Matchbox 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IID
Matchbox 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IID, No. PK-49 (1989)
This is Matchbox's later release of their earlier Hurricane but this time, with extra parts to build the Mk.IID version with the two 40mm cannons.
I wanted to build this for a recent Matchbox Jubilee group build that ended this past December but I ran out of time. The kit was started, wings and tail assembly was all glued to the fuselage and most of the seams filled in and sanded. After finishing my recent Airfix P-38, I looked at the Hurricane sitting in the box with all of the other bits that belong to it and decided to get it done.
Like many of these old Matchbox kits, a simple kit with little details but a pretty enjoyable one with no issues. My original thought was to build it straight out of the box but late in the game I added a couple of tweaks.
- I used a Revell 1/72 Hurricane Desert Vokes Inlet filter since it looked better than the one that came with the Matchbox kit.
- The flap area had some sink areas that needed to be filled and sanded.
- I added an oil collector ring to the front part of the engine's cowling from a cut piece of styrene sheet, then filed into shape.
- I used a thicker set of 4 spokes wheels from the 1972 released Airfix Hurricane Mk I/II kit.
- Added on both gear doors the inboard fairing from a thin cut piece of styrene sheet.
Painting and finishing the build:
- I used a fine point black sharpie to start my pre-shade process. Then I hand painted one coat of thinned down Tamiya Dark Yellow for the upper surface and Light Blue for the bottom. My next two coats are hand painted Vallejo Azure Blue, Midstone and Dark Earth.
- After the gloss coats (Future) were brushed on, I applied the dedals, then later another gloss coat. After it was cured then I used Tamiya's Panel Hi-lighter (black), then a black pencil for some of the recessed lines. I took it easy with the black pencil.
- After the flat coat was applied (airbrushed), I used a silver water color pencil on the panels and sections of the canopy's frame.
- A fun build!
I used Xtradecal X72127, RAF 6 Squadron History 1931-2010:
Markering represents a Hawker Hurricane Mk. IID, HV663/U of No. 6 Sqdn., Gabes, Tunesia, 6 April 1943.
The final few shots were taken with my 1984 build of the older Matchbox kit Hurricane Mk. IIC (Pk.11) which was released in 1972. Side by side comparison.
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- 1. ON the left is a 1984 build of the Mk. IIC (Pk.11) and the other build is my most recent build of their later release of the Mk. IID (Pk. 49)
Very nice, Bob @v1pro. That desert camo is spot on along with the weathering.
Thank you Eric, the desert camo is my favorite scheme.
Beautiful job as always, Bob! What better than a Matchbox kit built by a Master Builder!
Congratulations!
Thank you Spiros, it was a fun build. 😊
A great looking Desert Hurricane, Bob @v1pro
That oldie still builds up into a nice kit.
Thank you John, these old Matchbox do build up nicely.
You turned that old turkey into an eagle, Bob. Great paint work.
Thank you Tom, I like that., it is now an eagle! 🙂
Those are both charming little models - I like the improvements you made to the 40 mm Hurricane. These make all the difference and lift something mundane into the realms of special.
Thank you Christopher. The 40mm cannon always does something to the Hurricane.
Hurricanes are one my favourite aircraft and this version looks great.
Thank you George.
Nicely accomplished, Bob!
Gary, thank you.
'Like a hurricane..Nicely done!
Thank you Robert.
Nice job refining this nice old kit to be even nicer, Bob @v1pro ! Your extra work really pays off on the classic kits you build.
I have a 1/48 Hasegawa Hurricane like this one, I think even the same markings. Seeing yours makes me want to get started on mine.
Thank you Jay @ssgt. The Hasegawa 1/48 Hurricane is a beauty of a kit, I also have their 1/48 Mk. IIC and Mk. IID. I plan on making them in the future.
Nice work, Bob!
Thanks John!
Great work, Bob (@v1pro). I really like these planes that hung out in the desert. I have the Hasegawa IID that I want to do one of these days.
Thank you George, the Hurricane looks pretty nice in the dessert scheme. Hasegawa's Hurricane Mk.IID is a real beauty from what I have seen built.
Love Matchbox kits, and you really did some awesome job with it; i am currently finishing Revell Hurricane MkIIc in desert colors, so this is a great inspiration.
Thank you Vedran @gladnijura. I really like the older kits and the Matchbox kits do have quite a few great ones to build. This Hurricane was my 4th Matchbox build in the past 8 months. Last year I built the same Revell Hurricane but finished in the FAA markings and scheme. I really enjoyed that build, yours will look great in the desert scheme.