1/48 Hasegawa Hawker Hurricane Mk. I

by Bill Lachance

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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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Photos and text © by Bill Lachance