SMER (Heller) 1/72 Hurricane Mk IIc
This kit sat in my bagged kits box and every time I picked it up I thought to myself that I must build it. Well I did. The kit is the Heller Hurricane issued by SMER and includes a small photo-etch (PE) fret. Every time I tried to use one the PE parts it fell off my tweezers never to be seen again. So, I didn't bother with them. I forgot to add the stick shift in the cockpit, but one can't see anything anyway. 🙂
I also bought a Hobbyboss Hurricane IIc with the intention of building both together, but that did not pan out. First I lost the landing gear covers of the SMER kit and I had to steal the ones off the Hobbyboss kit. Then I broke one of the canon barrels and the Hobbyboss gave up one of them. Every time I pick up the SMER kit something broke off or fell off. I guess I should build sitting on bedsheet on the floor to prevent losing parts.
I used a mask set and Techmod decals bought off Rebelalpha on eBay. Excellent seller by the way. I used Techmod decals before and my experience with them was OK, not great, being very thin and easily torn. The sheet I used had thicker decals and they settled down with decal setting solution perfectly. I hope all new releases are as good.
The model was painted with Tamiya RAF paints.
I wanted to build as clean and neat model I could, to emulate Lee Scow's models seen in model magazines in the '70s. His canopy work was perfect. And that is what I aspired to do. But, mine did not turn out the way I wanted it to look. Maybe the next Hurricane will be better.
So here is a simple kit built out of box. With care it will build up nicely.
tech notes for Photo buffs: Shot with a Nikon D300 and a Vintage Vivitar 70-210 f3.5 Series 1 zoom, outside because my studio is a mess.
A wonderful result out of the sweet Heller mold, David! I love Heller kits, being really great that they are reboxed by SMER. Also great that the HobbyBoss kit came to the rescue.
Keep them coming!
Thank you Spiros. It's the first Hurricane I've built in many years. I will build another will lessons learned.
An excellent result using the classic Heller kit. Looks great and looks fun. Nice work.
Hi Bob,
Yes indeed. I build and complete them no matter how they turned. The goal is to relax and enjoy the build. Thanks.
Looks great after all those setbacks, Nice work!
Thanks Robert. I appreciate it.
Great result, David @thevid
Those IIc Hurricanes look impressive by their cannons.
Really nice paintwork.
Hi John,
Thank you. I always wondered why the US didn't use 20mm cannons in other fighters. The only one I know is the P-51.
Very nice , David @thevid
Thank you Jay. I appreciate it.
Very nice build. I enjoy those old kits. Well done!
Hi Greg,
Thanks! Old kits make me a kid again.
Nice work, David. I like old Heller kits too.
Hi John,
Heller kits are nice, and have enjoyed the ones I have built. Thanks.
I Build an Smer, once... only once... but you took this to a safe port...