Hasegawa's Hurricane
kits are little gems, and I couldn't resist the urge to further enhance this
great kit. I used an Aires resin a photoetched cockpit, Eduard photoetched
flaps, and Squadron's vac canopy. The decals are from the kit, and represent Ian
R. Gleed's Hurricane Mk.I.
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The Aires cockpit is
beautifully detailed, but difficult to install. There are no alignment devices,
so it can't be assembled and then added to the fuselage. I installed it to the
completed fuselage one piece at a time. The instrument panel and rear bulkhead
were first, as their positions are definate. I then aligned and glued the
sidewalls, and finished with the floor. It may have been my assembly, but the
Aires cockpit protruded into the wing area more than the kit's does. I thinned
the floor and the top of the wheel wells as much as I dared, but I still had a
"step" at the fillet when I joined the wings. Filing, sanding, and
rescribing smoothed things out.
The flaps were actually designed
for the Hobbycraft kit, but they fit this one without modification. Care was
taken when gluing the ribs since they would be painted with Alcad. Any pools of
CA would be very visible.
The wheel wells, landing gear,
and covers were painted with different shades of Alcad. I added the hydraulic
lines from wire and solder.
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After painting the underside with
Model Master Sky Type "S," it was masked off and the topside colors of
RAF Dark Green and Dark Earth were applied freehand. Most photos I've seen of
wartime Hurricanes show the demarcation between the topside colors to be a
little softer than the top/bottom line. The blue nose and horizontal stripes on
the tail were masked and painted.
Hasegawa's instructions
show that Gleed's aircraft didn't have a mirror on the windscreen, but I've seen
a pic of this aircraft with one fitted. There's no mistaking his character
"Figaro the Cat" on the emergency exit panel. I used the kit's
windscreen, and Squadron's vac hood. The Aires set includes the prominent
handles on the Hurricane's canopy.
This is a fun kit to build, and I
really like the early-war camouflage colors of the RAF.
Bill
Visit my website to see other
models of mine, I also build models on commission. http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/
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