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Justin Bronk
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Unusual Battle of Britain Hurricane in 1/48, Airfix kit

August 22, 2019 · in Aviation · · 14 · 3.2K

Nearing the end of my fighters collection in , I picked up 's new tool but could only get hold of the Tropical version. The kit allows you to build a Mk.1 but needed custom decals so bought an Xtradecals sheet.

I chose VY-R from 85 Squadron as seen during the early phases of the Battle of Britain. Xtradecals had the scheme wrong and upon doing some research, the underside Sky colour should extend up the engine cowling further than usual, as well as up the wing leading edges. After consulting the internet greybeards and doing some colour sampling myself in greyscale, it appears the spinner should be red with white stripes rather than black with light green. In any case, I made both but the red is the correct one IMHO. The IWM photo is slightly later in August 1940 when the squadron codes and main roundel had been made thicker whereas the ones used were on 85 Sqn aircraft until early July.

The new tool Airfix Hurri is a lovely kit in most respects and goes together well enough, it's just a shame about having to add the rivets myself. If Eduard can do it so well and cheaply, why can't Airfix and Tamiya?

Video build here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VSjDotV87A

Reader reactions:
15Β  Awesome

10 additional images. Click to enlarge.


14 responses

  1. That's a nice plane. I never liked the Hurricane, I've always thought it looked weird, but each time I see one it slowly grows on me. Sorta like the FW190

    • I know what you mean about the Hurricane (and the FW190!). The bulged Rotol spinner looks notably odd, as does the 'hump' of the rear fuselage with the canopy closed. As you say though, she does grow on you πŸ˜‰

  2. Nice work, Justin! It's a great kit.

  3. πŸ™‚ … Greetings … πŸ™‚ :
    Unusual it is and a very great addition to your Battle of Britain collection Justin.
    Nice paint work as well as your weathering. The way the bottom sky color extends to what is normally seen in the engine cowling area and the leading wing edges make this one stand out over the rest, nicely done.

  4. Really nice Justin. A good kit made even better by your superb paint job & weathering.

  5. Echoing everyone above it’s a beautiful Hurricane you got there. The attention to details really makes it stand out and the paint work is just perfect...in conclusion a little gem of a model!

  6. Justin, your model look really nice, paint job done just right. Congrats!

  7. Yep...what they said, Justin. πŸ™‚

  8. These new tool Airfix Hurricanes are top notch. I really like the way yours turned out... it's perfect !

    That's a nice touch to add photos of the original. Your Hurricane looks right at home parked next to the BP Defiant and Spitfire. The picture with the 109 sitting next to it shows just how small the 109 was... and that's another great photo.
    'liked"

  9. That's a really nice Hurri, Justin! Great paint work, and always enjoyable to see a "non-standard" scheme on something.

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