Eduard 1/72 Airfix Harrier GR.3 Photoetch
By Matt Bittner
Eduard tends to release their photoetch sets in two "flavors": a Zoom set that is usually only for the interior, and a more complete set that comes with the same interior set as the Zoom, but also couples it with another set (or more) of photoetch for exterior (and sometimes more interior) detail. This set (#73495) for the new-tool Airfix 1/72 Harrier GR.3 is the more "complete" set.
The first instruction step has you add a lot of new bits and pieces for the seat. I think with the addition of Eduard's photoetch to the kit seat it will rival any resin-produced ejection seat for this model. Once the seat is taken care of you move to the rest of the cockpit. You'll need to scrape the kit's instrument panel smooth but once you do you add the two photoetch pieces to it to create a really nice looking instrument panel.
The cockpit sidewalls are also taken care of with additional and replacement parts, which also holds true for the cockpit tub. There is a replacement throttle assembly and rudder pedals, and extra pieces to add to it to liven it up. There are pieces for the cockpit coaming as well as the "ignition cord" for the canopy (along with a rear-view mirror). There are a couple of vents and panels you add to the exterior of the model along with new pieces for behind the cockpit, under the canopy. In addition there's a replacement Head's Up Display (HUD), a wiper for the windscreen and new cockpit sills.
The second set of photoetch comes with more panels and vents for the exterior of the model along with additions to the nose landing-gear door. There are brass antennas for the fuselage spine and fin along with pieces you add behind the thrust-vector nozzles. You'll need to perform some cutting to the main landing gear to add photoetch oleo scissors and add more pieces such as brake lines. For the nose-gear there is a replacement "mud guard" and light surround. There are also additions to the speed brake.
Finally the set comes with a fold-up, photoetch ladder to place against your built-up Harrier along with additions to the ordnance racks, ends for the missiles and brake lines for the wing-tip landing gear.
There are a lot of pieces to add to your Airfix 1/72 Harrier GR.3 to really spice things up. Everything, I feel, is "value added" and goes a long way to make an excellent kit look even better.
Thank you to Eduard for this set to review.