Project Complete: 1/32 FLY Hawker Hurricane IIc. in Royal Indian Air Force Markings (BURMA)
I was asked to build this Hurricane as a commissioned build for a good friend. I recently posted a build report on Imodeler last week for those who are interested. Here is the link: https://imodeler.com/2019/01/farewell-review-this-was-the-last-project-on-my-workbench/
My experience building this FLY kit was "so-so". This is primarily for 2 main reasons. 1: This is a typical short-run kit in many ways. 2: I am spoiled by the far superior engineering of main stream modern kits from Tamiya, Trumpeter, etc.
Strengths:
- Not many 1/32 Hurricanes Available (This is only Mk. IIc. I believe)
- Really nice wing surface details especially the raised rivets
- Fit not bad for a limited-run kit, especially fuselage halves and wing to fuselage fit
- Nice Resin Wheels and Exhaust
- Nice PE instrument panels with clear acetate dials
- Really nice resin wheel wells (takes a lot of grinding to fit)
- Overall nice representation of this particular aircraft
- Separate tail control surfaces
- 2 sets of prop blades styles
- Colored Instruction Manual
- Outstanding performing decals
- Nice placard decal sheet with separate placement drawings
- Nice colored aircraft markings drawings
- Canopy & Windscreen fit great
- Detailed wing landing lights
- Nice oil cooler assembly with lots of photo-etch detail.
- PE bracing strip covering bottom wing join as in actual aircraft
Weaknesses:
- Typical Limited-Run issues (No positive locating tabs, flash, no part numbers, etc.)
- Very fiddly cockpit assembly
- Cockpit parts have soft details, or none at all
- Many resin parts are soft in detail compared to most other resin kit parts
- Instruction sheet shows much more part detail then actually exists on parts
- Cockpit assembly is difficult to place w/o locating tabs, needing reinforcements
- Instructions are very vague for some parts
- Resin cannons are horrible (replaced with metal after-market)
- no internal parts compared to more modern 1/32 offerings for aircraft
- no engine
- Terrible fitting front filter scoops (needed shims and lots of filler)
- Weak wing joins needed reinforcement
- So-So Cockpit detail for this scale
- Recessed fuselage panel lines soft and shallow
- Cannot deploy wing flaps
I added some extra bits and pieces to the cockpit area to busy it up. I added some cockpit placards and decal dials. Added after-market cannon assemblies. I used lots of extra plastic to reinforces some assemblies. I had a very difficult time installing the wing landing lights. I think this is because I had to adjust the top/bottom wing halves so that the outer to inner wing assembly connected without a gap. This may have resulted in the light lens openings to not be exact and the lens fit poorly. I really did not remedy this well and I may need to acquire a new set of light lens and try to fit them better. I also added brake lines using lead wire.
It looks great Paul, don’t think I’ve ever seen a Hurricane camouflaged quite like this one, it certainly breaks from the more common European scheme.
Thanx Pedro, yes my customer who commissioned this build likes to break from the traditional schemes.
Beautiful work, Paul...your friend should be pleased (I know I would).
She’s a beaut (as usual). Glad to see you’re still building.
Great to see this finished Paul - nice work.
You can spot an aircraft that’s been “Teixeira’d” a mile off. And that’s a compliment.
‘Liked’ a lot.
A great job, Paul!
A beautiful model Paul, typical of your work! Love it.