Hurricane Mk II D

Arma Hobby kit review

Anti-tank Mk.IId is another small Hurricane that Arma Hobby from Poland prepared for modellers fancying 1:72 scale. Let's take a closer look.

Disclaimer

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

Overview

A rather nice painting of a “flying can opener” is featured on the standard, side-opening box marked with the catalogue number 70062.

A set of sprues (one grey and one transparent) with IIc variant, decal sheet, self-adhesive masks, assembly manual and parts prepared with 3D printing technology are what one will find inside.

Similar solution to the recently released Sea Hurricane (see review) – the intended version of the model is achieved by the use of the included 3D printed conversion, which this time is far less invasive.

3D prints

The resin portion of the kit features mainly the 40mm cannons, which were split into three sections.

Pods, which are the largest part of the whole thing, need to be fitted with barrels and a small “lid” at the other end.

Kit designer nicely dealt with the positioning of the cannons on the wing by using the shell ejection port holes. Neat.

Among the prints one will also find templates to help with scribing the Mk.IId's typical wing panels. Another good idea that will certainly work better than the unfortunate masks.

More inquisitive viewers will also spot printed exhausts with nicely marked exit holes. On the other hand, without dismantling the print, it is basically impossible to see the mirror at the bottom.

Modifications

Resin parts alone are not enough to turn Hurricane Mk.IIc into the IId variant. Some changes still need to be made to the plastic wing, as explained in the assembly manual.

Apart from the aforementioned scribing of the missing panels, modifications involve mainly the removal of unwanted details – nothing that even less experienced modellers would find troublesome.

Plastic

The single grey sprue is well known from the previously released Hurricane Mk.IIc kits (see review or review). Hence the possibility of a slight déjà vu.

Let's start with the fairly conventionally split fuselage.

With subtly reproduced fabric sections and very delicately marked longerons. Plus fine recessed panel lines and a number of raised surface details.

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

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 a glued-in part of the truss.

Rear armour with delicate details looks really nice. The pilot's seat on the other hand is a bit worse, but considering that it's just an injection moulded element – not so bad.

Similarly to the rudder bar and the nicely detailed steering stick.

Plastic instrument panel is covered with raised outlines of dials, which are complemented by the supplied decals. Thoughtfully hollowed back of the part prevented the development of sinkmarks during production.

Cockpit floor is integrated into the upper wing parts connector.

The wings themselves look pretty nice, thanks to the delicate raised surface details.

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

Just like the landing gear bay with some nice raised rivets.

And sinkholes-free tank.

Struts are quite delicate, so cut carefully.

Main wheels look more than decent, with the “Dunlop” markings reproduced on the sides. Small distortion visible at one of the tyres is barely worth mentioning.

Tailwheel is also pretty OK.

Landing gear doors are somewhat thick, but fairly nice. No surprises here.

Radiator housing consists of two parts. Rear one with thin edge of the outlet, and front one with an undivided oval inlet.

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

The radiator itself consists of two elements with some raised surface details.

Carburettor air intake was also divided into two parts. Beware of the positioning tab when cutting off part 34!

Propeller in one piece – no need to fiddle with single blades.

Spinner sports some minor plastic overflows, which will be easy to remove.

Tropical air filter left to be mentioned.

Which is required by the vast majority of machines proposed in the kit.

Transparencies

Typical for the AH’s Hurricanes transparent sprue features mainly the cockpit glazing elements – of acceptable thickness and quite good transparency. Windscreen.

And two variants of the sliding section – depending on whether you want to make a miniature with a closed or open cockpit.

In addition, one will find here also some details of the airframe lighting.

Masks

A sheet of self-adhesive yellow Kabuki paper with masks is also an item familiar from earlier kits. Useful for painting the cockpit glazing or landing gear wheels, but not the wing headlights – those, according to the assembly manual, should be painted over with the camouflage colour.

Did you notice that the picture in the instruction doesn’t match the sheet that comes with the kit? Arma Hobby didn’t.

Decals

Techmod was responsible for printing the markings sheet and, as usual, the result looks quite promising.

Uniform and saturated colours, no layer shifts or any other serious flaws. I found only a slight defect in the letter “W” in one of the serial numbers.

Finely printed stencils leave nothing to complain about.

Instrument panel, condensed into a single element, is also not too shabby. Seatbelts on the other hand are just weak, as always. Unfortunately those are the only option available in the kit.

Assembly manual

The booklet guiding us through the construction process is typical of this manufacturer. Nice and clear assembly drawings, sprinkled here and there with some additional remarks.

Table with suggested paints.

And colour profiles of machines that can be made from the kit, with decals placement guide.

Both for main markings and stencils.

Painting options

The kit in question can be made in one of five paint schemes, which are as usual hinted on the back of the box. Those are.

BP158/JV-I, No. 6 Squadron RAF, airfields: Shandur and L.G. 89, Egypt, autumn 1942.