/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0716.jpg
Background
Hawker Hurricane is the first British single-engine fighter (the prototype flew on 06.11.1935). Series production aircraft went into operational service in December, 1937, to 111th Squadron RAF. At the beginning of World War II the Hurricane along with the Sptifire created the backbone of the British fighter forces. Hawker Hurricane was the first British monoplane with retractable landing gear and a covered cabin, a top speed of 300 miles / h (483 km / h) in level flight and the first fighter equipped with eight machine guns.
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Often placed in the shadow of Spitfire, the Hurricane was really the main winner of the Battle of Britain. During this period, 32 squadrons of Royal Air Force used the Hurricanes, while the Spitfire only equipped 19 squadrons.
As Luftwaffe bomber formations swept over England, in principle the faster and more agile Spitfires would take on German escorts, while the Hurricane attacked the bombers. In practice, it was hard to achieve such a neat division of labor, and Hurricanes did take on Bf-109s, often with success. The Hurricane was no match for the Bf-109 in speed, but the Hurricane was very tough, had the tighter turning radius, handled well, and was a "rock-steady" firing platform.
The fact that the Hurricane was easier to fly than a Spitfire was also important. Inexperienced pilots could make effective use of it. Expatriate pilots, such as the Poles and Czechs, were given Hurricanes since conversion was easier and more machines were available; they quickly mastered the aircraft. The Spitfire was still the more glamorous machine, and there was a certain "Spitfire snobbery", then and later. It even affected the Germans. A Hurricane pilot who spoke with a Luftwaffe prisoner whose Bf-109 he had shot down found the German completely insistent that he had been shot down by a Spitfire instead. However, no less than 1,715 Hurricanes took part in the Battle of Britain, and were credited with 80% of the 1,792 German aircraft shot down.
The Hurricane's Battle of Britain service tends to overshadow its other accomplishments at the time. The British were all but overwhelmed in the first few years of the war, trying to put out one fire while another blazed up elsewhere. The Hurricane Mark I was "thrown in the deep end" in all theaters during these desperate times, from Norway to Malta, generally fighting losing battles, trying to hang on until the tide could be reversed.
The production of 14,533 Hurricanes were used by many countries struggling with the axis. In addition to Great Britain, the second largest user was the USSR with 3,000 Hurricanes on the Eastern Front.
Versions:
Hurricane Mk.I
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin III with a capacity of 1030 hp
Reg. / Length / Height.: 12.2 / 9.59 / 3.96 m
take-off weight: 2994 kg
Vmax.: 520 km / h
ceiling: 10900 m
range: 965 km
Weapons: 8x 7.7 mm
Hurricane Mk.IIc
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin XX with a capacity of 1260 hp
Reg. / Length / Height.: 12.19 / 9.81 / 3.99 m
take-off weight: 3422 kg
Vmax.: 529 km / h
ceiling: 11,125 m
range: 1480 km
Weapons: 4x 12x 20 mm or 7.7 mm
Hurricane Mk.IV
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 with a capacity of 1260 hp
Reg. / Length / Height.: 12.19 / 9.81 / 3.99 m
take-off weight: 3493 kg
Vmax.: 508 km / h
ceiling: 10211 m
range: 640 (1400) km
Weapons: 2x 40 mm, 2 x 7.7 mm
Model.
The model consists of a many parts cast in a light gray plastic. Molded parts are clean, with no shifts nor flash. Panel lines are delicate and engraved. The texture and quality of the material indicate that building the model will be pleasant. The quality and the details of elements are very nice and is typical of for the last production from Italeri in 1/48 scale. A nice feature is the possibility to build the model with an open engine compartment. The ailerons and rudder are separate and can be mounted in any position as well.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0710.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0711.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0712.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0713.jpg
Glass elements are clear and transparent. A separate canopy allows to one to model the aircraft with it in the open position to show off the cockpit. My test fitting of the main parts suggest that putty, files and sanding will be minimal and limited to cosmetic improvements and filling small gaps. Additionally, Italeri has add a small photo etched sheet with seat belts and instrument panel.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0715.jpg
Decals and assembly instructions.
At first view, the decals look very good - they are delicate and cleanly printed. The instructions are printed as a 16 pages book. As a extra item Italeri has added a “walk around” book (36 pages) with many color photos, schemes and plans of aircraft details. Assembly is illustrated clearly and logically - building the model should not be a problem. Italeri specifies colors based on three references: Model Master, Italeri Acrylicpaint and Federal Standard, which is a a tremendous advantage for modelers.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0706.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0707.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0708.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0893.jpg
Based on the scheme chosen, we can finish in one of six (!) available options:
I was waiting for this model for a long time – it’s the first model which make possible to build Malta’s Hurricane directly from the box. However, the price for this model (in my opinion) is a little too high at about $30USD, but still lower than Hassegawa. It is of very good quality and the number of detailed parts makes this model worth buying.
Background
Hawker Hurricane is the first British single-engine fighter (the prototype flew on 06.11.1935). Series production aircraft went into operational service in December, 1937, to 111th Squadron RAF. At the beginning of World War II the Hurricane along with the Sptifire created the backbone of the British fighter forces. Hawker Hurricane was the first British monoplane with retractable landing gear and a covered cabin, a top speed of 300 miles / h (483 km / h) in level flight and the first fighter equipped with eight machine guns.
------------------------------------
Often placed in the shadow of Spitfire, the Hurricane was really the main winner of the Battle of Britain. During this period, 32 squadrons of Royal Air Force used the Hurricanes, while the Spitfire only equipped 19 squadrons.
As Luftwaffe bomber formations swept over England, in principle the faster and more agile Spitfires would take on German escorts, while the Hurricane attacked the bombers. In practice, it was hard to achieve such a neat division of labor, and Hurricanes did take on Bf-109s, often with success. The Hurricane was no match for the Bf-109 in speed, but the Hurricane was very tough, had the tighter turning radius, handled well, and was a "rock-steady" firing platform.
The fact that the Hurricane was easier to fly than a Spitfire was also important. Inexperienced pilots could make effective use of it. Expatriate pilots, such as the Poles and Czechs, were given Hurricanes since conversion was easier and more machines were available; they quickly mastered the aircraft. The Spitfire was still the more glamorous machine, and there was a certain "Spitfire snobbery", then and later. It even affected the Germans. A Hurricane pilot who spoke with a Luftwaffe prisoner whose Bf-109 he had shot down found the German completely insistent that he had been shot down by a Spitfire instead. However, no less than 1,715 Hurricanes took part in the Battle of Britain, and were credited with 80% of the 1,792 German aircraft shot down.
The Hurricane's Battle of Britain service tends to overshadow its other accomplishments at the time. The British were all but overwhelmed in the first few years of the war, trying to put out one fire while another blazed up elsewhere. The Hurricane Mark I was "thrown in the deep end" in all theaters during these desperate times, from Norway to Malta, generally fighting losing battles, trying to hang on until the tide could be reversed.
The production of 14,533 Hurricanes were used by many countries struggling with the axis. In addition to Great Britain, the second largest user was the USSR with 3,000 Hurricanes on the Eastern Front.
Versions:
Hurricane Mk.I
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin III with a capacity of 1030 hp
Reg. / Length / Height.: 12.2 / 9.59 / 3.96 m
take-off weight: 2994 kg
Vmax.: 520 km / h
ceiling: 10900 m
range: 965 km
Weapons: 8x 7.7 mm
Hurricane Mk.IIc
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin XX with a capacity of 1260 hp
Reg. / Length / Height.: 12.19 / 9.81 / 3.99 m
take-off weight: 3422 kg
Vmax.: 529 km / h
ceiling: 11,125 m
range: 1480 km
Weapons: 4x 12x 20 mm or 7.7 mm
Hurricane Mk.IV
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 with a capacity of 1260 hp
Reg. / Length / Height.: 12.19 / 9.81 / 3.99 m
take-off weight: 3493 kg
Vmax.: 508 km / h
ceiling: 10211 m
range: 640 (1400) km
Weapons: 2x 40 mm, 2 x 7.7 mm
Model.
The model consists of a many parts cast in a light gray plastic. Molded parts are clean, with no shifts nor flash. Panel lines are delicate and engraved. The texture and quality of the material indicate that building the model will be pleasant. The quality and the details of elements are very nice and is typical of for the last production from Italeri in 1/48 scale. A nice feature is the possibility to build the model with an open engine compartment. The ailerons and rudder are separate and can be mounted in any position as well.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0710.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0711.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0712.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0713.jpg
Glass elements are clear and transparent. A separate canopy allows to one to model the aircraft with it in the open position to show off the cockpit. My test fitting of the main parts suggest that putty, files and sanding will be minimal and limited to cosmetic improvements and filling small gaps. Additionally, Italeri has add a small photo etched sheet with seat belts and instrument panel.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0715.jpg
Decals and assembly instructions.
At first view, the decals look very good - they are delicate and cleanly printed. The instructions are printed as a 16 pages book. As a extra item Italeri has added a “walk around” book (36 pages) with many color photos, schemes and plans of aircraft details. Assembly is illustrated clearly and logically - building the model should not be a problem. Italeri specifies colors based on three references: Model Master, Italeri Acrylicpaint and Federal Standard, which is a a tremendous advantage for modelers.
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0706.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0707.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0708.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/10065/DSCF0893.jpg
Based on the scheme chosen, we can finish in one of six (!) available options:
- RAF No.303 Polish (name of Tadeusz Kosciuszko) Squadron, Fl. Off. Witold Urbanowicz, Northolt September 1940 (one of the best polish aces – 17 victories (including 3 Japanies Zero during service in AVG)
- RAF No.69 Squadron, Fl. Off. Adrian Warburton (most famous recon RAF pilot (ace - flaing on recon Martin 167 Maryland and Spitfire he shot down 5 italian aircrafts) - Luqa (Malta), July 1941
- RAF No.605 Squadron, Sq. Ldr. A. Ashmore McCellar, Croydon, November 1940
- RAF No.151 (American Eagle) Squadron, Fl. Off. J. Havilland, Digby, October 1940
- RAF No.242 Squadron, F/O W. McKnight, Coltshall, December 1940
- Irish Air Corps, 1'st Fighter Squadron, 1943
I was waiting for this model for a long time – it’s the first model which make possible to build Malta’s Hurricane directly from the box. However, the price for this model (in my opinion) is a little too high at about $30USD, but still lower than Hassegawa. It is of very good quality and the number of detailed parts makes this model worth buying.