Arif Saeed
Blimey Neil, how many projects you got on the go ?, defo watching this one bud !

Neil Autor
Hello mate. Er, yeah you're right!... I may have gone a bit build crazy the end of last year 😜

Arif Saeed
All good Neil I'm very envious 😉

Neil Autor
I'm nearing the end of/or have finished multiple projects. So I thought I'd revisit this dodgy old Tamiya kit that I'd started a couple of years ago (and shelved) to see if I could progress it into something halfway decent? Those exhaust nozzles... I mean really what were they thinking!? haha!

Mark Sherwood
Oh Man! I remember this kit, probably the worst Tamiya kit going. I gave up, still in the box half built. But, looking at your perseverance on the build it's looking good. Sterling work on the engine, cockpit and thrusters. 👍🥸🤟

Daniel
Yeah I remember as well... I had restarted modelling and everyone was like "get Tamiya, they're amazing, build themself, hardly need glue..." And one day I saw this kit and thought "Oh, tamiya! I'm not really interested in Harriers but for that price I'll treat myself to a self-building-precision-engineered superkit!" - I was in for a disappointment😄 (Now I check with this site before I buy 👍)
Great work with this Neil, you're the true master of vintage models 🙂🤘🏻

Neil Autor
Hiya mates 🙂 Thanks both for dropping by. You're both very kind to say such nice things 🙂 I'll try my best to wrestle it into some sorta Harrieresque shape 👍

I 100% agree with you both... I purchased it back in 2019 when I though I'd get back into modelling and (stupidly) assumed that this Tamiya kit would be an easy build - oh dear is all I can politely say! I too have 'parked it' in-between other builds many times, but rest assured in the longer-term It won't beat me! @Daniel - yeah good plan, I was foolish not to.

J35J
Great progress! Taking a chair.
Went in exactly the same trap as you, Back into modeling after 30years. Through I did a bargain buying a Tamiya kit for a fraction of the price comparing with the Kinetic kit. The kit is really a lemon but good for practicing your building skills.
Finalized one myself some months ago. The hatch behind the cockpit is a real challenge fixing into position.

Neil Autor
Hi J35J 🙂 Thanks mate! And thanks for the tip. Yeah I'm getting there, slowly! I've added some more imagery it's a long hard slog on this one for sure.

Jos Jansen
Ah, missed this...taking a seat!

Neil Autor
Hello Jos 🙂👋 welcome. I apologise in advance as this won't be one of my best! But it will hopefully end up looking more (shaped) like a Sea Harrier than this kit did when it left the factory 👍

J35J
The SHAR is coming together in a great way Neil. You will prevail!👍🏻
How did you get the raised panel line back in?

CaptGPF
I admire your tenacity! With all the work you did on the intakes and nozzles - this kit is definitely a labor of love. 😀. Can't wait to see you finish it!

J35J, you can restore panel lines using a pair of slightly thicker masking tapes, fill in the middle with puttly and sand it smooth before removing it. I think finescale had a YouTube video on how to do that.

Mr D
Nice very nice 👍👍
Like the build 👌

Mr D
Nice work so far 😀👍like the engine paint, The nozzles on my model needed a bit of work, some people complain the engine hatch is poor ! My one wasn't to bad ? Just sanded a little here n there n dry-fit tested prior to paint.
Are you going to cut the intake vent out ? Or just build it how it is ?
Good luck on next steps 👍👍

Mark Sherwood
Seeing as Tenacious D, has been taken how about Perseverance DJFB. I admire you carrying on with this. Mine took a seat on the Eternal Shelf of Doom or as they(we) say in Yorkshire " E. SOD! 🤘🥸🤟

Neil Autor
OK, So next up on my... 'Finally get around to sorting out booth imagery for multiple finished kits' list. Is this infamous beauty! Like many others, I purchased the SHAR kit upon returning to the hobby in 2019... A Tamiya kit for less than £15, what a steal I assumed... NOT! The kit is definitely a bit of dog in places, especially around the air intakes and exhausts (and I'm used to building poorly manufactured/fitting kits). I started it back in 2021, then pretty quickly, relegated it to the 'shelf of doom'. On a whim in 2024, I found the gumption to tackle it again and so here I present my interpretation. It's not completely accurate and is missing a few tiny plastic bits (that were lost to the garage floor monster). Also the smaller decals disintegrated on a couple of items, etc. However, I did get it finished, and it looks (a bit) like a Sea Harrier - well to me anyway. Haha! 😉

gorby
I've heard it's a bit of a duff kit but you've managed to make it look really good.

J35J
Great job with the SHAR! One of the best OOB builds I've seen on this notorious kit👏🏼👍🏻

Rui S
Fantastic work 👍

Arif Saeed
Very Nice Neil 👏👏

Dave
Your Harrier looks beautiful. Nice Work.

Neil Autor
Thanks all for your encouraging likes and comments. I had to push myself to finally finish this one, it's a long way from perfect I acknowledge. But it's given me experience if nothing else for a nicer kit version by a different manufacturer in the future. It's niggling me that on the teaser image I didn't seat the canopy properly - I usually leave these loose so anyone can inspect the cockpit - it's just something I did as a child. However I may need to re-take this image just because you can see a small gap, which shouldn't be there... Modellers, we're all so fussy! As the wife will confirm when we talk about my DIY decorating timescales!... Anyway, thanks also to those who've separately liked 👍 You're all very kind 🙂 Next up, finally time to update the Black Bunny F-14 Tomcat album too...

Mr D
You done a 👍👍 job.
The Tamiya kit is not the easiest but it's come out well, Looks more realistic than my build.
Did you find the decals a bit of a marathon 🤣 lots of them .
Well done... nice 👏👍