Miles M.2E Hawk “Speed Six” – 1:72 resin
Hi everyone!
This is my Miles Speed Six made from Steelworks 1:72 resin kit. This is a classic handmade kit and among them a really good executed one! See the kit here: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/steelwork-models-sk7219-miles-m2e-hawk-speed-six--1166805 and here: https://shop.strato.de/epages/61299018.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61299018/Products/SK7219
The Speed Six was a single-seat racing variant of the Hawk Major fitted with the larger six-cylinder Gipsy Six engine. Only three were made (M.2E, M.2L, M.2U), each tailored to specific requirements. Mine is the first (G-ACTE) built in 1934 to participate on the King's Cup air race. The kit consists of very few parts and the fit was quite good for its nature. The wing/fuselage needed some adjustment but overall it was a nice and relaxed built. The silk printed decals behaved surprisingly well however I closely trimmed everything. I painted the plane with my own mix of the Miles Cream color (white, yellow, brown and tan). I accentuated some of the parts with different shades to break up monotonity (ie. the fabric surfaces) and shaded some areas but I kept weathering minimal as these planes were kept always in pristine condition. I added my exhausts instead of the kit's originals as these undersized and not well defined. I really like the big wheel spats the raked racer windscreen and the old school yellow-cream high gloss finish on it: art deco in its best isn't it? Hope you like it! Cheers Mates!
55 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Erik Gjørup said on January 21, 2021
Splendid! Is the resin-plug (picture 24 I think?) a tool for cutting the vac-formed canopy that is included? - if so it is a very good idea.
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Yes. A clever idea indeed. Back then I made a resin/vacform update set for Airfic D.H.88 which included a very similar solution for the vacformed canopy - exactly the masterter for the vacforming. Nice touch. The whole kit is very well executed in general - the manufacturer even pre remove the moulding blocks from the parts(!). I have another one kit from Steelworks and that is also a nice one.
Spiros Pendedekas said on January 21, 2021
Amazing job, Gábor!
Kudos to your skills!
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Thank you very much.
George Williams said on January 21, 2021
I really like the style of this, it looks like a real racer. As you say, the wheel spats and raked windscreen are spot on. Definitely liked.
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Thanks!
John vd Biggelaar said on January 21, 2021
Another excellent build racer, Gábor.
That shading turns out very effective and looks beautiful.
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Thank You!
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Thanks a lot! 🙂
Greg Kittinger said on January 21, 2021
Beautiful! You always introduce me to aircraft I never knew I like so much!
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Thank You Greg! Yes I'm a s****r of unusual aeroplanes and unusual kits. My next big challange will be the white box Tamiya P-38H (1:48) I got for christmas from my wife (with the proviso that I must build it - yes, a perfectly normal kit! 😀 ). One the Miles Speed Sixes still (heavily modified during it's long history) exists in the Schuttleworth collection and they regularly fly it at airshows! Here's a great article about it: https://vintageaviationecho.com/miles-hawk-speed-six/ Here is a picture of the very aeroplane I built (yet without the racing number). This aeroplane somehow find its way into the Spanish Civil War where they mottled it with dark green used it as a makeshift light bomber (with the racing number 😀 ).
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Dennis Meyers said on January 21, 2021
Great work on an unusual subject and an unusual kit. Bravo!
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Thank You!
Tom Cleaver said on January 21, 2021
Beautiful! Another really superb result, @remete.
Gábor Szabó said on January 21, 2021
Thank you very much Tom! 🙂
Allan J Withers said on January 21, 2021
Looks good Gabor, well done.
Haslam Yeoman said on January 21, 2021
An absolute gem.
Robert Royes said on January 22, 2021
Beautifully done!
Gábor Szabó said on January 22, 2021
Thank You Gentlemen!
DE4EVER said on January 23, 2021
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
This is one beautiful work Gábor.
Nice clean work.