Enzo's Belgian Hurricane

[Enzo the Magnificent]

 

Hurricanes seem to be quite popular in this GB.  Not really surprising.   

 

My original plan was to build a Belgian Hurricane and Battle.  However, it seemed as though the new FRROM Battle would be delayed for so long that it would not make it into the GB.   Thankfully, that doesn't appear to be so as the kit has just been released.  Gideon tells me that if I can lay my hands on it within the next week, I should just be able to finish it in time.  

 

So...   here is its companion Hurricane.   I see that @PhantomBigStu is also building the same kit (although different boxing) in the same markings.   

 

This is the Airfix 1/72 kit representing the early fabric-winged (aka "rag wing") Hurricane. 

 

 

Sprue photos used with permission from the Britmodeller review of the later boxing of this kit.

 

 

 

 

 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

I started off by building the wing and its interior.

 

 

Followed by the cockpit interior.  This was sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1010.  As this paint is becoming more and more difficult to fin, I'm going to have to source a suitable alternative.   More about this later.

 

 

It's a relatively inexpensive kit, yet the cockpit is quite nicely detailed.

 

 

Main assembly complete.

 

[Erwin]

Good to see another Belgian in the GB.

 

 

[LorenSharp]

Looking good Enzo.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Ready for priming.

 

 

Primed with my usual technique of a coat of clear lacquer from a rattle can followed by grey plastic primer, also from a rattle can.

 

 

Into the paint shop.   For twenty years I have been using Xtracrylix colours for the temperatue land scheme.  However, for over a year Hannants have been unable to source a new supplier and so the supply of Xtracrylix will slowly but surely dry up.  All the RAF colours have already gone.     I have there fore been looking for replacements which has been surprisingly difficult.  Many of the pants marketed as "Dark Earth" are either too light, too red or both.  To complicate matters, it seems that the Xracrylix Dark Earth that I have been using for two decades is actually too dark.    Eventually I came up with Lifecolor UA-519 which seems reasonable.

 

[81-er]

You're absolutely charging through with this, Enzo!

 

James

[PhantomBigStu]

For reference AK Interactive Dark Earth is really good match, Ill be using it on mine going forward as a replacement for XA. Not found a really good dark green replacement, though revell aqua 68 is decent to the eye its actually too dark, I still prefer it to Aks version which ins't quite olive enough but isn't terrible

 

Edited November 25, 2024 by PhantomBigStu

[Enzo the Magnificent]

9 hours ago, PhantomBigStu said:

For reference AK Interactive Dark Earth is really good match, Ill be using it on mine going forward as a replacement for XA.

 

I really don't like the AK interactive paints.  They don't spray at all well and have a splodgy, stringy texture.  When I spray them I'm reminded of the antibodies in Fantastic Voyage.  I tried thinning them more than usual, using AK's own thinner, but nothing helped.

 

[PhantomBigStu]

1 hour ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

 

I really don't like the AK interactive paints.  They don't spray at all well and have a splodgy, stringy texture.  When I spray them I'm reminded of the antibodies in Fantastic Voyage.  I tried thinning them more than usual, using AK's own thinner, but nothing helped.

 

Fair, I know you use lifecolor, ua547 according to Casey’s measurements is also pretty good for dark earth, not as close as the ak but still in the really good ballpark. As for dark green the closest lifecolour is ua506 though not as good a match can see Casey data if I’ve linked the right page

 

Edited November 25, 2024 by PhantomBigStu

[LorenSharp]

32 minutes ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

 

I really don't like the AK interactive paints.  They don't spray at all well and have a splodgy, stringy texture.  When I spray them I'm reminded of the antibodies in Fantastic Voyage.  I tried thinning them more than usual, using AK's own thinner, but nothing helped.

 

Best thing I've found for AK interactive paints, at least the Acrylic Lacquers id good old fashioned LAcquer Thinner. Anything else just turns it into a slimy goo.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Masked with my usual technique of Blutak worms and masking tape squares, sealed with Copydex.

 

 

Camo sprayed with Tamiya XF-81.

 

 

The undersurfaces were then sprayed with various shades of aluminium from rattle cans.  After that it was time for the stickers...   

 

 

Greeblies painted up and ready for fitment.

 

 

I love this marking scheme and am really looking forward to building the new FRROM Battle in the same colours.

 

 

[PhantomBigStu]

So glad to see after I ruined mine trying to “improve” it 

[81-er]

That's a very smart looking Hurricane, Enzo

 

James

[jean]

Super well done!

 

JR

[Milan Mynar]

A slightly different Hurricane than the British ones.

[ModelingEdmontonian]

I love the early Hurricanes and don't those Belgian markings look great!

[Zephyr91]

On 25/11/2024 at 19:49, Enzo the Magnificent said:

 

I really don't like the AK interactive paints.  They don't spray at all well and have a splodgy, stringy texture.  When I spray them I'm reminded of the antibodies in Fantastic Voyage.  I tried thinning them more than usual, using AK's own thinner, but nothing helped.

 

Only just spotted this Enzo.  I've had a similar experience with AK 3G acrylics.  Their own thinners made no difference at all to the stringiness, so that I won't use the thinners anymore - I even thought I was using the wrong stuff but apparently not.     BUT strangely Vallejo thinners worked quite well as long as I used a lot (70/30 thinners to paint).   I also found that a slightly higher pressure (20 instead of 14psi ) helped a bit as well.

 

Nice Hurricane.

 

cheers

 

Rob

[Enzo the Magnificent]

And we're finished! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here posed with the new Azur-FRROM Battle, aslo completed in this GB.

 

[Milan Mynar]

Nice couple.

[LorenSharp]

Great work Enzo on your bevy of bountiful Belgian Ladies. Thanks for letting us follow along!

[81-er]

Very nice, Enzo! She goes really well with the Battle

 

James