Airfix 1/72 Hurricane stirs a rivalry

Note that this article is the next episode of a friendly rivalry between myself and my good friend Scott Nelson (see Painting a Spitfire on March 8) centered around new Airfix 1/72 kits. These are great models that stand up to kits twice as expensive. We started with head-to-head entries pitting my Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 against his Hawker Typhoon, trading alternating 1st, 2nd, 3rd places in a variety of IPMS competitions. Recently Scott's Supermarine Swift (1) bested my Fouga Magister. (2) I thought the latest round would pit Scott's Spitfire against my just-finished Hurricane Mk IIc, but as I write this, Scott has already started on a Hurricane Mk I. Needless to say, this could go on a while. (3)

This Hurricane kit builds up nice and clean, requiring very little filling.(4) The cockpit is nicely, but not overly, detailed.(5) Primed and ready for paint.(6) Yellow leading edge stripes painted and masked.(7) This was my first project with AK paint - AK Interactive RAF Camouflages Acrylic Paints.(8) They are easy to work with and flowed beautifully through my airbrush, drying to very thin hard finish, although they have a satin-to-gloss finish. The underside Medium Sea Grey might be a little dark for some tastes.(9) Underside masked and dark green applied.(10) Camouflage pattern masked with Tamiya wavy tape.(11) After gloss coating, decal time. Like Scott, I applied Walthers solvaset a few minutes after each decal was applied.(12)(13) The panel lines were picked out with AK Paneliner, then a clear flat coat. The exhaust stains were applied with Secret Weapons Pigment powders.

18 additional images. Click to enlarge.