[sniperUK]

When does a model become a toy,the ones I am thinking about at the minute are the FM Mirage III (the first one) and the FM Harrier which in my opinion looks like a cartoon drawing of a Harrier (especially in the "Sea Harrier"scheme).The old ERTL AV 8 was more accurate in shape than this one.I believe a model should be accurate in shape and with an accurate colour scheme .I can excuse slight variations in colour and the odd missing marking but totally wrong markings and colours and shapes of airframes and the wrong schemes on the wrong variants I would class these as no more than toys made by lazy manufacturers.

[FormerViperDriver]

Hmmm, what is wrong exactly with the FM/A Harrier in its AV-8B or GR-5 versions? I thought it looked pretty accurate to me, but I may be wrong. I do think they didn't get the shape of the nose on the radar-equipped version (AV-8B +) quite right, but the ones with the original ARBS nose seems fairly good to me. I could be wrong, I'm no Harrier expert...

Of course, that mould is completely inappropriate for a Sea Harrier, so that's FM/A buffonery right there, but I'm curious about the basic mould as originally intended.

No argument on the Mirage, it's an abomination (which seemingly has been corrected on later issues).

And on your overall argument that overall shape and livery has to be respected, absolutely. That comes first on my list, way before we can talk details on any model.

FVD

[Cavtanker]

A model becomes a toy when you can't stand looking at it any longer. As a result, you put it up at a garage sale somewhere. I did this with a 1/32 scale 21st Century some time back. My 2 pennies worth of opinion.

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Hmmm, what is wrong exactly with the FM/A Harrier in its AV-8B or GR-5 versions? I thought it looked pretty accurate to me, but I may be wrong. I do think they didn't get the shape of the nose on the radar-equipped version (AV-8B +) quite right, but the ones with the original ARBS nose seems fairly good to me. I could be wrong, I'm no Harrier expert...

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Of course, that mould is completely inappropriate for a Sea Harrier, so that's FM/A buffonery right there, but I'm curious about the basic mould as originally intended.

FVD

The only thing that sticks out like a sore thumb on my AV-8B is that the overall canopy shape is high and bulbous. I've had a chance to compare the FM model to my Monogram kit of the same scale before I went to the trouble of posting a review, and I will say this with absolute certainty and confidence that the FM version is every bit as close to the way it was molded to the Monogram kit except only for the canopy! Oh and another thing, I have to remove the Sidewinder missile pylon sandwich between the inboard GBU bomb rack and 82 Snakeyes rack. USMC Harriers DO NOT have or use this pylon, only British GR.5 & 7s models have it.