Enzo the Magnificent Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for seventy years. I thought that it would be appropriate to model something that has been associated with her for nearly all of that time. The Battle of Britain Memorial flight has taken part in every jubilee flypast: 1977, 2002, 2012 and again this year. Two aircraft have taken part in every flypast: Lancaster PA474 and Hurricane LF363. I like Hurricanes so I thought I would model LF363 but with a difference. I will be building three models depicting the markings it carried in 1977, 2002/2012 and this year. So... three models it is. LF363 is a Hurricane MkIIc, originally built with 20mm cannons. However, it has spent most of its life masquerading as a Mk I with the cannons removed and wearing a Temperate Land Scheme, which it never wore in RAF service, The aircraft was one of the last Hurricanes to be taken into RAF service - some sources state that it was actually the last one. These are the kits that I will be using: Heller, Smer and Mistercraft. They are actually all the same kit! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 This is an interesting take on the theme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Great project Enzo,the Heller Hurricane has always been a firm favourite of mine and builds well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 So let's look at the sprues. This is a Heller kit. I don't think I need to say any more than that. This one was first released in 1977. For a kit that's 45 years old, it still stands up pretty well. Okay, it can't approach the Arma Hobby kit (which in my opinion is the jewel in the crown of Hurricane kits in 1/72) but then one wouldn't expect it to. Besides, you can pick one of these up for a third of the price of the Arma Hobby kit. I have a lot of love for Heller kits of this vintage. So, let's be cruel and consider how this 45 year old kit doesn't match up to modern kits. Firstly, it has raised panel lines! But then so did most other kits in 1977... The undercarriage bays lack detail. See my comment about raised panel lines. However, there are aftermarket resin sets for other kits which will fit. I confess that I'm not going to bother. The cockpit is a bit sparse. See my comments above. Again there are aftermarket resin sets that will fit. I'm just going to do a bit of detailing and replace the seat and instrument panel. There is one "problem" with the kit that isn't to do with its age. The fuselage spine behind the cockpit is narrower than it should be. However... this was possibly a choice on the part of the kit designers. It means that the sliding canopy part fits perfectly in the open position. My Heller kit is from 1988. The decals are rubbish. So are those in the Mistercraft boxing, which is from 2014. However, the Mistercraft boxing has serials for LF363 which will be useful, although the instruction sheet shows them as LF360. But then, it's not like modern Hurricane decals are hard to find. The Smer boxing has decent decals and some PE to justify the "Hi Tech" moniker. This is a very nice package. In my opinion, the Heller Hurricane is a lovely little kit and would be an ideal mojo restorer. I think @stevej60 would agree. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 1 hour ago, Enzo Matrix said: So let's look at the sprues. This is a Heller kit. I don't think I need to say any more than that. This one was first released in 1977. For a kit that's 45 years old, it still stands up pretty well. Okay, it can't approach the Arma Hobby kit (which in my opinion is the jewel in the crown of Hurricane kits in 1/72) but then one wouldn't expect it to. Besides, you can pick one of these up for a third of the price of the Arma Hobby kit. I have a lot of love for Heller kits of this vintage. So, let's be cruel and consider how this 45 year old kit doesn't match up to modern kits. Firstly, it has raised panel lines! But then so did most other kits in 1977... The undercarriage bays lack detail. See my comment about raised panel lines. However, there are aftermarket resin sets for other kits which will fit. I confess that I'm not going to bother. The cockpit is a bit sparse. See my comments above. Again there are aftermarket resin sets that will fit. I'm just going to do a bit of detailing and replace the seat and instrument panel. There is one "problem" with the kit that isn't to do with its age. The fuselage spine behind the cockpit is narrower than it should be. However... this was possibly a choice on the part of the kit designers. It means that the sliding canopy part fits perfectly in the open position. My Heller kit is from 1988. The decals are rubbish. So are those in the Mistercraft boxing, which is from 2014. However, the Mistercraft boxing has serials for LF363 which will be useful, although the instruction sheet shows them as LF360. But then, it's not like modern Hurricane decals are hard to find. The Smer boxing has decent decals and some PE to justify the "Hi Tech" moniker. This is a very nice package. In my opinion, the Heller Hurricane is a lovely little kit and would be an ideal mojo restorer. I think @stevej60 would agree. I built one not too long ago and found it to be a decent kit for its age. I agree something simple that can bring back memories of someone's youth to restore the dragging feeling. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 How are you getting on with this? Any progress to report or share with us? 1 month has gone already! Will I have to put you on a charge * and confine you in 'modelling barracks'? * a battery charger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 1, 2022 Author Share Posted July 1, 2022 2 hours ago, Black Knight said: How are you getting on with this? Any progress to report or share with us? Yes, I really should be updating this thread... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 3, 2022 Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 Although this is a nice kit, the cockpit is somewhat basic but that's par for the course for a kit issued in 1977. I will be adding some detail as shown: The cockpit internal structure was added using strecthed sprue and some offcuts of plastic card. And then sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1010. All three of 'em! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 How are you getting on with these? I think that you, like me, are falling behind in our builds We need to lead from the front - 'Follow me men! I'm right behind you!' 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 20, 2022 Author Share Posted July 20, 2022 They are progressing. I'm just caught up with finishing off some earlier builds. They have currently had the camouflage applied. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 I've neglected to document this project dreadfully. So let's put that right. The fuselages were closed up and the wings built. The wing assembly is three parts! Although LF363 is a cannon-armed MkIIC, it has spent most of its life masquerading as a machine gun armed MkI. I removed the cannons and their associated wing bulges. Main assembly complete. Initial priming dones with grey car primer from a rattle can. I sorted out any imperfections and added the tailplanes. After another round of primer, I sprayed them with Xtracrylix XA1002 Dark Earth 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 Masked with my usual technique of blutak worms and masking tape worms sealed with Copydex. Note that one has a mirror image pattern. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 I don't know what BK is worried for Enzo, you've got stacks of time, at least 6 weeks before any pressure should come on, 7 weeks & some mild panic might set it but I reckon you'll have it sorted by then . I've a couple of these kits, I like what you've doing with the cockpits, there might be some slight plagarism in evidence when I get around to mine. Steve. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted September 3, 2022 Author Share Posted September 3, 2022 The disruptive pattern was then sprayed using Xtracrylix XA1001 Dark Green. The undersurfaces were sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1007 Sky. Then came the decals. These were from a plethora of sources, most notably old Modeldecal sheets for the wing roundels and codes. Greeblies ready for fitment. Now comes the horrendous task of masking the canopies! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 Finished! In memoriam, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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