Sea Harrier FA2

Kinetic, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval short take-off and vertical-landing/vertical take-off and landing jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar".

Unusual in an era in which most naval and land-based air superiority fighters were large and supersonic, the principal role of the subsonic Sea Harrier was to provide air defence of the fleet from Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

The Sea Harrier served in the Falklands War, both of the Gulf Wars, and the Balkans conflicts; on all occasions it mainly operated from aircraft carriers positioned within the conflict zone. Its usage in the Falklands War was its most high profile and important success, where it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force. The Sea Harriers shot down 20 enemy aircraft during the conflict with one lost to enemy ground fire. They were also used to launch ground attacks in the same manner as the Harriers operated by the Royal Air Force.

The Sea Harrier was marketed for sales abroad, but by 1983 India was the only operator other than Britain after sales to Argentina and Australia were unsuccessful. A second, updated version for the Royal Navy was made in 1993 as the Sea Harrier FA2, improving its air to air abilities and weapons compatibilities, along with a more powerful engine; this version continued manufacture until 1998.

The aircraft was withdrawn early from Royal Navy service in March 2006 and replaced in the short term by the Harrier GR9, now itself retired, although the intended long term replacement is Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II.

The Sea Harrier is in active use in the Indian Navy, although it will eventually be replaced by the Mikoyan MiG-29K. Although withdrawn from active Royal Navy service, Sea Harriers are used to train naval aircraft handlers at the Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations.*

Kinetic continues its commitment to modern jet-age aircraft with its second British subject - a 1/48 scale Sea Harrier FA2.

This is only the second Sea Harrier FA2 available in 1/48 scale, the first being an Airfix kit released in 1997, which was itself based on the early 1980s-vintage Sea Harrier FRS.1.

This brand new kit from Kinetic comprises 243 parts in light grey plastic, 16 parts in clear and a small photo-etched fret. Markings for 28 aircraft are included.

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Thumbnail panels:

Surface detail looks very nice, with recessed panel lines, vents and rivets over the airframe.

Moulding quality is high, with minimal ejector pin circles, seam lines or sink marks. Some of the moulding is really clever too, notably the one-piece nozzles. All four nozzles are connected by a mechanism that should, if installed carefully, make them all rotate to the same angle simultaneously.

Cockpit detail is nice straight from the box, with raised detail on the side consoles and instrument panels; and excellent moulding on the sides of the ejector seat. You'll need to BYO harness straps though.

The canopy is split into windscreen and opening section. The latter features the prominent detonation chords moulded into the top.

The stressed metal effect on the nozzle blast shields looks great.

Optional parts are provided for open or closed auxiliary blow in doors; open or closed air brakes; and the control surfaces and flaps are all offered as separate parts, allowing them to be posed to taste. Landing gear doors may be fixed open or closed too.

The modest photo-etched fret provides additional detail parts including scale thickness wing fences.

Of the 243 grey plastic parts, 104 are dedicated to ordnance.

On the two ordnance sprues you will find AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9L Sidewinder and Sea Eagle missiles plus pylons and tanks of various sizes.

Markings

Decals are designed by Crossdelta and luxuriously printed by Cartograf. The decal sheet is big and colourful, with two commemorative schemes plus 26 aircraft depicted at disbandment in 2004 and 2006.

Colour callouts are offered for Vallejo and GSI Creos (I believe this is Gunze-Sangyo acrylic) paints.

This is another really nice modern subject from Kinetic. It simply blows away the hybrid 1/48 scale Airfix Sea Harrier FA2 from 1997.

Kinetic's all-new 1/48 scale SHAR is well detailed, offers many useful options and alternative position parts, and provides a wealth of ordnance. Engineering appears straightforward and it should not be a difficult build.

I look forward to starting mine!

* Historical information from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace_Sea_Harrier

Thanks to Lucky Model for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Brett Green
Page Created 16 September, 2014
Last updated 17 September, 2014

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