Airifx 1/48 Hawker Hurricane mk.I (1979 Boxing)

[Stuart]

Hi All,

Today I got this in the post



This is the ooooold tool Airfix 1/48 Hurricane mk.I (boxing 1979) - beautifully moulded in light blue plastic (ah the memories). I've also ordered an AM instrument panel (yahu is it?) and some polish RAF Squadron decals. The decal sheet has an rather interesting looking all Grey example, which I might go for - otherwise it'll be a 'Battle of Britain' 303 Squadron (''Repeat Please'')



Sprue pictures to follow after I get home. hopefully it'll hit the bench this week along with my Spitfire - really looking forward to this one.

Cheers

Stuart

PS - ''Silence! in Polish!''

[BorgR3mc0]

Now that is some classic modelling!

[Stikpusher]

"ONE! The RAF is NOT a flying circus! TWO! Strict R/T procedure will be observed at all times... "

I am definitely going to follow this. It's a fine old kit.

[speedgraflex]

Yes, I subscribed, too. I have been thinking a lot about building out of the box. Limitations become strengths, yet choices remain limitless, really. It would be tough for me at the moment to jump into a build without a full suite of resin and brass bits, which makes me feel very much like Anakin Skywalker about to descend into the dark side.... why not change out the wheels *insert evil grin*

I have not found too many extant articles on 79 builds of this kit, so I look forward to your progress very much!

[Stikpusher]

Yes, I subscribed, too. I have been thinking a lot about building out of the box. Limitations become strengths, yet choices remain limitless, really. It would be tough for me at the moment to jump into a build without a full suite of resin and brass bits, which makes me feel very much like Anakin Skywalker about to descend into the dark side.... why not change out the wheels *insert evil grin*

I have not found too many extant articles on 79 builds of this kit, so I look forward to your progress very much!

If one MUST use AM on this kit, along with the IP Stuart has already selected, I would suggest, some exhausts, a vacuform canopy, and perhaps a new seat and some main wheels. I had a later boxing and the fit of the gun bores insert was a bit sloppy, but really this kit is like my current 109F project, and mostly quite adequate OOB. The canopy would probably be the biggest help, as the kit part is a bit thick and single piece. It will not show off the new IP without modification to open it up, or replacement. And, of course, not using the seated pilot figure.

[Stuart]

Yes, I subscribed, too. I have been thinking a lot about building out of the box. Limitations become strengths, yet choices remain limitless, really. It would be tough for me at the moment to jump into a build without a full suite of resin and brass bits, which makes me feel very much like Anakin Skywalker about to descend into the dark side.... why not change out the wheels *insert evil grin*

I have not found too many extant articles on 79 builds of this kit, so I look forward to your progress very much!

If one MUST use AM on this kit, along with the IP Stuart has already selected, I would suggest, some exhausts, a vacuform canopy, and perhaps a new seat and some main wheels. I had a later boxing and the fit of the gun bores insert was a bit sloppy, but really this kit is like my current 109F project, and mostly quite adequate OOB. The canopy would probably be the biggest help, as the kit part is a bit thick and single piece. It will not show off the new IP without modification to open it up, or replacement. And, of course, not using the seated pilot figure.

Those are some good sugestions Stik if I really wanted to go down the AM route that's what I'd do - The trouble is however if you're going to spend that amount of money on AM you might as well buy the new tooled kit.

This will be pretty much OOB - I'll try to do what I can to improve it like adding extra sidewall detail, drilling out the exhusts etc. but I want to keep it simple as possible. I MIGHT.... have a go at rescribing it, but the raised panel line detail on this kit is actually pretty nice, it'd be a shame to remove it. My main reason for buying the IP was that is was cheap and I wanted to see what it was like - I could easily use the kit IP with added Mike Grant Instrument decals which would be just as good under the canopy (I might still actually do that). The other thing I'd like to do is improve the balnk faces in the radiator intakes with some kind of grill - suggestions please

Cheers

Stuart

[Stuart]

Here are some sprue shots of the kit, apologies if they're poor, we have wall to wall rain here at present and the light is rubbish.

As you can see it's a pretty simple kit - not many pieces (which I kind of like) - I love the blue plastic (ahhh the nostalgia!). Panel is of the raised kind but very nicely done none the less - The fabric also looks good.



There is some room for improvement on the sidewalls, the other side is blank.



As you can see the canopy isn't too bad. Like Stik said we could change it but I'm not a fan of Vac-form canopies so I'll keep it. On the plus side it should be easy to mask with those frame lines, and I like the moulded in rear view mirror.



Other than that I think it'll be a fun kit. Thanks for the heads up about the fit of the guns Stik, I'll look out for that. I've also heard that there isn't much dihedral on the wings so that'll need addressing as well.

In case anyone is wondering why I have photocopied instructions, when I got the kit the box was dripping with mould (yuck) and stank - so every thing got ditched except the plastic which was thankfully in a bag. I did copy the instructions (not that I should need them for such a simple kit) before binning them. Oh the joy's of ebay.

Cheers

Stuart

[Stikpusher]

Yes, the wing dihedral needs addressing. As molded, there is none, they are quite flat and level. You mentioned that the kit instructions were moldy. Did the decals survive or do you have some aftermarket decals?

[Stikpusher]

This will be pretty much OOB - I'll try to do what I can to improve it like adding extra sidewall detail, drilling out the exhusts etc. but I want to keep it simple as possible. I MIGHT.... have a go at rescribing it, but the raised panel line detail on this kit is actually pretty nice, it'd be a shame to remove it. My main reason for buying the IP was that is was cheap and I wanted to see what it was like - I could easily use the kit IP with added Mike Grant Instrument decals which would be just as good under the canopy (I might still actually do that). The other thing I'd like to do is improve the balnk faces in the radiator intakes with some kind of grill - suggestions please

Cheers

Stuart

That's right, I forgot about the radiator facing. Yes, I added some mesh to the front of mine. And I actually lost the carburetor scoop on mine during construction, so I swiped one from a Monogram Hurricane in my stash, which just happened to be better molded. But of course the lost scoop turned up later on, so now it sits in the Monogram box awaiting construction. The only rescribing I might suggest would be for the wing gun ammo bays.

[Stuart]

Yes, the wing dihedral needs addressing. As molded, there is none, they are quite flat and level. You mentioned that the kit instructions were moldy. Did the decals survive or do you have some aftermarket decals?

I'll need to take a look at that. I was looking in one of my reference books this afternoon and I noticed in the 3rd angle projections that the inboard wing was pretty much flat to just outside of the U/C bays - then there was a slight dihedral on the outboard wing, not a lot, but some. I'll tape the wings together later and compare it.

LOL - the decals were browner than the instructions! As it happens I expected them to be unusable and orderd some more - when they arrive I'll post them up.

This will be pretty much OOB - I'll try to do what I can to improve it like adding extra sidewall detail, drilling out the exhusts etc. but I want to keep it simple as possible. I MIGHT.... have a go at rescribing it, but the raised panel line detail on this kit is actually pretty nice, it'd be a shame to remove it. My main reason for buying the IP was that is was cheap and I wanted to see what it was like - I could easily use the kit IP with added Mike Grant Instrument decals which would be just as good under the canopy (I might still actually do that). The other thing I'd like to do is improve the balnk faces in the radiator intakes with some kind of grill - suggestions please

That's right, I forgot about the radiator facing. Yes, I added some mesh to the front of mine. And I actually lost the carburetor scoop on mine during construction, so I swiped one from a Monogram Hurricane in my stash, which just happened to be better molded. But of course the lost scoop turned up later on, so now it sits in the Monogram box awaiting construction. The only rescribing I might suggest would be for the wing gun ammo bays.

What sort of mesh did you use Stik?

I'll take a look at the Gun panels. I have to say I quite like the panel lines on the fuselage.

Cheers

Stuart