Bowcat's Hurricane Mk1 Fly Models 1/32

[Mr Bowcat]

Hi Guys,

This will be my entry for the GB.



This boxing contains markings for Group Captain John Kent's aircraft V6665 of the 303 Squadron based at Northolt which is what I will be building. I live within a couple of miles of Northolt airfield, and have been lucky enough to be on the base a few times.

The kit is a short run affair and is known for very poor instructions and a lack of locating marks, but should build up very nicely with some care. It comes with PE and some lovely cast parts, so the only extra I have added is a Yahu IP.

Roll on July.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Bob
Never come across FLY Models. Can't go wrong with a Hurricane. Always think they were overshadowed by the Spitfire and yet I seem to remember reading that there were more Hurricanes than Spitfires involve in the BoB.
Why does the box art have those markings?
Jim

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Hey Jim,

No they are new to me as well, but after some research they are apparently the best 1/32 version available at the moment, despite the flaws mentioned above.

303 Squadron (who only flew Hurricanes) claimed the largest number of enemies shot downs during the BoB at 126 destroyed, 13 probables and 9 damaged.

Other than John Kent (who was Canadian) the pilots were Polish, and are commemorated by the Polish War Memorial just off the Ruislip Junction of the A40 (which is just a few hundred yards from Northolt Air Base), along with the other Polish squadrons.



The box art is of a Finnish Hurricane.

 

[Jim R]

Finnish of course. Should have known as I once built a Finnish armoured car - Winter War.
Jim

 

[Fernando N]

Very nice Bob, looking forward to see your big Hurricane

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Cheers Fernando.

Jim, I was initially confused as well. The Finnish armour I've built have Harakristi (hook cross) emblems rather than Swastika's, but maybe it was different for the air force??

 

[colin m]

Fly 1:32 Hurricane. I've built one of those. Looks good when finished, but what a journey.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

That's about what my research has led me to believe. Thinning the undercarriage resin block looks like it will be particularly fun.

 

[Jakko]

Harakristi (hook cross) emblems rather than Swastika's

The word for “swastika” in many other languages simply translates to English as “hook(ed) cross” anyway, regardless of the exact type: Dutch: hakenkruis, German Hakenkreuz, etc. Finnish hakaristi (I think that’s what you were aiming for ) also means the same thing.

It was adopted by the Finnish air force because one of the first aircraft it got, was donated by someone who apparently painted a swastika on lots of things, for luck (it’s originally a lucky charm, before its use by the NSDAP rather tainted it). From that plane, the Finns decided to use it as their national insignia on aircraft.

 

[JR]

Bob.
Like the box art, the Polish pilots had such hate for the Germans. The first Polish squadron (No. 303), in No. 11 Group, during the course of the month shot down more Germans than any British unit in the same period.
There is the rest of this article if anyone is interested at.

No 303 Sqdn in the Battle of Britain

.

 

[stona]

That's about what my research has led me to believe. Thinning the undercarriage resin block looks like it will be particularly fun.

I built one a while ago. Generally the fit was not too bad. It's obviously not Tamiya, but I've built far worse! It makes a nice Hurricane...in the end.

I had to thin that resin wheel well down to the point where I could see light through it to make it fit.

Good luck, I'll definitely be watching once we all get started.

Steve

 

[tr1ckey66]

The resin undercarriage bay sounds exactly like the PCM Hurricane, It will be interesting to see the parts and how they compare. This isn’t a rebox kit but their approaches seem very similar.
Good luck with the build Bob
Cheers
Paul

 

[KarlW]

The word for “swastika” in many other languages simply translates to English as “hook(ed) cross” anyway, regardless of the exact type: Dutch: hakenkruis, German Hakenkreuz, etc. Finnish hakaristi (I think that’s what you were aiming for ) also means the same thing.

It was adopted by the Finnish air force because one of the first aircraft it got, was donated by someone who apparently painted a swastika on lots of things, for luck (it’s originally a lucky charm, before its use by the NSDAP rather tainted it). From that plane, the Finns decided to use it as their national insignia on aircraft.

Some Count that used it as his lucky charm and had something to do with the founding of the Finnish airforce.

Who have rather quietly just dropped the hakaristi.........

Finland’s Air Force Confirms Dropping Swastika From Emblem

Finland’s Air Force Command has confirmed that it removed pre-Nazi era swastikas from its emblem back in 2017, though they still feature in some decorations and flags.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking forward to this. I built 303 squadron leader Urbanowitz’s hurricane in 1/48 a couple of years ago. Love a good hurricane....

 

[AlanG]

Will defo be watching this. I have the Mk.II to build

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Alan, good idea, you can see how not to do it.

 

[KarlW]

Hi Bob
Never come across FLY Models. Can't go wrong with a Hurricane. Always think they were overshadowed by the Spitfire and yet I seem to remember reading that there were more Hurricanes than Spitfires involve in the BoB.
Why does the box art have those markings?
Jim

Not only more numerous but far faster to rearm and refuel, but a brunette compared to the Spitfires blonde........

 

[AlanG]

The Hurricane could also take far more battle damage than the Spitfire. Making it a 'better' aircraft for inexperienced combat pilots.

 

[stona]

The Hurricane could also take far more battle damage than the Spitfire. Making it a 'better' aircraft for inexperienced combat pilots.

Yes and no. Any pilot was statistically more likely to be shot down in a Hurricane, but it could sustain more damage and was much easier to repair.