Review: Arma Hobby 1/48 Hurricane IIb

The Aircraft:

The Hurricane Mark II was powered by a Merlin XX and had the wing center sections strengthened. The improved Merlin XX engine appeared in 1940 featuring a new two-speed supercharger that could have its impeller speed changed by the pilot depending on the outside air pressure. At about 18,000 feet it would be switched to a higher speed gearing ("FS ratio" – Full Supercharge) for added compression, while below that, at its lower speed gearing, ("MS ratio" – Moderate Supercharge), it "robbed" less power from the engine. The result was more power at both lower and higher altitudes, dramatically increasing the overall performance of the engine, peaking at 1,280 horsepower. Because of the new engine, the bay immediately in front of the cockpit was lengthened by 4 inches. The carburetor air intake under the nose was redesigned and moved back 3 inches. The more powerful engine was cooled by a 70-30 water-glycol mix, rather than pure glycol used for earlier Merlin versions. This and the increased cooling requirements required a larger radiator and a redesigned, circular oil cooler housed in a deeper, slightly wider "bath".

Following the introduction of the 8-gun Hurricane IIa into squadron service in September 1940 at the peak of the Battle of Britain. Trials with 12 .303 in Browning machine guns with four per wing in the original gun-bays and two more in new gun-bays outboard of the landing lights, were performed in June and July 1940; production of the Hurricane IIb began at Hawker and Austin in February 1941. In operations, this armament was found not to be superior to the 8-gun version, with the weight of the additional guns and ammo reducing overall performance and maneuverability. The Hurricane IIb soon became a fighter-bomber variant, able to carry two 250-lb bombs, one under each wing.

The Hurricane IIb saw its widest service in North Africa as a fighter-bomber where it served interchangeably in squadrons with the cannon-armed Hurricane IIc. It also was the main Hurricane variant supplied to the USSR, where it took part in the air defense of Murmansk from the summer of 1941 to early 1943.

The Kit

Arma Hobby's series of 1/48 Hurricane II kits are easily the best Hurricane kits released, with superb, accurate surface detail that includes in-scale raised rivets - a major part of the Hurricane, as I discovered being around the two that were guests at Planes of Fame 20 years ago. The raised and flush detail is exactly right. One can confidently call these the best, most accurate kits of the Hurricane in any scale.

The Hurricane IIc was first to appear, with the Hurricane IIb coming out this past spring, followed in June by a Hurriucane IIb (trop).

Construction:

Arma's instruction sheets are among the best from any company and a modeler cannot go wrong following them with a near-guaranteed result of an excellent model. There are no problems, so long as the sprue attachments are carefully removed from the mating surfaces.

Painting and Markings:

I decided to “jump the gun” with my kit and turn it into a tropical Hurricane IIb, since all the necessary parts are in the kit.

I used Mr Hobby C-22 “Dark Earth,” C-21 “Middle Stone” and C-370 “Azure Blue” to create a North African Hurricane.

I used decals from an Aeromaster sheet to do a Hurricane of 274 Squadron. Interestingly, this is the exact same airplane one can do using the kit decals in the Arma kit 4008, Hurricane IIb (Trop).

Overall:

The Arma Hurricane kits are simply hands down the best Hurricanes in any scale. The kit should present no problems to anyone with a few successful projects under their belt. Take the radical act of following the instructions, take care in cleaning off sprue nubs,take your time assembling everything right, and you will have an excellent model. Highly, highly recommended to all Hurricane fans.

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