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Best early Hurricane in 1/48


JohnT

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Can I ask for advice from Hurricane experts? I want to do an early Mark 1 and have all the references inc the SAM publication but unfortunately it does not tell me about the Classic Airframes model. On looking through the site I see that some have commented favourably on the CA model but others have queried the nose profile but not said what troubles them.

Any thoughts and anything else I might need to look at?

I gather the Hasegawa Hurri Mk1 is a nice kit too if you can find one ! The reviews I found on the CA model suggested it was just as good though.

Over to the Hurriexperts !!

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not that i am an xpert but the CA is a very early Hurri with the Watts 2 bade prop and fabric wings

AFAIK it is the only 1/48 kit of the early Hurris though conversions are available

the Hasegawa is a later Mk1

i think this topic was discussed very recently Tony so a search might be useful and perhaps mods could merge threads?

HTH

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Both the Classic Airframes and Hasegawa Hurricanes represent different types of wing. The CA one has the early Fabric wing and the Hasegawa has the metal wing so it would depend on which aircraft you wanted to depict. Some of the Fabric wing examples survived at least as late as the Battle of Britain

The CA Hurricane builds into a very nice model and in my experience has been their best fitting kit I have attempted to tackle to date the only problem is that the fit of the nose/engine front is a bit tricky but with some sanding it doesn't look too bad.

I have included a pic of my CA Hurricane so you can see what it builds up like.

Hurricane56.jpg

You get a lot of options with the CA kit, which include choice of canopies, Choice of building with or without ventral strake with appropriate length rudder. two types of exhaust and three types of Propeller. Watts, De Havilland and Rotol.

The Hasegawa kit is also a very nice kit with some lovely surface detail and a detailed interior. However the fabric effect on the fuselage is a little heavy but nothing a bit of light sanding can't fix. The only drawback with the Hasegawa kit is that the kit has been tooled to produce as many variants of the Hurricane as possible so assembly is a bit more complicated as there are wing inserts to fit for the armament and the front section of the fuselage is separate but fit looks good and it doesn't really cause a problem.

The Airfix Hurricane can also be built into a very nice model with some work and is also readily available and relatively inexpensive in comparison to the Classic Airframes and Hasegawa offerings.

I hope this information helps.

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I can only agree with FZ6, the Classic Airframe kit is pretty fabulous. It goes together well, better than any other of their kits IMHO, and better in places than the Hasegawa kit. The only possible issue is that the nose is too narrow, but a fillet of plasticard to bulk it out solves the problem.

The problem is that the kit is no longer in production and has become hard to find. There are two conversions to fabric wings version based on the Airfix model, one from MDC and I think one from Heritage. I have built neither though a fellow club memeber has done the MDC model and it looks good.

Hope this helps

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To add to this, I'm currently building the Pegasus Hobbies snap-together Hurricane. If you're looking for a metal-wing aeroplane, and don't want to spend Hasegawa money, you might want to take a look at this kit. It appears to owe a lot to the Hasegawa kit, but has fewer parts, with cockpit detail moulded into the fuselage halves, a slightly simplified undercart, and only one choice of prop (which is moulded in one piece, as is the canopy). It fits together really well, and should be a quick and speedy build. My only real criticisms are that the trailing edges are quite thick, and the decals a little bright, but these problems can easily be overcome.

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If you go for the CA one be prepared to spend a few hours cleaning up the flash. It's pretty bad. I ended up using the Hasegawa cockpit in my one.

Apart from that it went together reasonably well. You can read about it HERE

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The CA kit is the only game for Fabric wing, unless you get an MDC conversion. It builds into a nice model. The problem is that, being based on the Hase kit, the nosed is all screwed up, especially with the two-blade prop. The back plate should be smaller than the nose. I have filed the slot for the prop pushing it a bit forward in the cone, and sanding down the base/ backplate. This puts it in a little better relationship to the nose, but not great. Not sure spreading the nose works, as this makes it wider, but not equal in all dimensions.

The shape does not taper as nicely as the real aircraft

WattsProp2.jpg

17sqnHurri.jpg

hurricanemkIrcaf.jpg

watts.jpg

Very Early Mk. I, note how the shape of the nose is different.

111sqn1938.jpg

P1010073.JPG

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The CA kit is the only game for Fabric wing, unless you get an MDC conversion. It builds into a nice model. The problem is that, being based on the Hase kit, the nosed is all screwed up, especially with the two-blade prop. The back plate should be smaller than the nose. I have filed the slot for the prop pushing it a bit forward in the cone, and sanding down the base/ backplate. This puts it in a little better relationship to the nose, but not great. Not sure spreading the nose works, as this makes it wider, but not equal in all dimensions.

The shape does not taper as nicely as the real aircraft

WattsProp2.jpg

17sqnHurri.jpg

hurricanemkIrcaf.jpg

watts.jpg

Very Early Mk. I, note how the shape of the nose is different.

111sqn1938.jpg

P1010073.JPG

Nice pics. If I'm not mistaken that's Paul Richey (author of "Fighter Pilot", a really good read) in the centre of the trio in the first pic & possibly resting against the fuselage in the adjacent photo. The CA kit looks great in the box, it's one of the few WW2 type kits I've held onto since my conversion to jets!

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Very interesting comments on the noseshape.

But I wonder if the problem is solved by using the Rotol-prop.

I'm going to start the CA kit soon in Belgian markings...

BSQgmBGkKGrHgoH-DEjlLl0oHBKCSDu6GHg.jpg

Belgium confiscated a fabricwinger early 1940 fitted with a Rotol -prop .Shown here in the picture with code H-39.

post-114-1156770683twee.jpg

Some fabric Hurricanes had those props fitted. It's then just a matter of using the correct markings for one.

Or howabout cutting of that nose -end.Placing a tick piece of plastic and sanding it to shape to fit the twobladed prop ? Would that be OK ?

Edited by Erwin
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To add to this, I'm currently building the Pegasus Hobbies snap-together Hurricane. If you're looking for a metal-wing aeroplane, and don't want to spend Hasegawa money, you might want to take a look at this kit. It appears to owe a lot to the Hasegawa kit, but has fewer parts, with cockpit detail moulded into the fuselage halves, a slightly simplified undercart, and only one choice of prop (which is moulded in one piece, as is the canopy). It fits together really well, and should be a quick and speedy build. My only real criticisms are that the trailing edges are quite thick, and the decals a little bright, but these problems can easily be overcome.

The Peggy kit's good fun and cheap as you say. Not pretty in the box (orange plastic) but this is how mine scrubbed up:

H11.jpg

H7.jpg

H8.jpg

H9.jpg

Best regards

Steve

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Nose on that Peggy kit looks worse than the CA nose.

As for using a Rotol prop, better, but the issue is doing a Watts prop.

I believe the Belgian 3 blade Hurricane was license built, only one actually getting out. This is one of the others that did not make it.

018-0402.jpg

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Nice model, Steve. If mine turns out half as good as that I'll be happy!

As to the spinner looking small, I must compare mine to the Airfix one - I'm replacing the Pegasus one with the Airfix one anyway, as it's better moulded.

Edited by Obi-Jiff Kenobi
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Thanks for all the advice and information guys. Sorry I have been tardy in replying but my elderly mum went through a bad patch and has had to be moved into a care home that caters for folks with deteriorating dementia problems. Hellish thing but consoled when the hospital consultant advised that while its not great for the relatives Mum is quite happy in her own wee world. He may be right but I'd still prefer the heart attack from the man in the sky when its my time.

Anyway my wife, bless, has allowed me permission to get a CA, Hasegawa and an Airfix one and have a go to see how they all compare ! Must have done something right but God only knows what !!!

Thanks again for the advice and inspiration !

John

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Hi John

Firstly, very sorry to hear about your Mom- must have been a tough time for you and your family

Secondly, may i marry your missus please- what a jolly good egg she be!

have fun building them and best wishes to your mother.

Thanks for the well wishes. I used to say my Mum destroyed more RAF aircraft with her duster when I was wee than the whole of the Luftwaffe put together. Used to drive me nuts at the time. I'd be happy if she could still remember it but thats life.

I confess Susan is brilliant and has even paid for me to go up in a Tiger Moth so I have a real diamond. If cloning ever takes off I will bear you in mind !!

Oh and she is younger than I and very good looking too - gloat !! Now if only I could stick a decent bit of plastic together I'd be a truly happy man !!

John

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Thanks for the well wishes. I used to say my Mum destroyed more RAF aircraft with her duster when I was wee than the whole of the Luftwaffe put together. Used to drive me nuts at the time. I'd be happy if she could still remember it but thats life.

Sadly ditto John - i have said exactly the same thing. the big difference being that Mom remembers with a big grin on her face!

I confess Susan is brilliant and has even paid for me to go up in a Tiger Moth so I have a real diamond. If cloning ever takes off I will bear you in mind !!

Oh and she is younger than I and very good looking too - gloat !!

Sadly not ditto - :crying:

Now if only I could stick a decent bit of plastic together I'd be a truly happy man !!

sadly ditto :suicide:

oh well i won't be getting all three but A Pegasus or Airfix kit to butcher might cheer me up :lol:

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Anyway my wife, bless, has allowed me permission to get a CA, Hasegawa and an Airfix one ...

John

THe CA is out of production and may be hard to find.

However,I won two on Ebay last week during my search for the Belgian kit.

I'm planning to sell the RAF kit. Contact me by PM if interested.

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