It's been over 15 years since a 1/48 AV-8B Harrier kit was released, and the aircraft has seen a lot of changes in that time. Hasegawa's first release in what is sure to be a series is the latest, and probably final, variant, the radar-equipped Harrier II Plus. This aircraft is operated by all US Marine light attack squadrons, as well as by the Spanish and Italian navies. While not as glamorous as the F-15, F-16 or F-18, the Harrier is the world's only operational vertical take-off and landing attack airplane, and has proved its worth in Desert Storm, Kosovo, Afghanistan and most recently Operation Iraqi Freedom. A new kit has been long overdue, and Hasegawa have done it justice with this kit.

The nose section has been tooled in such a way as to accurately capture the different cross-section of the B Plus while still allowing for a later B, B/NA, GR 5 or GR7 release with accurate noses (an area the 1/72 scale kit was lacking in). Also, the wingtips and tail have a parts breakdown that also clearly show plans have been made for British Harriers with their different antenna fit as compared to the US variants. And the engine scoops are all of the correct type and hollow! Markings are included for 2 aircraft: CG 01 of VMA-231 and WP 05 of VMA-223. The only thing wrong with this kit is Hasegawa still hasn't gotten the camoflage colors correct: they should be FS 36320, 36231 and 36118. But this is a minor niggle of a SUPERB kit.