Manche de Harrier II , escala 1/1

Harrier II Control Stick Grip

ADV Models, 1/1 scale (Full Size)

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Beautifully moulded in resin, ADV has captured all of the fine detail of the control stick grip fitted to the British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas Harrier II.  

The detail from the bottom through to the top of the stick grip has been faithfully reproduced. 

The resin contains no flaws or air bubbles, which is quite a feat in a casting of this size. 

The stick grip is made up of one major part, (stick grip) and one minor part the multi-function HOTAS castle toggle switch (this was how it was described to me by a senior manager at my work who was a senior GR5/7 pilot).  The smaller part will have to be carefully removed from the moulding block and glued to the appropriate area of the control column just to the right of the flight control top hat trim toggle. 

The stick grip requires the casting block to be removed and the area will require only minor cleanup work prior to painting.  The moulding and casting process has captured the grip texture, screw heads and micro-switches perfectly.  The treaded section that fastens the base of the stick grip to the control column is so crisply moulded it looks like you could just screw the knurled nut at the top of a real control column straight onto the resin stick grip.  The gun trigger is nicely undercut through the moulding process that it actually looks like a separate trigger waiting to be squeezed. 

The most impressive item though is the top hat toggle switch for actuating the aileron and elevator trim motors.  This item is prominent on the top of the stick grip and is actuated by the pilots thumb to trim the aircraft during flight.  The switch is also nicely undercut during the moulding process so that it looks as though it is a separate and operatable switch. 

The actual stick is basically a satin black colour which is not as easy to replicate as it sounds.  Usually the stick is moulded from a black plastic or poly substance that has a particular sheen to it.  The modeller needs to pick out a few details such as the metal screws, gun trigger switch and trim direction indications. 

Finally, some of the details could be highlighted with levels of wash and dry brushing to add an authentic and aged appearance. 

I am thoroughly impressed with these 1/1 scale models of aircraft components and I am getting quite a display of aircraft cockpit components some real, some models.  I hope ADV continue to produce these unique 1/1 scale items.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to ADV Models for the sample.