations of two-piece injection moulds, but resin intakes would have overcome these. Sword often supplies resin parts, and could have done so here I feel. After all, they will dominate the 1/72 two-seat Harrier market for a while, and so they could charge a Euro or two more for resin intakes. Not all is lost however; there is a strong affinity between the Sword and Esci/Italeri Harrier kits, which means after market intakes with drooped doors designed for the Italian kit should fit.

Some may gripe about the one-piece exhaust nozzles that are also the result of mould limitations. I think that they are okay and preferable to more open two-piece nozzles with awkward seams, as found in some kits. Once again, after-market nozzles for other Harrier kits can easily improve the appearance of the Sword kit.

Staying with the fuselage, there is a choice of cannons or fuselage strakes and as mentioned earlier, noses and tailfins as well. There is a variety of scoops, blade antennae and other details to add. Some are plastic and others PE. All will add an air of scale fineness to the finished model.

The tandem undercarriage units have a quite adequate appearance, as do the main wheels and their doors. Sword has moulded the outriggers in their lowered state, which should suit the majority of modellers.

The wings consist of three parts. The vortex generators are a little thick, but are limited by what is possible with injection moulding, and so they are no different to other Harrier kits in this respect; they should be acceptable to most I feel. Four underwing pylons and two fuel tanks provide the only aircraft stores, but this seems a typical payload for a trainer.

I think this should be a simple and enjoyable kit to build, albeit that there are some fiddly small parts to contend with.

Colours & Markings

SW72061 has three options; all have dark green and dark sea grey disruptive camouflage over light aircraft grey, the choices being:

• T Mk.2, No.233 Operational Conversion Unit, July 1975,

• TAV-8A, VMAT-203 Hawks, USS Roosevelt, 1976, and

• T Mk.2, No.3 Squadron, based at RAF Wildenrath, West Germany in 1976.
  

SW72062 has two options; the T Mk.4 has dark green and dark sea grey wrap-around disruptive camouflage, whilst the T Mk.4N is overall dark sea grey with colourful anniversary markings; the specifics being:

• T Mk.4, No.20(R) Squadron, Operational Conversion Unit, Guterslah, Germany, November 1992, and

• T Mk.4N, No.899 Naval Air Squadron, seen in 1992 in special marking celebrating the 50th anniversary of the unit, Yeovilton
  

The paint and markings guide with both kits is quite adequate, whilst the stencil guide covers the placement of over 50 decals. Techmod prints the decals, which appear to be very good overall.

These new Sword Harrier kits are considerably superior to all previous T Mk. 2 and T Mk.4 kits in 1/72-scale. They are very good quality for a limited run kit and provide excellent levels of cockpit detail for the scale.

Yes, the one-piece engine nozzles are a slight compromise, but this is an approach shared by some mainstream Harrier kit producers too. I think that they are okay, but you can replace them easily with resin alternatives if you like. Less forgivable I feel are the closed auxiliary doors on the intakes. It is difficult to mould the drooped doors in plastic, but Sword offers resin parts with some kits, and could have considered it for the intakes in this case. However, after market intakes with drooped doors designed for the Esci/Italeri kit should fit Sword‘s kits as well.

Intake gripes aside, these look to be excellent kits, and I am sure they will please many Harrier fans who build in the One True Scale as we have waited a long time. Well done Sword! I have also to comment on the price of these kits from most suppliers; they are simply great value in my opinion.

It should come as no surprise that I highly recommend both of these kits.

Thanks to Sword Models for this review sample.

Review Text & Blue Background Images Copyright © 2012 by Mark Davies
Page Created 27 August, 2012
Last updated 28 August, 2012

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