Airfix Hurricane Mk. I 1:72

[Hammer2023]

I'm starting into my Airfix Hurricane Mk I in 1:72. A big part of this build is my first foray into photo etch upgrades, more to get some practice with it than anything (many of the photo etch parts are so tiny as to be a bit pointless imo). After some reading around and some advice from others (thanks, @Troy Smith), I'm not going to go with the photo etch flaps down, rather I'm going to do the metal panel aft of the gun hatches. Sadly I neglected to sand the interior of the trailing wing edges before putting them together, so will be stuck with the thicker wing.

 

I'm a bit confused on the variations offered within the kit and the variations of the MK I Hurricane. So, I get it's the fabric wing and it should have a metal panel behind the gun hatches (which I'm doing). What I'm not sure is if this wing configuration is appropriate for the three blade prop? My confusion is added to by reading Robinson's 'A Piece of Cake' at the moment, and when CH3 gets the squadron's first 3 prop blade Hurricane, it has metal wings.

 

So, can this kit be used with the 3 blade prop and still be reasonably accurate? Or was it introduced in conjunction with the metal wings? (I may use aftermarket decals I have to put it into the summer of 1940, but undecided on this as I also have the Arma Mk I, so might be nice to leave this as a 2 blade...). Roughly when did the 3 blade come in, and did the late ejector exhaust come in at the same time as it?

 

Also, the little bumps on the nose. When were these removed?

 

And the last query, how do the flat and spin strake tail sections fit into all of this? Appropriate for the 2 blade or not?

 

Thanks! I'll have some photos soon!

Edited February 8 by Hammer2023

[Troy Smith]

24 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

I'm a bit confused on the variations offered within the kit and the variations of the MK I Hurricane

I mentioned it was complex if you want to be accurate....

 

Props and spinners.... ah ha ha ha..

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234980181-hawker-hurricane-propellers-and-spinners-a-modellers-guide/

 

 

Is there a scheme you are looking at doing?   They kit decals are for fabric wing....  

 

[Hammer2023]

That really is a deep dark rabbit hole to disappear down!

 

I bought a decal set with a few options, so haven't finalised on that as they haven't arrived yet, but I'm not totally opposed to just using the box art and decals.

 

Are the metal and fabric wings visually different? I notice you commenting on one of the photos in that threat you linked about it being hard to tell.

 

I'm starting to think it might make life easier to go two blade prop and follow the box art!

[Troy Smith]

1 hour ago, Hammer2023 said:

What I'm not sure is if this wing configuration is appropriate for the three blade prop? My confusion is added to by reading Robinson's 'A Piece of Cake' at the moment, and when CH3 gets the squadron's first 3 prop blade Hurricane, it has metal wings.

Piece of Cake is fiction.  

 

As I posted above, there are lots of props and spinners.

3 blade props are seen from mid 1939,  AFAIK, from the factory you get the DH Spitfire type, and then the DH Hurricane type.   The DH Hurricane type is what is seen as a replacement for the 2 blade type.

The limiting factor on replacement was the engine, the Merlin III had a universal prop shaft, the Merlin II does not.

About the only thing you won't see is a 2 blade prop with a metal wing.

1 hour ago, Hammer2023 said:

Also, the little bumps on the nose. When were these removed?

When the side venturi was removed, the bumps cover the vaccum pump that replaces the venturi on one side.

The nose ring got replaced when this happened. Venturi is only very very early. 

There are also some tiny little doors at the top on the UC doors, only seen on very early planes...

1 hour ago, Hammer2023 said:

And the last query, how do the flat and spin strake tail sections fit into all of this? Appropriate for the 2 blade or not?

Only seen on very very early planes,  and another easy upgrade,    Only seen with a 2 blade prop.

There are not masses of photos of these very early planes, and they were progressively upgraded.

1 hour ago, Hammer2023 said:

So, can this kit be used with the 3 blade prop and still be reasonably accurate? Or was it introduced in conjunction with the metal wings?

there is no plain switch.  there is only a start of metal wings, L1877 IIRC<  and if you are lucky this is noted in production records... see link below.

1 hour ago, Hammer2023 said:

(I may use aftermarket decals I have to put it into the summer of 1940, but undecided on this as I also have the Arma Mk I, so might be nice to leave this as a 2 blade...). Roughly when did the 3 blade come in, and did the late ejector exhaust come in at the same time as it?

To really confuse matters,  in the summer of 1940,  due to the fighter emergency  Hawker built 50 Hurricanes with fabric wings, that are otherwise standard mid production Mk.I's

Even more fun, they are randomly mixed in! 

see here and following posts

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235005804-hurricane-p3886-uniqe-fabric-wing/page/2/#elControls_3735801_menu

 

Exhausts, see photos....

 

Perhaps more usefully, the Airfix kit is limited to what can be built with what's in the box, as it has the early style windscreen.  Initially these did not have armour, and were retrofitted with external armour.    This  type gets replaced during the L**** series, (first batch of 600)  and the straight lower edge becomes standard. 

(with the inevitable exception https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235083989-hurricane-73-sq-france-may-1940-tp-o-p25-but-early-windscreen-fitted/   though this in the only example I have seen like this,  problem is lack of photos, especially with visible serial)

 

Note in one boxing airfix supply decals for VY-G/C (it's G BTW) which has the serial painted out,  and this has the internal armoured screen and a DH Spitfire spinner, which are not in the kit.

 

The Airfix kit also supplies 4 spoke wheels, which are fitted from the P**** series, prior to that they are 5 spoke, and a later aerial, which was initially a pole type.

The prop in the Airfix kit is the 3 blade De Havilland Hurricane type.

 

I did warn you that the Mk.I Hurricane is more complex than usually realised......    And there is an awful lot of tosh out there on the subject.   In particular  the Valiant Wings Airframe and Miniature No.16 is a case of style over content, as are the SAM modellers guide by the same authors. 

 

If you fancy a deeper delve,  get the Wingleader Photo Archive

https://www.wingleader.co.uk/shop/hurricane-mki-wpa3

 

Which is very very good, and the only book which is basically accurate.

 

HTH

[Troy Smith]

3 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

That really is a deep dark rabbit hole to disappear down!

I'd only just started.  

3 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

I bought a decal set with a few options, so haven't finalised on that as they haven't arrived yet, but I'm not totally opposed to just using the box art and decals.

Which set?

3 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

Are the metal and fabric wings visually different? I notice you commenting on one of the photos in that threat you linked about it being hard to tell.   

3 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

I'm starting to think it might make life easier to go two blade prop and follow the box art!

Yes, they are different, but you need a clear photo to see the differences.  

 

What is the box art?  the 111 Squadron option?  Or the JX-G 1 Sq?  

[Hammer2023]

It's the A01010A Kit, with the box art for LI679, of No. 1 Sq, Northern France Spring 1939.

 

The decal set I ordered is this one: https://www.super-hobby.ie/products/Hurricane-Mk.I-Pt.II.html . There's quite a selection of Mk I options from 1940-1941 with both Northern Europe and Med options

 

Right now, this is the option selection I'm considering:

 

-2 blade prop

-ventral section with keel

-unarmoured cockpit bulkhead

-unarmoured front canopy section

-sanding the wing section flat behind the gun inspection hatches

 

Does that make sense, or am I going off course anywhere?

 

Thanks again!

[Troy Smith]

16 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

There's quite a selection of Mk I options from 1940-1941 with both Northern Europe and Med options

All are metal wing.  Overall it's a good sheet, I know the photos  for most of them.  Some great schemes.

 

18 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

Right now, this is the option selection I'm considering:

 

-2 blade prop

-ventral section with keel

-unarmoured cockpit bulkhead

-unarmoured front canopy section

-sanding the wing section flat behind the gun inspection hatches

 

Does that make sense, or am I going off course anywhere?

No, all good.   Well researched!  Top of the class! 

 

 Note pole aerial.

 

or

I'd ignore the profile.  Note no serial.  These were usually painted out for security in France.   As later was the JX

 

see

 

cheers

T

[Hammer2023]

10 minutes ago, Troy Smith said:

All are metal wing.  Overall it's a good sheet, I know the photos  for most of them.  Some great schemes.

 

I'll probably save them for the Arma and Hobby 2000 Mk Is I have on the way

 

Some progress photos:

 

I'm using this kit as a bit of a vehicle for trying out some new things, primarily photo etch. First photo shows the undercarriage with a few bits. I had a hell of a time getting the central photo etch piece, the ribbed cylinder, to adhere. It would seem well glued and secure after being left to cure for over an hour, then drop off at the slightest touch. Hence things are a little messy in there! I followed @Troy Smith's advice to use the top wing section as a guide when putting this together, and it all went pretty smoothly with not too much sanding needed along the wing joins.

 

Some sprue goo and taping for sanding out the metal sections behind the gun inspection hatches:

 

Sanding done, and based on this photo from wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hawker_Hurricane_Mark_I#/media/File:Hawker_Hurricanes_at_Lille-Seclin_-_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945_Fighter_Command_C460.jpg , I decided to push the boat out a little and scribe the panel line, along with riveting that line:

 

And the result (with a little wash added so it shows in the photo):

 

Overall I'm happy with the result for my first time. Again, this is a bit of a vehicle to try out some new techniques. The tape works nicely with the scriber, but I switched to freehand for the riveting on the other wing, which I found easier and more reliable to get a good consistent impression and line.

 

That's it for now. Lot's more photo etch to come!

[dogsbody]

On my build, I used a hobby knife to scrape down the ridges on the fabric section, added some Mr. Surfacer 1000, then did a touch on sanding.

 

 

 

 

Chris

[Hammer2023]

I'm thinking of having the canopy open but with the pilot in for this build. I've read that there is a small modification needed for the fuselage to allow this. I've looked it over, and it seems to me that filing back the runner strake will be enough to let the canopy sit open, but was wondering if anyone's done this, and if so what needed to go?

[Troy Smith]

37 minutes ago, Hammer2023 said:

I'm thinking of having the canopy open but with the pilot in for this build. I've read that there is a small modification needed for the fuselage to allow this. I've looked it over, and it seems to me that filing back the runner strake will be enough to let the canopy sit open, but was wondering if anyone's done this, and if so what needed to go?

Hurricane canopies run on curved rails, and change shape as they move. This is why the Arma Hobby kit has an open and shut canopy as alternate parts.  The Airfix canopy is wrong, it's too high.  I'd suggest using the spare Arma part, and adjusting the Airfix spine to fit, which solves both issues. 

 

[Hammer2023]

Main update for this is the pilot, who I've finished painting.

 

 

I'm on the verge of binning this build. None of the halves wanted to align when put together. I got the wings together and sanded which are now fine. The two fuselage halves are about a half mm misaligned along the top. Along the bottom they're perfect, though, which I find odd. No amount of fettling could get them aligned on both top and bottom so I put them together and resigned myself to sanding them flush.

 

When I put the wings on, the front section join with the fuselage was way off, the fuselage a lot narrower than the front section of the wing. I'd say there was a full mm gap the whole way around this front part. The shapes were also very different so wouldn't meet at any point. Lots of filler on there and I think it looks reasonable. Still some sanding to do though.

 

The problem that remains is that there's so much Mr Sufacer along the fuselage joins that I don't see how I can sand it all flush without losing all the fabric fuselage detail. Quite frustrating really. I'm confident the separate build work on the fuselage and wings was accurate, but the two sections at the front seem to be very different shapes and do not align together at all. I'll see how it looks in the morning, but I'm not feeling that it's worth persevering with at the moment!

[Old Man]

Appreciate the scouting report, Sir.

[marvinneko]

Sorry to hear about the problems. Hope you stick with it. Always interesting to see a "rescue" build

 

[Hammer2023]

A good night's sleep took the edge off the frustration, and I got to work on gently sanding and rescribing. Here are some photos:

 

The wing and fuselage sections. I've noticed that the slight offset between the two fuselage halves is consistent across all the pieces on that sprue, as well as others. The two halves of the wheels were off too, and there's quite a bit more flashing on the parts than I've had on the Airfix kits I've done, so I wonder if it's a slightly off moulding. Nothing a bit of effort can't fix, and I was able to get things true and the filler sanded off without any serious loss of detail. Sadly I didn't take a photo of the gap at the front of the wing and fuselage before I started filling.

 

Everything put together:

 

The filled problem section. I've since tidied up the scribing a bit with some Extra thin.

 

There's also been a bit more photo etch detailing here and there, but with as much of it breaking or skiting off to oblivion being so small. Some of the bits are so tiny it's impossible (to my skill set at least) to bend them. They also often don't add much and in some cases aren't as nice as what's already there. Getting them to glue on without causing a mess can also be a challenge for the smaller bits. At this scale, for the most part, I think it's a wasted effort, although I do like having it in the cockpit and one or two other bits. I can see its value at 1:48, but here in 1:72 land, I don't really think its worth the extra effort for the most part. I'll probably still do the cockpits with it, especially any models without pilots, but I think that will be it on this scale. The time, extra effort, and frustration doesn't have enough reward for me!

 

[Hammer2023]

A bit more progress to report. I have the build largely together and have started painting. I used the masking template from Arma hobby which I think worked out quite nicely although they go the other way around to the way I'd usually choose to paint, which is brown base, mask, green cam.

 

Here's the model with the green base:

 

My masks cut out and put into place:

 

And the end result:

 

I want to try pushing my painting a little further on this model, so plan on doing some modulation with a highlight over the brown and green before panel lining and weathering. As opposed to going for highlighting as I would in miniature wargames figures, I want it to represent fading, so will try to be a little more random with its application. I'll post pictures of how it goes tomorrow!

[marvinneko]

Clean cammo job, nice matched tones of colours.

 

How did you affix templates? What paint tool did you use?

 

 

[Hammer2023]

The method of affixing the templates is a mix of Tamiya masking tape and double sided sticking tape. I got it from this guy's video, where he demonstrates it far better than I can explain!

 

 

I use an airbrush for my paint jobs, and only use acrylic paints. This Hurricane is all Vallejo Model Air paints.

[Troy Smith]

1 hour ago, Hammer2023 said:

I want it to represent fading,

 

Note, early Hurricanes fabric areas seem to be prone to fading more than the metal areas.  Genuine Pre war colour.

 

Look at the wing

 

Hurricane by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr

 

also seen here.  Note the scuffing behind the gun bays. 

 

 

If you do, one detail, the area around the Hurricane cockpit is plywood then covered in fabric.

 

HTH

[Hammer2023]

Thanks again @Troy Smith. I'm also going to have a go at some chipping on this build. Would it be reasonable to have silver metal showing through on the metal panel sections, or do you think the wear is more likely to expose a layer of primer? If it's primer, any ideas of what colour it might be?

[Hammer2023]

I've completed the camo modulation, and overall I'm happy with it, although as with all things new, many lessons were learned and I'll modify my approach next time I use it, which I think I will. Here are the photos, then some thoughts on it!

 

The effect was a little stronger than I wanted, and the green a little too saturated, so I tried to bring it back down a little with the original colour. This is where I ended up:

 

 

Overall, I like the effect, although with this intensity, it's too cartoony for what I want. However, the varnishing and weathering process will likely tone it down quite a bit, so it may well end up about where I want it. I've often found with the wargames stuff that you have to push things a bit farther than you think to end up with the result you want. We'll see.

 

Things I'll do differently.

-In many places I've too hard a transition between the two. I'll try increasing my thinning ratio for this next time, and perhaps even a bigger airbrush nozzle (I used the 0.2 for this) to try to solve this.

-I added a warm off white to both base colours for the highlight, about 5:1 base:white. It worked well to wash out the brown, but it increased the saturation of the green which wasn't what I was after. I'll try a cold off white for the green next time.

-I'll probably back off the intensity of the highlight application next time. Hopefully the extra thinning will help with that.

-I need to get a more consistent application. Hoping a wider brush and more dilution will help with this also!

[Hammer2023]

All finished. Considering I almost gave up on this one and binned it, I'm pretty happy with how it's turned out. I like the modulation effect, and will use it again, but I'll tone it back a little as I think it's too strong here. I also did a bit more weathering (I based the underwing streaking on a photo I have of an early Mk I)and dirt than usual, and a little chipping around the canopy hood which I left open for this build. Not the most enjoyable of my 4 builds to date, but plenty learned from it so a positive experience all round.

 

As for the photo etch? If you peak into the cabin you can see it, and I do like having it there, but I feel the rest of it was a waste of time. Most of the external parts have broken off and disappeared. I'm not sure if my super glue (it's an old bottle) is giving up the ghost, but I had a real problem getting the photo etch parts to stick. I'll be limiting my use of it at this scale going forward.

 

Here are some quick photos of the finished article!

 

 

The micro krystal klear is still a little wet around the canopy in that last photo. I can also see the canopy has moved. I've tried both pva and micro kristal klear on these and am not having a good time with either. Not sure what the options are here, but canopies remain a sore point for me.

Edited February 17 by Hammer2023

[marvinneko]

Congrats!

 

I've yet to finish my first kit and I'm butchering it up but good