Arma Hobby 70023 - 1:72 Hurricane Mk I - Battle of Britain - Limited Edition

Plastic model kit of the Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighter in 1:72 scale – Battle of Britain Limited Edition

Four aircraft, four names, one summer of 1940. Arma Hobby 70023 is a limited edition prepared for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, based on the 1:72 tooling the manufacturer introduced in 2018.

The heart of the kit is a large 13 x 18 cm Techmod decal sheet. It contains two sets of national insignia and fin flashes in two shades, plus two sets of stencils, instrument dials and seat harnesses – enough material for two complete models.

The marking options feature pilots whose names are known to anyone interested in the battle: Robert Stanford Tuck, John Alexander Kent of No. 303 Polish Squadron, Ian Richard Gleed and James Brindley Nicolson – the only Fighter Command airman awarded the Victoria Cross.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Large 13 x 18 cm Techmod decal sheet with two sets of national insignia and fin flashes in two shades, plus two sets of stencils, instrument dials and seat harnesses – enough material for two complete models
• Assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Product code: 70023
• 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 model is built in the classic order: cockpit, fuselage, wings, then undercarriage and glazing. The cockpit is painted and finished before the fuselage halves are joined. It is worth choosing the marking option in advance, since aircraft from different months of 1940 differ in equipment details and underside finish.

All four machines wore the standard Fighter Command camouflage: Dark Earth and Dark Green above, with Sky undersides or – earlier in the period – undersides split into black and white. The decal sheet with instrument dials and seat harnesses is a quick way to bring the cockpit to life. We recommend applying the decals over a gloss coat to limit silvering, and finishing the model with satin varnish.

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:

In the summer of 1940 the Hurricane Mk I was Fighter Command's most numerous fighter – there were almost twice as many Hurricane squadrons as Spitfire units. It fell to the Hurricanes to attack the bomber formations while the faster Spitfires engaged the escorting fighters.

Sydney Camm's design was not the most modern: the tubular fuselage frame with fabric covering at the rear traced its ancestry to the biplane Fury. That old-fashioned construction had its advantages – the Hurricane absorbed hits that would have torn apart a stressed-skin airframe, and ground crews could repair a damaged machine within hours.

Eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns grouped closely in the wings delivered a dense cone of fire, and the steady airframe made aiming easier. Among the pilots who fought in Hurricanes were Robert Stanford Tuck, Ian Gleed and James Nicolson, who on 16 August 1940, wounded and in a burning aircraft, pressed home his attack – the only Fighter Command airman to receive the Victoria Cross.

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 is a Polish model company from Warsaw, operating under this name since 2016. It was built on the foundations of Attack Squadron, a brand previously known for resin accessories, and aimed at a high standard of accuracy from the outset. The designs are prepared using CAD, drawing on scans of surviving aircraft, and the moulds are designed and cut in Poland. The kits are recognisable by very fine riveting and panel lines, thin wing trailing edges and carefully made clear parts. High-quality decals complete the package. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48, with particular attention to Polish aviation, including the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra, as well as Allied aircraft of the Second World War. The company's products have won industry awards many times, among them the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg fair. The manufacturer also develops 3D-printed parts and files made available to modellers for home printing.