Fl;y 1/32 Hurricane II

[stona]

I've joined the fuselage halves without too much drama.





Some of the parts aren't quite as drawn in the instructions and there are quite a few locating bits which are drawn but don't exist on the parts which makes life interesting! To get the cockpit framing at the correct height I made some locating tabs of my own (invisible now, that's the point!)


This does mean that some of that cockpit tubing extends below the fuselage.





This is realistic as the top of the wheel well forms a 'floor' under the cockpit tub. There were even a couple of cut outs so that the pilot could visually check the undercarriage position. It did however make me check the fit of my resin wheel well insert, once dry fitted to the lower wing centre section. The result is that I have had to thin the top of the resin insert until it is paper thin and translucent. It does now fit.





It's the sort of thing you have to check with these kits, it's only a problem if you don't


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

Coming along well.

[dave]

Really interesting to see the progress on this kit and hear of the problems encountered with these multi-media kits.

[papa 695]

Methodical thinking and working wins the day Steve, and as always you show us how to do it with your builds.


this one is coming along very nicely.

[stona]

I've had a little time this morning, so I've started to attach the wings.


I've used a system I have often advocated, particularly for kits where the fit might not be absolutely perfect. I am attaching the upper wings to the fuselage before attaching the lower wing/wheel bay/landing light assembly. You can see on the side to which I have yet to attach the upper wing some thin card, which gives the wing something to bind on.





This gives me a nice wing to fuselage join on the upper surface, certainly no nasty step, and any problems will occur along the leading edge, possibly underside, where they are much easier to deal with.


I can also still get inside the wing if I feel any further reinforcement is required.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

neat one steve, the fuselage to wing join doesn't look particularly easy, but you fixed it up pretty nicely


John

[stona]

The fit is not too bad. I did a little work on the mating surfaces of the upper wing, and when attaching the wing undersides had to do a little work to make everything line up, but really not bad. The issues on the leading edge were almost negligible, so building as per instructions might work okay.


The one thing you have to look out for whatever method you use, but especially when joining the upper wings first, is the dihedral angle. On a Hurricane this is very easy, but on some other aircraft it can be a bit tricky.


Here's both wings, upper and lower, attached.





I'd forgotten how big the Hurricane's wing span is, several feet more than a Spitfire's!


Cheers


Steve

[stona]

I've been getting in an hour here and there and have now finished substantial construction. The result is something looking like a Hurricane, if a bit grey in its primer.








I've seen a couple of reviews and a video blog of this kit which tend to emphasise the negatives, which I have mentioned, but really they are nothing you should not expect from this sort of kit. Generally it goes together quite well and any competent builder, with a bit of aircraft experience, will have no problems with it. I wouldn't recommend it as a first aircraft kit, but otherwise it's fine.


Cheers


Steve

[yak face]

Looking excellent steve, a great example of the way that lots of dry fitting and fettling plus a good dose of inventiveness can make a good fit from a poor one . Cheers tony

[stona]

I've sprayed the yellow leading edges and Sky fuselage band of the Day Fighter Scheme. I don't have a Hurricane in that scheme, hence the choice.





I will now mask these areas before applying the camouflage. The instructions were very specific. The Sky band was 18" wide, common to all fighters, but the yellow leading edges were type specific. I will be cutting masks, to scale, for these dimensions. I often see these stripes horribly over sized on models!





Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

excellent work mate, I like the historical accuracy

[Ian M]

This does look like a good one and you are giving it your normal first class attention. (even if the directive says Duck egg blue and you have painted it Sky  :P  I'll get my coat. )


As a general question Steve. What other choices are there for a 1/32 Hurricane?

[tr1ckey66]

Very, very nice Steve. Looks like quite a nice kit. looking forward to seeing the finished Hurry


Cheers


Paul


Ps. How do you think it compares to the PCM kit?

[stona]

There is the Pacific Coast Models kit for a Mk I. I did a build on here a few years ago. It makes a good Hurricane but is a tricky build, not that you would have any trouble.


Otherwise there is the old Revell kit which is neither a Mk I nor Mk II but is best taken back to a Mk I. I did this here even longer ago!


Cheers


Steve

[stona]

Now sprayed in the Day Fighter Scheme  (pattern to Hawker drawing DRG.E.1165) c/w yellow leading edge IFF stripes and Sky fuselage band.





I'll be leaving this a while before continuing to the decals. I won't be spraying the markings on this one.


Cheers


Steve