Thankfully one of the newest releases is one we've actually been needing in 1/72. I can't recall other manufacturers coming out with a GR.1 Harrier, but you can be sure that the new release from Airfix will put the others to shame. Also thankfully aftermarket companies will see the potential for this kit and start coming out with product for it. One of the first is this set of decals from Caracal Models. Using these decals you can easily turn the GR.1 into a United States Marine Corp (USMC) AV-8A, which was externally no different from the GR.1. There are decals for twelve schemes (although national markings and stencils for only two, one "high vis" and one "low vis"):
-
AV-8A BuNo. 158703 (flight test scheme w/orange panels - AV-8A BuNo. 158702, VMA-231 (temporary winter camouflage)
- AV-8A BuNo. 159248, VMA-231, USS Roosevelt
- AV-8A BuNo. 159256, VMA-231, high-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 159248, VMA-231, low-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 158967, VMA-542, high-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 158950, VMA-542, low-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 158976, VMA-513, high-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 159368, VMAT-203, high-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 159252, VMAT-203, low-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 158975, VMA-513 Det. A, high-vis scheme
- AV-8A BuNo. 158966, VMA-513 Det. B, high-vis scheme
Decals are to extremely high standards and appear to be in register. The printing is really top-notch and you'll be happy with how these look.