Arma Hobby 70019 - 1:72 Hurricane Mk.I Expert Set

Plastic model kit of the Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighter in 1:72 scale – Expert Set

Arma Hobby 70019 is the kit that introduced the new 1:72 Hurricane Mk I tooling in 2018 – and it remains the most comprehensive release in the family. The Expert Set combines finely rendered plastic parts with photo-etched details and adhesive masks.

The model offers a wide choice of assembly options: two propeller types – de Havilland and Rotol – three spinner variants, a tropical filter, and wing leading-edge landing lights with separate lenses. The cockpit and wheel bays have also been enhanced, which is exactly where detail is usually lacking in this scale.

The four marking options cover two aircraft flown by Sgt Antoni Głowacki of No. 501 Squadron RAF, the Hurricane of Sgt Josef František of No. 303 Polish Squadron, and a tropical machine of No. 3 Sqn SAAF.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprue – 55 parts
• Clear parts sprue – 8 parts
• Photo-etched fret
• Adhesive mask sheet for the canopy, leading-edge landing lights and wheels
• Techmod decals for four marking options
• Assembly instructions with a paint list

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Product code: 70019
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 137 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 169 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (photo-etched parts, small cockpit and wheel bay details)

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

This is the most comprehensive version of the model, so it pays to plan ahead: the cockpit with its photo-etched parts is assembled and painted before the fuselage is closed, and the choice of propeller type, spinner and tropical filter is best made before assembly starts. We suggest fitting the leading-edge landing lights with their separate lenses at the end, once the wing has been painted. Precision tweezers and cyanoacrylate glue are useful for the small photo-etched details.

For the Battle of Britain machines we suggest the classic Dark Earth and Dark Green upper surfaces with Sky undersides; the tropical Kenyan option calls for desert shades with a lighter underside. The Techmod decals settle well over a gloss coat, which limits silvering; finishing with satin varnish suits an aircraft model well.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes or an airbrush
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish under the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal setting and softening solutions
• Wash to emphasise the panel lines

About the aircraft – Hawker Hurricane Mk I:

The Hurricane Mk I was the RAF's first production fighter to exceed 300 mph and the first with retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit. Sydney Camm designed it around proven solutions: the tubular fuselage frame with fabric covering at the rear was cheap to build and remarkably easy to repair – a damaged aircraft could often be made airworthy again overnight.

In the summer of 1940 Hurricanes made up the majority of Fighter Command's fighters and carried the main weight of the fighting. Eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns delivered a dense cone of fire, and the steady airframe helped accurate shooting. Pilots from all over Europe flew Hurricanes, including Poles of No. 303 Squadron and Czechs, for whom the type became a symbol of the battle.

The Mk I evolved during production: fixed-pitch propellers gave way to three-blade de Havilland and Rotol variable-pitch units, fabric wings were replaced by metal ones, and aircraft sent to Africa and the Middle East received the Vokes dust filter. Kit 70019 allows you to build both European and tropical machines.

Original aircraft specifications (Hurricane Mk I):

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Wingspan: 12.19 m
• Length: 9.84 m (with the Rotol / de Havilland propeller)
• Empty weight: approx. 2260 kg
• Loaded weight: approx. 3000 kg
• Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III inline engine of approx. 1030 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 520 km/h
• Range: approx. 740 km
• Service ceiling: approx. 10,000 m
• Armament: eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns in the wings
• Production: the Hurricane family totalled more than 14,000 aircraft of all versions

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby, a Polish manufacturer based in Warsaw, has traded under this name since 2016; its lineage goes back to Attack Squadron, a brand known for resin accessories. That background meant the company emphasised accuracy from its very first kits. Design work is done on computer, often based on scans of surviving airframes, and the moulds are produced in Poland. The models are characterised by very fine surface texture with riveting and panel lines, and by thin wing trailing edges. The manufacturer also pays close attention to the clarity of the canopy parts and the quality of the decals. The catalogue is built around 1:72 and 1:48, with a special place for Polish aviation such as the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra, alongside Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have been recognised many times in industry polls, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg fair. Increasingly, the company supplements its boxes with 3D-printed parts or provides files for home printing.