Jump to content

1/48 Hurricane Mk XII, Battle of Britain movie - more new photos June 06


Recommended Posts

To round out my Battle of Britain movie builds, I just had to have a Hurricane. So, I'm modifying an old Hobbycraft Hurricane Mk IIc into a Canadian produced Mk XII, with a lot of scratchbuilding, detail parts from a scrapped Ark Hurricane Mk 1, and various parts from the spare parts bin. 

It will be * F, H3422 flown by Christopher Plummer in the opening airfield staffing scene.

Harveys (Christofer Plummer) Hurricane 6

 

Harveys (Christofer Plummer) Hurricane 5

 

Image3

 

Image4

 

P5202668

 

Image2

 

Image5

 

... the rest of the fleet, just awaiting weathering ...

 

decals 6

 

Hey, you have to get your inspiration somewhere, don't you?

 

Colin

  • Like 19
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a wonderful collection of movie aircraft.  I regularly watch this movie once or twice a year just for the flight scenes.  The rest of the movie is okay.  Well done!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Tail-Dragon said:

It will be * F, H3422 flown by Christopher Plummer in the opening airfield staffing scene.

Harveys (Christofer Plummer) Hurricane 6

 

That's either LF363, or PZ865,  the Canadian Hurricane, had the unique Canadian spinner and Hamilton standard prop

8822787.jpg

 

note also the blanking plate on cowling, another Canadian feature along with the radiator shape, which the Hobbycraft kit has.

see https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235104429-canadian-hurricane-mkxii-some-detail-observations-and-questions/

 

neat project!

 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Troy Smith said:

That's either LF363, or PZ865,  the Canadian Hurricane, had the unique Canadian spinner and Hamilton standard prop

note also the blanking plate on cowling, another Canadian feature along with the radiator shape, which the Hobbycraft kit has.

see https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235104429-canadian-hurricane-mkxii-some-detail-observations-and-questions/

 

neat project!

 

It seems that multiple aircraft (some static, and some flying) were marked as 'F' (and the serial seems to have been 'H3418, not H3422 as I thought), the flying aircraft were 2 Mk IIc's (G-AMAU and LF363), and the Canadian Mk XII (G-AWLW) plus 3 static or taxiing aircraft, plus the mockups.

In the movie, there is no clear view of any particular aircraft, just the partial view of Christopher Plummer scrambling on board.

The nice, clear head on view is possibly a mockup (not sure), I just posted it to show the black left wing with no yellow outline of the roundel. 

The best photo I could find of the Mk XII, G-AWLW is this, post movie and restoration. shows (what seems to be) the Hamilton Standard prop, and the larger bullet spinner ...

P154_Hurricane_G-AWLW_taxiing

This is the aircraft that went back to Hamilton, Ontario, only to be destroyed in the hangar fire.

 

It was replaced by this fibreglass mockup, actually quite realistic!

Hamilton Airshow 202

 

I have the Hamilton Standard prop, maybe I'll try to reprofile the spinner a bit to more closely match the  spinner shown, but right now, it's close to the post movie photo.  

Colin

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

28 minutes ago, Tail-Dragon said:

It seems that multiple aircraft (some static, and some flying) were marked as 'F' (and the serial seems to have been 'H3418, not H3422 as I thought), the flying aircraft were 2 Mk IIc's (G-AMAU and LF363), and the Canadian Mk XII (G-AWLW) plus 3 static or taxiing aircraft, plus the mockups.

In the movie, there is no clear view of any particular aircraft, just the partial view of Christopher Plummer scrambling on board.

The nice, clear head on view is possibly a mockup (not sure), I just posted it to show the black left wing with no yellow outline of the roundel. 

 

 

see

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/bob/hurricane.htm

 

 

Aircraft-Hurri-XII_G-AWLW.jpg

Hurricane XII G-AWLW, brought in from Canada, on finals for Duxford.
(photo by Tony Clarke via Aircraft Magazine)

 

note that "F/H3422" is  likely to be LF363

P126_Hurricane_LF363_with_incorrect_pain

 

Hawker Hurricane IIc LF363 banks away from the camera. (This is the same aircraft as in the photo above this one.)  Despite wearing full squadron codes
and Polish insignia, the fighter is still adorned with Battle of France black and white undersides. Surely a slip up on behalf of the film's continuity department?
(Photo from Peter Sargent, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")

 

36 minutes ago, Tail-Dragon said:

The best photo I could find of the Mk XII, G-AWLW is this, post movie and restoration. shows (what seems to be) the Hamilton Standard prop, and the larger bullet spinner ...

P154_Hurricane_G-AWLW_taxiing

I don't think that is a "Hurricane bullet spinner" of any kind,  it's too big at the base,  what it does resemble is this

Aircrew-RCAF-118Sqn-pilots-with-a-Kittyh

 

which is just a guess, but a type used in Canada, and 
 

or maybe a Spitfire unit

880px-Spitfire_(At_Wright-Patterson).jpg

 

 

Anyway, look forward to seeing this one progress Colin, and hope the ramblings have been of some interest  or use.

cheers

T

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A great project. A couple of things though. No Buchon flew with a three bladed prop in the movie and MH434 had the same five spoke wheels it still wears today during filming. The Hurricane needs the Canadian spinner/prop combo and Kidney Exhausts as mentioned by others. Keep it up, a really good collection, only a Heinkel, B25, Ju52. and chopped Procter to go!

 

Steve.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, bradleygolding said:

A great project. A couple of things though. No Buchon flew with a three bladed prop in the movie and MH434 had the same five spoke wheels it still wears today during filming. The Hurricane needs the Canadian spinner/prop combo and Kidney Exhausts as mentioned by others. Keep it up, a really good collection, only a Heinkel, B25, Ju52. and chopped Procter to go!

 

Steve.

I beg to differ on all counts, the 3 bladed Buchon with the chevron is 'Falke's' (read; ersatz Galland) aircraft  (the static one seen at the Chateau) ...

Image4

(note - I also made a 4 bladed prop for that set of markings as an airworthy aircraft)

Image23

 

The Spit IX in fact used the post war 3 spoke wheels throughout the movie ...

5-SM411-Battle-of-Britain-film-North-Weald-c.May-1968-Skipper-Robert-Shaw-just-a-bit-too-fierce-with-the-brakes

 

... and the Hurricane did not have 'kidney' exhaust in the move, it had the tubular 6 stack exhaust. 

HAWKER_HURRICANE_1_'H3422'

 

P126_Hurricane_LF363_with_incorrect_paint_job

 as for the prop, as mentioned before, I still weighing my options! One airworthy aircraft had the Hamilton Standard prop and the Canadian spinner, 2 had Rotol's and Hawker 'bullet' spinners.

"Movie magic" means that the same set of markings appeared on different airframes all throughout the movie, and in most of the scenes, you can never see the whole airframe to decide who's who!

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

36 minutes ago, Tail-Dragon said:

the Hurricane did not have 'kidney' exhaust in the move, it had the tubular 6 stack exhaust. 

LF363 and PZ865 did,  the Canadian G-AWLW had standard exhausts

Aircraft-Hurri-XII_G-AWLW.jpg

 

 

The letters were tape, to allow easy changes.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A bit of trivia I can share. I like this project very much. Certainly one of the most iconic war movies to come out of the 60’s, with so many great quotes. The Hurricane in the movie belonged to a good friend of my family, Bob Diemert. I first saw it in Carman Manitoba, shortly after he purchased it for $85 from a farmer, in the state as seen in the black and white photo. He flashed it up for my dad, and I can remember running away like a scared rabbit! The in flight photo is how it looked after he restored it to flying condition. The codes RE-D were his initials…Robert Edward Diemert (pronounced dee-mert) no french accent. It was not related to the famous “BiBi” RE-D p3039. He flew it in the movie, then sold it for $250,000, this allowed him to fund an expedition to New Guinea where he acquired some Japanese aircraft wrecks (that’s another story!)

215E37B3-3E5E-42C9-BE0D-73A10007B65A 25218CC1-EE11-4EA4-BE8A-791F344F217F A48CB272-92F1-478C-A4D9-0195D42C89F5


I look forward to seeing the project!

Jeff

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

With more research (and all the help above) more required mods have come to light. The Bob Diemert restored aircraft (CCF c/n 42012, registered as CF-SMI, C-GWPH, and G-AWLW) was in fact a CCF Hurricane Mk IIb. It does have the 3 stack exhaust (not fishtail),  it did not have the MkII style 'kinked' tail wheel, but the earlier Mk I style tail wheel, blanked off generator cooling pipes (as mentioned above), no oil collection rail (?) on the upper cowl behind the spinner, A Hamilton Standard prop (which we knew), and the unique 'Canadian' spinner.

The spinner base is larger than the cowl front - it appears this same diameter as the 'bulbous' Mk I spinner, but quite straight and tapered. 

What I'm going to try to do is use the base, and rear 1/3 of a 'bulbous' Mk I spinner, cement on a front 2/3 of a 'bullet' spinner, and machine down to something close to the correct style. (... and I thought I was close to being finished!)

Fortunately, the painting was only as far as the lower surface, so that can remain. Also, it was painted in a "B" scheme.

Image6

 

With the Ultracast exhaust, a new tail wheel, blanked off cooling pipes, no oil collection rail, and the spinner/prop, I should be close (I hope!)

 

The journey continues ...

 

Colin

Edited by Tail-Dragon
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Tail-Dragon said:

I beg to differ on all counts, the 3 bladed Buchon with the chevron is 'Falke's' (read; ersatz Galland) aircraft  (the static one seen at the Chateau) ...

Image4

(note - I also made a 4 bladed prop for that set of markings as an airworthy aircraft)

Image23

 

The Spit IX in fact used the post war 3 spoke wheels throughout the movie ...

5-SM411-Battle-of-Britain-film-North-Weald-c.May-1968-Skipper-Robert-Shaw-just-a-bit-too-fierce-with-the-brakes

 

... and the Hurricane did not have 'kidney' exhaust in the move, it had the tubular 6 stack exhaust. 

HAWKER_HURRICANE_1_'H3422'

 

P126_Hurricane_LF363_with_incorrect_paint_job

 as for the prop, as mentioned before, I still weighing my options! One airworthy aircraft had the Hamilton Standard prop and the Canadian spinner, 2 had Rotol's and Hawker 'bullet' spinners.

"Movie magic" means that the same set of markings appeared on different airframes all throughout the movie, and in most of the scenes, you can never see the whole airframe to decide who's who!

 

 

Like I said, no Buchon with a three bladed prop actually flew in the film. Taxiing only. The photo below shows MH434 in preparation for the movie, it has four spoke wheels (5 spoke is my mistake). You seem to have sorted the Hurricane.

spacer.png

 

Steve.

Edited by bradleygolding
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, bradleygolding said:

Like I said, no Buchon with a three bladed prop actually flew in the film. Taxiing only. The photo below shows MH434 in preparation for the movie, it has four spoke wheels (5 spoke is my mistake). You seem to have sorted the Hurricane.

 

Steve.

Yes, I realize that the flying Buchons had 4 bladed props. There were several flying Buchons (s/n C4K-130 and C4K-170) that carried the chevron, plus several static and taxiing ones, hence making both the 3 bladed, and the 4 bladed props for that marking. That allows for the aircraft seen as Falke's at the French Chateau, as well as the flying examples

As far as AI*A goes, MH434 was 1 of 8 different airframes that carried that code, the specific aircraft modelled is the Mk IX that Robert Shaw stood on it's nose during filming,  it has the post war 3 spoke wheels as per the  photos.

5-SM411-Battle-of-Britain-film-North-Weald-c.May-1968-Skipper-Robert-Shaw-just-a-bit-too-fierce-with-the-brakes

 

Image3

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, may I present ... Frankenspinner

 

Image10

I might have to make it a tad blunter, haven't quite decided yet.

Colin

 

Well, I blunted it a tad more and polished. I happy with it, and it's as close to a 'Canadian' spinner as I can get.

 

Image12

 

Edited by Tail-Dragon
  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Tail-Dragon said:

Image12

 

Look great Colin, surprised Ultracast never did one.

One little detail, that scoop is on the wing fillet, not the cowl panel.

There is also a hole in the centre of the lower cowl,  and one otehr detail i forgot, none of the 1/48th kits get the air intake right, it has a fairing at the rear, very hard to see in wartime images unfortunately

fantastic image here

60f9983dbec4d521f3a28dae_Hawker-Hurrican

 

51339829054_2769a69b22_b.jpgHurri BBMF underside crop by losethekibble, on Flickr

 

this is the Mk.IV in Birmingham, which has the fairing missing, 

24294339598_bd405a84d8_b.jpgHawker Hurricane  - P3395 Think Tank 052 by touluru, on Flickr

 

38145994571_2459620b25_b.jpgHawker Hurricane  - P3395 Think Tank 093 by touluru, on Flickr

 

the strips on the side of the radiator are wood, and were for the armour plate tub.

 

It's a shame that this Mk.IV, which served with several squadrons is done out in faux BoB markings....

 

Hope of interest.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"As far as AI*A goes, MH434 was 1 of 8 different airframes that carried that code, the specific aircraft modelled is the Mk IX that Robert Shaw stood on it's nose during filming,  it has the post war 3 spoke wheels as per the  photos."

 

Yes agreed, it also had a 3 bladed prop fitted at the time.

 

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/24/2022 at 2:35 AM, bradleygolding said:

it has the post war 3 spoke wheels as per the  photos.

Because,as far as one is aware,those wheels used the same sized tyres as the Buccaneer and Sea Vixen nose wheels,original Spitfire

four and five spoked wheel tyres being long out of production.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

More progress on  the Hurricane, getting ready for decals, and weathering.

 

Image13

 

Image14

 

Image15

 

The Hurricanes were finished in a "B" scheme, and a close view of the film showed the Hurricanes did not have a black wing walk ...

Image16

 

Image17

 

I've made the changes for the 'Diemert' Canadian Mk IIb, with the exception of the carb intake fairing. I was just too far along to start sawing off the intake.

 

Colin

Edited by Tail-Dragon
more details
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Tail-Dragon changed the title to 1/48 Hurricane Mk XII, Battle of Britain movie - new photos May 26
2 hours ago, Tail-Dragon said:

I've made the changes for the 'Diemert' Canadian Mk IIb, with the exception of the carb intake fairing. I was just too far along to start sawing off the intake.

I don’t think the fault lies with you or the position of the intake, but rather the aft curved line of the cowling panel being too far forward, on the kit. I think this is going to be an excellent miniature of his Hurricane. Funny thing is that Bob was the original McGuiver and made a lot of “custom” mods to his aircraft. My second airplane ride was in Bob’s Harvard, at the Dryden municipal airport opening air show. Along with myself and Bob, were my mother and my cousin, Bob modified the rear cockpit with a long seat bottom and 3 back rests. My father went up with Bob for the aerobatic display.  I believe the wing of either his D3A or one of his A6M’ is visible behind the empennage of the Harvard.  Colour was Yellow with Insignia Blue and White rudder stripes.

AC0BB528-6815-4B15-8698-5014997308B0

 

Jeff

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Spinner look great @Tail-Dragon, very impressive.

 

I posted the carb intake fairing info as it does not seem well known, makes sense not to make a mess for something only visible when the model is upside down.

 

One little detail the movie planes don't have aerial wires,  so you don't need the triangular tag on the aerial.  

52090308302_81aa563012_b.jpg

 

HTH

T

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've corrected the radio mast, unfortunately this involves some filling, sanding and repainting as I had already made a hole for the antennae cable receptacle in the fuselage, and completed the sliding portion of the canopy. Vac canopy with inner frame of strip, and brass wire handles.

Image18

 

 I've also corrected the position of the hole in the lower cowl.

Image19

 

... as an aside, while doing further research on the great Spitfire wheel debate, I've discovered that Spitfire Mk IXc, MK297 was the aircraft marked as AI*A in the 'taka taka taka' scene. It also made it's way eventually to Hamilton, only to be destroyed in the same hangar fire as G-AWLW (Diemert Hurricane).

My Spit is being modified accordingly as these two aircraft have such an intertwined (if sad) history.

 

Colin

Edited by Tail-Dragon
spelling
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Tail-Dragon changed the title to 1/48 Hurricane Mk XII, Battle of Britain movie - more new photos May 28
  • 2 weeks later...

After a brief struggle (one decal composed of some 200 fractured parts) the decaling and pin-wash is done, next up is the flat coat and weathering...

decals1

 

decals2

 

 

decals4

 

decals3

 

decals5

 ... more to come, thanks for looking.

Colin

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Tail-Dragon changed the title to 1/48 Hurricane Mk XII, Battle of Britain movie - more new photos June 06

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...