Hobby Boss 1/48 Hurricane Mk.I Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Hawker Hurricane was one of those pivotal aircraft in the right place at the right time. The aircraft was designed in the mid 1930s at that time in aviation history when airpower was trading in its biplanes for monoplane designs.

The first Hurricanes weren't too much of a stretch from their two-winged cousins as their wings were still fabric covered and built using the same technologies. Metal covered wings would soon follow.

By the time the war in Europe broke out in late 1939, the Hurricane was reaching obsolescence and the Supermarine Spitfire was entering service. With war thrust upon them, the RAF made use of every available air asset, and this included the Hurricane.

In the Battle of Britain, one-on-one, the Hurricane's performance wasn't up to par with the Bf 109. What made the difference in this crucial air war was pure numbers. The Hurricane was available in the thousands and significantly outnumbered the available Spitfires. It also packed a significant punch with its eight Browning .303 machine guns. While the RAF paid a heavy price in attrition, the brave pilots withstood the best that Hermann Goering could throw at them. The Hurricane soldiered on through the remainder of the war with improvements in power and armament, and would equip the air arms of allied forces around the globe.

Here's a new-tool kit from HobbyBoss that nicely renders the 1/48 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I out of the box. The entire build is done in eight steps! The model is molded in gray styrene and presented on four parts trees plus one tree of clear parts and one fret of photo-etched parts. Among the features and options in this kit:

• Nicely detailed cockpit
• Photo-etched pilot restraints
• Decals for instrument faces
• Paint masks for cockpit transparencies
• Positionable crew entry door
• Positionable canopy
• Separately molded ammo doors on wings but are assembled closed
• Nicely detailed main landing gear

Decal options for four aircraft are included:

• Hurricane Mk.I, 242 Sqn, LE-A, P2961
• Hurricane Mk.I, 306 Sqn, UZ-F, R4101
• Hurricane Mk.I, 303 Sqn, RF-U, P3975
• Hurricane Mk.I, 303 Sqn, RF-D, N2460

This is a relatively simple kit that goes together quickly without sacrificing external details. Note that the instructions show the canopy is installed closed, but with care, it can be positioned open.

If you want an interesting weekend project, this is the model you're looking for...

My sincere thanks to Model Rectifier Corporation for this review sample!