1:48 Hurricane Mk IIc
The long-awaited, second 1:48 kit from Arma Hobby finally hit the stores. I’m of course referring to the Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc, which we will take a closer look at.
Disclaimer
The review sample was kindly provided by the manufacturer. Thanks, Arma Hobby.
Overview
Kit with catalogue number 40004 comes in a standard for this manufacturer, side-opening box, the front of which features illustration by Piotr Forkasiewicz.
Additional cardboard insert ensure the safety of the plastic parts, as it was the case in the previous AH kit in this scale (PZL P.11 – see review).
Inside – three injection moulded sprues made of grey plastic, small transparent one, decals, masks and instructions.
Arma Hobby stopped including photo-etch details a while ago, so you won’t find those here.
Grey plastic
Let's begin a more detailed inspection of the kit content with the fuselage, divided quite traditionally, lengthways into two halves.
With one exception. The underside of the tail section (with a quite nicely marked linen covering) was designed as a separate element and we get it in two variants, one of which is unused in this edition.
But let's go back to the earlier mentioned halves and take a closer look at the considerable amount of both raised and recessed surface details, which look quite decent, to say the least. One small downside is the area around the little fairings located on either side of the engine, on the horizontal panel line behind the exhausts. Incidentally, this detail was missing in the first renderings of the model presented by the AH (and it's not on the colour profiles in the manual either), which may explain the appearance of this section a bit.
Both the rudder and elevator were designed as separate pieces, installed to their respective stabilisers.
Two spinners are provided for the three-blade propeller and the assembly's mounting method allows it to remain mobile.
Exhausts are another multi-variant component, with two sets available on the sprues (only those marked with 16 are to be used). Unfortunately, they don't look the best (no exhaust holes), which will probably prompt many modellers to reach for out-of-box replacements.
Let's return to the fuselage halves one last time, to take a peek at the inner surfaces of the cockpit sides, which are enhanced by a number of small equipment details (parts 32-36).
The space in between is to be filled with quite nice looking main structural elements.
The control column (17-19) and the rudder pedals (21, 22) don’t look bad either.
Since the model doesn’t include photo-etched details, the pilot's seat (25-28) can be fitted straight out of the box with decal straps only.
Prints will also enhance rather nice looking instrument panel (29) with compass (30).
Let's move on to the wings, which are in my opinion the most interesting part of the kit. This is because both the upper and lower surfaces have been showered with a whole bunch of different details. Of particular note are the rivets, featured both in raised and recessed form. This mimics the variation of such joints present on the real machine, where flush rivets were used on the surfaces with the greatest influence on the airframe's aerodynamics (e.g. wings’ leading edge), and standard mushroom-headed ones on the remaining surfaces. It should also be noted that the raised rivets and bolts come in several sizes.
Cut-outs in the leading edge of the wing were prepared for the installation of cannons (more on that later) and landing lights (parts 47 and 48 plus glazing).
Meanwhile the underside features slots for easy installation of the oil cooler (5, 7 and unlabelled part 6) along with its housing (3, 4, 8).
Nearby one will also attach the carburettor air intake (14-15). The tropical filter version (28, 29), also present on the sprues, won't be used this time.
Structural elements of the main landing gear bay also got a dose of varied surface details.
Raised rivets can also be found on the fairings, and the two-piece wheels are notable for the inscriptions on the tyres' sidewalls.
The latter can also be spotted on the tailwheel, the assembly of which was prepared in two versions.
The miniature's guns, in the form of four wing cannons, comes in two variants too. Both of which require at least drilling the tips.
Plastic sprues also include parts for making the under-wing bombs along with the racks, but none of the box painting options requires them.
Alternatively, additional fuel tanks are available (for one machine). In both cases the appropriate mounting holes must be drilled in the lower part of the wings (marked on the inside), as the instructions indicate in advance.
Finally, let's take a look at a handful of minor details such as the aerial mast (58), the pitot tube (57), exhaust glare shields (59, 60), and the retractable entry footstep (50).
The last one should be only installed if the handhold behind the cockpit was left open.
Transparent plastic
The transparent sprue is filled mostly by canopy elements of a very good transparency and definitely acceptable thickness.
The windscreen is complemented by backward-sliding part in two variants – depending on whether you want to install it in the open or closed position.
One will find here also a handful of minor details such as glass for landing lights and the rear-view mirror.
Two types of the latter provided – round one and rectangular.
Masks
The included masks, cut in the familiar and well-liked yellow adhesive paper, will help with painting the canopy.
Small oversight – manual doesn’t specify which group of masks goes on which type of the sliding section.
Decals
The markings prepared in the form of decals are a collaboration between the model manufacturer and Techmod.
This means, as usual, a high quality print (although my copy has some lint caught under the letter “C” for the Polish machine).
Stencils and instrument panel looks nice and clear.
Seatbelts not so much.
Manual
The booklet with step-by-step instructions on building the model is typical for AH. Clear and easy to follow assembly drawings sprinkled here and there with additional comments.
Suggested paint colours listed in a table.
Paint schemes, as usual in colour, with decal placement directions.
Manual comes with a small correction attached.
The indicated adjustments of the plastic parts are fortunately not complicated.
Markings
With included decals one can make a miniature in one of three painting options, traditionally hinted on the back of the box. To quote the manufacturer, those are.
Hurricane Mk. IIC “Night Intruder”, BE581/JX-E, 1 Squadron RAF, Tangmere, May 1942, pilot F/L Karel Kuttelwascher.
Kit painting option (Arma Hobby)Hurricane Mk.IIC Z3152/FM-A. 257 Squadron RAF. Pilot S/Ldr Robert Stanford Tuck DSO, DFC & Two Bars, AFC. RAF Coltishall airfield, May 1941.
Kit painting option (Arma Hobby)Hurricane Mk.IIC LF644/WC-D. 309 Squadron PAF. RAF Drem airfield, May-July 1944.
Kit painting option (Arma Hobby)Not an overwhelming selection for sure, but I’m glad that there’s a Polish option included.
Summary
The new Hurricane clearly shows that Arma Hobby hasn't yet said its last word about the quality of its models. Improvements over the earlier 1:48 kit (PZL P.11c) can be clearly seen – not only in terms of the details covered, but also in the overall quality of the mouldings.
One could complain about the lack of an acceptable pilot's harness or the lacklustre exhausts, but those are not disqualifying drawbacks. Overall it looks like a very attractive set for modellers wishing to build 1:48 scale Hurricane.
I like it.
MMXXIII