Bridlington & Wolds Scale Model Club Forum

Models => Modelling Projects => Topic started by: Pen-Pusher on March 19, 2017, 11:31:28 AM

Title: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 19, 2017, 11:31:28 AM
Decided to follow-on my last 1/72 Hurricane build with a second; but this time Battle of Britain Mk.1. three-blade 'vintage' as opposed to the earlier Mk.1 with the two-bladed Watts prop. Recalling the difficulties I had with the wheel bays, I removed the extensions from the u/c struts beforehand and added them to the bulkhead (photo#1) first (Just noticed I've knocked the ox-bottle askew?) which eases the problem of threading these through very narrow apertures later.

Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 19, 2017, 11:33:13 AM
Measuring up, the rudder pedals are too far from the seat so these were brought forward by 2 mm (Photo#2).
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 19, 2017, 11:36:11 AM
(Photo#3) A word of caution: The pin/hole arrangement for fitting the control column needs drilling out slightly or the pin WILL snap. Firing button on the stick always at 11 o'clock.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Haddock on March 19, 2017, 02:40:05 PM
Like the attention to detail.
Haddock.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Wizzel on March 20, 2017, 09:44:58 AM
How many projects do you have on the go at any one time?  I tend to have 3 and flit between them as bits are drying or when I hit a stumbling block I need to pluck up the courage or confidence to tackle.  That said your builds are much quicker than mine.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Bigkev on March 20, 2017, 08:13:08 PM
Hi Wizzel,
Like you I have a two or three on the 'go' at any one time but one always seems to get more attention than the others.
As to you Pen-Pusher, I admire your work ethic and production rate. Oh, to be retired..........
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 20, 2017, 09:48:19 PM
There is a need for care when fitting the fuselage to the wing. With a complex array of 'spars and bars' needing to be fitted together, it's easy to dislodge the joy-stick so be careful please. Learning from past endeavour I attached only the fore-end of the fuselage and wing to ensure a close fit and little need for filling and sanding..
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 20, 2017, 09:50:05 PM
Just a little attention to the join lines and a coat of primer to check all is okay. After this I applied liquid glue along the wing fillet and pressed the two major bits together - then more primer. At this stage, the rear fuselage empennage although fitted, isn't glued.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 20, 2017, 09:52:15 PM
Retired.... don't ever retire! Two young arrivals at a neighbour's farm I had to deliver at 4 am this morning... Meet Hurry and Kane!
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 21, 2017, 10:26:33 AM
I mentioned earlier my decision to 'cut' the extensions from the main u/c legs and fit these lower sections first. Now, after adding the main struts I'm pleased to report this procedure was a success! (Phew!)
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 22, 2017, 10:53:52 AM
Sadly, although there, a lot of the detail will be obscured by the narrow cockpit and glazing once the model is finished. It was however satisfying to complete.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 25, 2017, 11:06:36 PM
Trying out Hataka acrylics this time...first coat dried very quick!!
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 26, 2017, 10:25:02 AM
Finding these Hataka paints are very smooth for us hairy stick people. When I get to this stage with a model - any model - I can see envisage the finished item in my mind's eye..
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 27, 2017, 11:03:23 AM
Found the Polish produced Techmod Decals are 'ultra thin' and do not react well to Microsol products (actually, they don't need them) but their register and detail is quite amazing.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: zak on March 27, 2017, 11:15:10 AM
Looking good.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Roger on March 27, 2017, 05:58:03 PM
You can't beat a good aftermarket decal!
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 28, 2017, 12:21:18 PM
To illustrate the good 'fit' of this kit, photos below show the completed fuselage minus the lower section (Photo#1) and with it fitted but not glued (Photo#2)
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Bigkev on March 28, 2017, 08:51:34 PM
That Sir, is looking a very nice piece of work.
Bigkev
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 29, 2017, 10:54:32 AM
Seats and seat straps have never been my strong point. Usually I follow the same procedure of laying down a strip of masking tape with two cross strips before painting the buckles on. Tamiya tape is about right for WWII strap colour and will darken with some wash and varnish anyway...
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 29, 2017, 10:59:50 AM
The Airfix 1/72 Hurricane has a pretty good bucket seat anyway but I drilled out the indentation to accommodate these straps (Thanks Flint-Pete for the birthday present). Scaled down, the straps are 0.80mm wide so the hole in the seat needs to be 2.5mm wide (Give or take a gnat's whisker!!). A dry run before any painting gives you the idea.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 29, 2017, 09:27:03 PM
... at the end of the day, when fixed in the cockpit hides a multitude of sins.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 30, 2017, 04:11:34 PM
Finally.... my tribute to the Polish airmen who fought so valiantly during the Battle of Britain. My Airfix 1/72 Hurricane in the markings of RF+F of No 303 Squadron as it and the remainder of the Squadron were deployed to RAF Leconfield for 'rest'. I have also included the options for an open canopy for display. Lovely kit to build.

(PS. A little weathering will be applied later)
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 30, 2017, 04:16:24 PM
(Open canopy) No 303 pilots went on to fly many types of Spitfires from January 1941 (Mk.1) until July 1945 (Mk. HF IX's) when they finally converted to Mustang aircraft.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: zak on March 30, 2017, 04:59:47 PM
Very nice too.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Haddock on March 31, 2017, 08:29:16 AM
Neat that, very neat!
Haddock.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Wizzel on April 18, 2017, 08:54:41 AM
 Nice to see the completed aircraft at the meeting and again, I'll be referring back to this when I start mine.  Niceness.
Title: Re: Polish Hurricane
Post by: Pen-Pusher on April 18, 2017, 04:50:27 PM
Thanks for that.... it's now on the Airfix homepage!