CMK Hurricane Mk.I Upgrade Sets (for Airfix 1:48)

[Mike]

Hurricane Mk.I Upgrade Sets (for Airfix)

1:48 CMK/Special Hobby

 

 

The new Airfix Hurricane has been out for a while now, and very nice it is too!  If you are looking for a little extra detail however, you can opt for fiddly Photo-Etch (PE), or go down the resin route, which is how CMK have decided to approach things.  They have created a number of sets to improve the kit, allowing the modeller to choose how much they want to spend, and which areas they want to improve on.  Two of the sets are from their Quick & Easy line, which are straightforward drop-in replacements to kit parts with more detail than the originals.  The sets arrive in clamshell boxes, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the rear header card.

 

 

Cockpit Set (4352)

This set isn't a complete replacement for the kit, but improves on what is already there.  In preparation you need to cut off the kit control column, the foot rests and some small instruments on the side frames.  There is a new replacement instrument panel with printed acetate instrument dials that just require some white paint on the rear, a set of resin foot rests, rudder pedals, control column, seat and instruments on the side framework, plus a new resin compass.

 

 

 

 

Control Surfaces (4353)

All the kit control surfaces are separate parts, so you might wonder if there is a need for these upgrades, but on closer inspection, you notice that the detail on the resin parts is much improved over the kit parts, with subtle fabric sag, and the rib tape visible.  Included are rudder, elevators and ailerons, all of which are attached to their pour blocks finely along their leading edges and should be easy to remove and clean up.

 

 

 

 

 

Port Wing Armament Set (4354) Starboard Wing Armament Set (4357)

Each kit provides a full set of wing bays with .303 machine guns from the box, but they are a little simplified and the breeches are slightly undersized.  This set contains resin parts to complete a more realistic gun bay in the appropriate wing that starts with a single part bay, into which you add the four breeches with ammo feeds, ammo boxes and then the cross-braces to complete the bay.  It is offered up to the upper wing, and checking clearance would be very wise before assembly.    Of course the panels in the upper wing will need removing, and CMK have thoughtfully provided a full set of replacements to save you from using the rather thick kit parts, which are also full of inconveniently placed ejector pin marks.

 

Look at this pic in the mirror for the starboard set

 

Port

 

Starboard

 

 

Reserve Fuel Tank Set (4355)

This set allows the modeller to depict the fuel tank in front of the cockpit open for maintenance, and requires you to remove that section from the fuselage halves before adding the set.  Placed on a flat base, the set includes the tank itself, a bulkhead, another small tank and the very rear of the engine, plus the back of the instrument panel, to which you may wish to add some wires for additional detail.  Around the cut-out, you must add a gaggle of tiny D-shaped fastener fixing points, which will be a little tricky, but there are a few spares, so don't worry unduly.  The final part is the cowling, which has the captive fasteners sticking out for realism.

 

 

 

 

Main Undercarriage Set (4356)

Consisting of twelve resin parts, this replaces the multi-part arrangement that makes up the main gear bays with a single assembly that fits to the bottom of the cockpit floor, and slots neatly into the lower wing recesses once complete.  You also get a new in-scale set of gear bay doors to improve the look further.

 

 

 

 

Exhausts - Triple Ejector Type (Q48265)

A pair of replacement exhaust stacks for the early Hurricane that has a lot of the subtle construction detail that was missed from the kit parts, as well as shallow exhaust tip.  They lack the locating pegs of the kit parts, but fit snugly into the aperture on the sides of the engine cowling.

 

 

 

 

Seat with Harness (Q48266)

A straight forward drop-in replacement resin seat for your kit, with moulded in harnesses.  Simply cut off the casting block and install on the seat armour instead of the kit part.

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

 

[Mike]

Review updated to add the Starboard Wing Armament Set (4357), which came along later for some reason.