Control Stick Grip AV8B Harrier II/Harrier GR7/9

This model kit is a full scale, resin copy of a genuine HARRIER II control stick grip. This Stick is mounted on British Harrier GR7/9 and AV8B Plus of Marina Italiana , Armed Spanish and MARINES of U.S.A.

The kit is basically composed of 2 parts casted in non toxic odourless resin, very easy to be assembled.
The picture shows one already assembled and painted example. The wood base is not included.

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

The stick grip requires some casting blocks to be removed and these areas will need some minor cleanup work prior to painting. The moulding and casting process has captured the knurled grip area, screw heads and micro-switch stems and fastening devices 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 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 arrows. Finally some of the details could be highlighted with levels of wash and dry brushing to add an authentic and aged appearance.