iModeler Review: Arma Hobby 1/48 Hurricane Mk. IIc

During my recent visit to Warsaw Modeling Festival, I had the pleasure of meeting Arma Hobby, and examining their brand-new 1/48 scale Hurrricane Mk. IIc kit. The company has generously given me access to sample sprues together with the instruction booklet, decal sheet, resin accessories plus an assembled test kit for this review. The actual production batch is set for release within only days from this writing. Let's delve into what this new kit has to offer!

Arma Hobby has already established itself as a kit manufacturer that is highly regarded among the 1/72 scale fans. Their kits combined levels of detail previously not heard of in this scale with high-quality building experience. Now expanding into the 1/48 scale, the Hurricane becomes Arma Hobby's second release in this scale, following the PZL P.11c that was released some two years ago. While the P.11c is a great kit in its own right, it was perhaps a way to explore the company's way forward in this larger scale. The Hurricane is Arma Hobby's first 1/48 kit that is intended to appeal to a wide international audience.

Arma Hobby 1/48 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc, cat. no 40004

• Injection-moulded kit
• Self-adhesive masks for canopy
• Decal sheet with 3 marking options
• Retail price 45 EUR

First impressions

Upon first look, one thing becomes immediately apparent: this is not an up-scaled 1/72 Hurricane kit from the same company. This new kit is - well, brand new, and designed from the outset to take full advantage of the plastic medium in this larger scale.

The kit contains 3 sprues in grey plastic, one in clear, color instruction booklet, a sheet of canopy masks, and a sheet of decals with markings for 3 aircraft. Pre-ordered kits will also include a set of 3d-printed resin accessories, which were also provided for this review, but I've chosen to omit them as they're not part of the standard kit.

What I found particularly helpful during this review was a test model. This was assembled from pre-production sprues using only thin liquid glue, no filler or sanding, and provided a lot of insight into the qualities of the finished product. Arma Hobby asked me to point out that production sprues are injected with higher pressure so are a bit finer and smoother in detail.

I have included additional high-resolution photos of the model in the gallery below so that you can use them to assess the finished product on your own.

Judging from the earlier Arma Hobby releases, I'd expect the quality of the kit to be excellent, with no flash or moulding flaws. The larger parts are moulded with a satin finish.

Surface detail

The main parts of the kit feature a very minute surface detail comprising recessed panel lines, raised and countersunk rivets, raised bolts and fasteners as appropriate. Interestingly, countersank rivets are used in areas where flush riveting was used on the real airframe, such as the forward area of the wings. Raised rivets on the model are rendered in those places where standard raised rivets were used on a real Hurricane. Coincidentally, this arrangement will make the assembly of the wings easy without the risk of loosing rivet detail while sanding the seams.

The rivet detail is so petite that you'd be pushed hard to see the difference between the raised and recessed rivets with a naked eye, and initially I was only able to distinguish between them by drawing a tip of my finger across the surface to feel which detail is raised.

There's also a lot of variation to surface features, which makes the kit interesting to look at, and invites closer scrutiny. All this detail will look great under a layer of wash on the finished model.

Fabric surfaces

A prominent feature of a Hurricane, and one that used to be difficult to kit manufacturers is the fabric-covered rear fuselage. I'm pleased to say that Arma Hobby has it... well, covered :). The area looks convincing to the eye, and attention to detail shows again by means of slightly protruding longerons. These items aren't easy to spot on a real aircraft, but I've checked - they're there!

Fabric-covered control surfaces are rendered just as nicely. I even discovered a row of tiny water-draining holes at the trailing edge of the ailerons... can't remember seeing them rendered on any other kit in this scale.

The trailing edges of control surfaces and the trim tabs are commendably fine.

Canopy & cockpit

The canopy parts are clear and commendably thin. There are two canopy hoods provided, one for open and one for closed hood positions. The open hood fits tightly over the fuselage ridge, seemingly without adding any undue height.

The cockpit interior (difficult to show in a photo) is complete with tubular fuselage framing, floor skids, pilot seat, rear armored plate, various controls, stick and rudder. Decals are provided for the control panel and the seat belts.

Forward fuselage

The forward fuselage of the kit is split conventionally. The fish-tail exhausts are solid (and wouldn't be easy to mould hollow as their cross-section is tiny indeed). An oil collector ring is provided behind the propeller, and this view gives an idea about the kit's rendition of the 'bullet' Rotol propeller that was used on the Hurricane Mk II and Mk IV.

Wing root fit

I'll let the picture do the talking. Judging by the apparent fit of the test kit, I'm expecting the best with regard to fit of the main components.

The lower fuselage area has been provided a separate part. This will preserve fabric detail and cleverly conceal the lower fuselage joint(s).

Undercarriage

The wheel well area is a joy to behold. Internal detail is in abundance here.

Seeing the assembled undercarriage prompted a "wow" from this reviewer…

And let's also mention the minute detail on the tire...

The tires in the kit are weighted and come in two halves, but as the tires had a smooth running surface, preserving detail during assembly shouldn't be an issue. No resin replacement wheels should be needed even for the most demanding builder.

Wings & armament

The wings feature clear parts for position and landing lights, and a separate part for a cine camera in the starboard wing. The ailerons and flaps are moulded solid with the main wing. A selection of drop tanks or bombs is provided.

Two sets of cannon are provided, with different arrangements of the recoil springs.

Instructions, decals and masks

The instructions are printed in color on high-quality glossy paper. Textual instructions are bilingual, Polish and English. The construction diagrams appear clear and are well laid-out. I'm sure you'll like them - see the photo gallery below to review the contents of the instruction booklet.

The canopy masks are pre-cut from yellow kabuki tape and should come most handy for this type of canopy.

The decals are clearly printed and in register. Markings include:

1. Night Intruder BE 581 JX-E, No. 1 Sqn RAF, Tangmere, May 1942, pilot F/Lt Kuttelwascher
2. Z 3152 FM-A, No. 257 Sqn RAF, Coltishall, May 1941, flown by S/Ldr Stanford Tuck
3. LF 644 WC-D, No. 309 (Polish) Sqn, Drem, May-July 1944

The verdict

Arma Hobby's 1/48 Hurricane IIc has been long in the waiting, but now it's here - and what a kit it is. I was very impressed by all the detail, the riveting and the thoughtful breakdown of the kit - but even more so by the obsessive attention paid by the kit's designers to render even the smallest detail of the real airplane. Quality-wise, this kit is all there with the latest Eduard releases. If possible, it oozes even more joyous, unrestrained passion for modeling.

Yes I'm getting a bit emotional here, but I do feel that is one of these new kits that belong to the future, and that will eventually make all those beautiful Tamiya kits in your stash feel… bland.

Emotions aside, this kit provides a modern basis for a 1/48 Mk. II Hawker Hurricane - and it does so in a spectacular fashion.

19 additional images. Click to enlarge.