Arma Hobby 70020 - 1:72 Hurricane Mk I - Model Kit

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

Donald Duck on the fuselage side and Polish chequerboards under the cockpit – that is how the Hurricanes of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron looked in the autumn of 1940. Arma Hobby 70020 is a themed release devoted to that unit, based on the 2018 tooling.

This Model Kit edition keeps things straightforward: finely rendered plastic parts, clear parts for the glazing and a decal sheet for two marking options. It is a good choice for modellers who want to build a well-detailed 1:72 Hurricane without a lengthy build.

Both options share Northolt and the autumn of 1940: P3901/RF-E with the Donald Duck emblem, flown by Jan Zumbach and Witold Urbanowicz, and a No. 1 Sqn RCAF machine lent to the Poles and flown by P/O Zdzisław Henneberg.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Clear parts sprue
• Techmod decals for two marking options
• Assembly instructions including a template for cutting your own masks from masking tape

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Product code: 70020
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 137 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 169 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

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

Building the model:

The parts breakdown is clear and the count is modest, so the build should pose no problems even for less experienced modellers. The cockpit is painted and finished before the fuselage halves are joined. Instead of ready-cut masks, the instructions include a template for cutting your own canopy masks from ordinary masking tape – all you need is a sharp knife and a little patience.

We suggest painting both aircraft in the standard Fighter Command scheme of summer and autumn 1940: Dark Earth and Dark Green above, Sky below. The Polish chequerboards and the Donald Duck emblem look best applied over a gloss coat, which limits silvering; the model can then be finished with satin varnish and the panel lines gently emphasised with a wash.

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:

No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, named after Tadeusz Kościuszko, was formed at Northolt in the summer of 1940 from Polish pilots who had reached Britain after the September campaign and the fall of France. The unit was equipped with Hurricane Mk Is – easy to fly, rugged and steady as gun platforms.

After entering combat on 31 August 1940, within a few weeks the squadron became the highest-scoring fighter unit of the Battle of Britain. Combat experience gained in Poland and France, combined with aggressive close-range tactics, translated into an exceptional number of victories. Its pilots included Jan Zumbach, Witold Urbanowicz and Zdzisław Henneberg.

The Hurricane Mk I, powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III and armed with eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, could not match the Messerschmitt Bf 109E for speed, but it forgave mistakes, turned tightly and absorbed serious damage. For the Polish pilots it was the aircraft on which they scored their first great successes over England.

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:

Behind the Arma Hobby brand stands a Warsaw company that has worked under its present name since 2016. It was previously known as Attack Squadron and supplied resin accessories, which translated into high expectations for its own plastic kits. The models are designed on computer using scans and documentation of surviving aircraft, and the moulds are cut in Poland. A recognisable feature is the exceptionally fine rendering of the airframe surface, including rivets and panel lines, together with thin trailing edges. Well-executed clear parts and high-quality printed decals round things off. The company develops its catalogue in 1:72 and 1:48, with a substantial share devoted to Polish aircraft – the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra – and to Allied types of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have earned a series of industry distinctions, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg fair. The manufacturer also uses 3D-printed parts and provides downloadable files as a supplement to its kits.