One and a half Hurricane

Arma Hobby kit review

Arma Hobby doesn’t let the fans of hunchbacked fighters from Hawker factory get bored. This time with not a completely new model, but one based on the previously released kits- 1:72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb/c. Let's take a closer look.

Disclaimer

The review sample was kindly provided by the manufacturer. Thanks, Arma Hobby.

B or C

This set allows us to build a miniature Hurricane Mk.IIb or Mk.IIc, which is clearly indicated by the name printed on the box. Since the B version is the really new one, I will concentrate on it here as well.

Arma versus...?

The new Arma Hobby kit is basically lacking any real competition if we consider the Mk.IIb version. Theoretically, we have a choice of an antique Airfix, ephemeral Revell or, of course, Hasegawa- but these sets are nowadays virtually impossible to find in stores. Not so long ago, Japanese mouldings could be found re-boxed by Czech company Fly, but that’s in the past. Only second hand option now.

The new "Hurribomber" is therefore most welcome, all the more so as the frames of all the above mentioned kits came of age long time ago.

Experts first

Traditionally all the new creations from the AH come to us first in the "Expert" version, i.e. enriched with a few additions and also with a wider selection of paint options. This time it is no different and the characteristic, side-opening box with catalogue number 70042 is decorated with a very nice art by Piotr Forkasiewicz..

Inside you will find two light gray plastic sprues. One known from earlier sets with Hurricane IIc. Second one, smaller, but completely new- with a B variant wing and some details necessary to build this version.

In addition to that- a transparent sprue (brand new, but more about that later), manual, decals, masks and a small photo-etched plate, known from the Mk.IIc expert set. One and a half model in total, for sure.

Sprues, old and new

Let's start a closer look at the plastic parts with a completely new sprue, the lion's share of which is occupied by a new wing with delicately marked recessed panel lines and a whole range of small, raised details.

Fine aileron surface and a thin trailing edge make a really good first impression.

In short, surface quality just like in the Mk.IIc model. At least very good.

Under the wing we can install additional fuel tanks, each composed of two parts.

Or, when we do not care so much about the range- armament pylons.

On which we can hang bombs, each made from four elements- which look completely decent as injection moulded parts goes.

Make sure to drill the mounting holes in the lower half of the wing in advance (proper locations are marked on the inside of the part).

The last elements of armament, which can be found on the new sprue, are protruding barrels of external machine guns pairs. Not very impressive parts, naturally (solid, with no holes). The same is true of the "new" exhaust (in fact we've already seen them in a Hurricane Mk.I set, which was also reviewed here), which should be used only in case of building a Polish Hurricane.

Selected painting option will also determine which of the two tail wheel assemblies should be used.

Rest of the parts necessary to build the IIb version can be found on the old frame, known from the previously released Hurricane IIc kit (reviewed here also, so déjà vu warning is in order).

The fuselage was traditionally divided into two halves.

With subtly reproduced fabric sections covering the tail part and very delicately marked longerons. The latter might not survive a bit thicker layer of paint.

Fine, recessed panel lines and a number of raised surface details complement the good overall impression.

Vertical stabilizer and rudder were designed as one separated part, with delicately reproduced fabric sagging.

The horizontal stabiliser on the other hand is separated from the elevator.

So the latter can be mounted in tilted position without a fuss.

Some details of the cockpit equipment were moulded directly on the inner surfaces of the fuselage halves.

Others can be found on the glued-in part of the truss.

Rear armour with delicate details looks really nice.

The pilot's seat on the other hand is a little worse, but considering that it is just an injection moulded element- not bad.

Similarly to rudder bar.

Or the nicely detailed steering stick.

Plastic instrument panel is covered with raised outlines of dials, although in this edition it all should be sanded down for the PE element.

Thoughtfully slimmed back prevents any plastic sinkage in production.

Plastic sinkholes cannot be found also on the gear bay tank.

The bay walls are covered with nice raised rivets.

Quite delicate landing gears will require increased attention when cutting from the sprue.

Main wheels looks more than decent. The "Dunlop" inscription can put more than one resin "aftermarket" to shame. One minor glitch is the unevenness in the lower part of the tyres, but it should not be too much trouble to remove.

The tailwheel located nearby will not be used in any out of box paint option according to the instruction manual.

The main wheels will be partially covered with quite decent covers.

The radiator housing consists of two parts. Rear one with thin edges of the outlet.

And the front one with an complete oval inlet, probably to make the build easier.

Good idea, but something didn't quite work out, and there are some quite bad scratches visible inside.

The radiator consists of two elements, directly on which the surface details have been reproduced (so there are no dedicated photo-etched meshes in the set).

Carburettor air intake also consists of two parts, but supplemented by a PE mesh.

Beware of the positioning tab when cutting the part out of the sprue!

Second exhausts, which should be used in the overwhelming majority of box painting options (i.e. all except Polish ones), doesn't look amazing.

The above are complemented by shields mounted in night fighters, which can be replaced by thinner elements from the attached PE plate. In the kit in question, only one painting option requires them and it is not a night intruder one (!).

Propeller in one piece- no tedious assembling it from single blades.

The spinner features some delicate plastic overflows, which will be easy to remove. Oh, and modellers who like to spin something will be happy.

There is also the tropical air intake, used in the two machines for which markings are provided in the kit.

Modellers who want to make a version with cannons, Hurricane Mk.IIc, will use wings found on this sprue, which makes a really good impression, thanks to the delicate raised surface details.

Lower surfaces looks nice as well.

Thin trailing edge and the ailerons don’t spoil the general good impression.

However problems may be caused by the splitted mountings of the wing cannons, glued together with the wing halves.

The barrels on the other hand (two versions provided) look quite decent for a plastic parts, although of course we won't find exit holes in them.

More demanding modellers will probably use brass aftermarkets from Master.

New transparencies

Contrary to what one might expect, the frame with transparent elements is not a repetition of the previously issued in Mk.I and Mk.IIc kits. According to the manufacturer, the form used to produce that version was damaged, so a new one had to be prepared.

Using the opportunity, the canopy (which in my opinion was the weakest point of the kits issued so far) was slimmed down a bit.

Still not a top notch, but the improvement is evident. Both in terms of elements thickness and the resulting transparency.

See for yourself in this side-by side comparison (new element on the left).

The newly developed canopy parts should fit all Hawker Hurricane kits (i.e. Mk.I and Mk.IIc) issued by AH and can be purchased separately from the manufacturer's webstore. Will also be now successively packaged with every Hurricane set, regardless of version.

Masks

Due to the use of a revised canopy, a new mask sheet was also developed. At least that is what the manufacturer claims.

I reached for the set from Mk.IIc kit to check this out and indeed- there are differences, at least in respect to the tailwheel stickers.

PE

For a change, a tiny photo-etched plate is exactly the same as in the set with Hurricane IIc. There is no film with the instruments- Arma has been opting for using decals here for some time.

However, the most necessary elements such as seatbelts (with slightly undeveloped holes), instrument panel or a mesh for the carburettor air inlet are provided.

Decals

The decal sheet surely cannot be called small. On the contrary- it’s quite sizeable, probably biggest from Arma Hobby kits so far.

Techmod was responsible for printing, which means excellent quality and details of the markings.

The only shortcoming I managed to find in my copy is a slight damage to the SEAC machine roundel.

For consolation I have two sets of stencils. Cool.

Seatbelts are also provided as a decals. However, these are not designed to be applied to the PE elements, as was the case with the FM-2 kit (also reviewed here).

So if someone finds out that he is not a PE seatbelts expert- he is covered.

Manual

Arma Hobby has made us accustomed to aesthetic and clear brochures guiding through the construction process. It is no different this time, although due to the possibility of building both B and C versions, the assembly drawings have become even more crowded than usual.

Fortunately, the manufacturer compiled all the choices we have to make in a separate drawing, which makes it easier to figure out what's going on.

The list of suggested paints contains positions from Hataka, AK-Interactive (Real Color series), Lifecolor, AMMO, Humbrol (!), Vallejo and Tamiya.

What we can paint with those is traditionally shown on full colour views, which also contain information about the proper location of the decals.

Once again- I would like to see Gunze acrylics in the table as well, but it's pretty good as it is, so I'm not complaining.

Painting options

The only thing that remains to be discussed is the paintings options that Arma provided this time. Theoretically we have six possibilities, all shown on the back of the box. Except that there are three more bonus options in the manual- base pool machines in another period of service. So, we have- Hurricane Mk. IIb “Hurribomber”, BE682/XP-R, “Mauritius VII”, 174 Squadron RAF, Manston, Summer 1942.