Arma Hobby 70024 - 1:72 Hurricane Mk I Allied Squadrons - Limited Edition

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

Polish chequerboards, Czechoslovak markings and an American volunteer of the Eagle Squadron – the Hurricanes in this release share one thing: they were flown by airmen who came to Britain from all over the world. Arma Hobby 70024 is a limited edition based on the 2018 1:72 tooling.

The kit includes two plastic sprues and a separate clear parts sprue. The decal sheet covers four marking options and carries national insignia and stencils sufficient for two models.

The options include machines of Nos. 306 and 302 Polish Squadrons, an aircraft of No. 310 Czechoslovak Squadron at Duxford, and the Hurricane of F/O Stanley Michel 'Mike' Kolendorski of No. 71 Eagle Squadron.

What's in the box:

• Two plastic sprues
• Clear parts sprue
• Decal sheet for four marking options, with national insignia and stencils for two models
• Assembly instructions with a template for cutting your own canopy masks

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Product code: 70024
• 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 consists of a modest number of well-designed parts, so assembly goes smoothly. The cockpit is completed and painted before the fuselage halves are joined. Canopy masks can be cut from masking tape using the template in the instructions – a simple way to get clean frames without buying a ready-made mask set.

All four aircraft wore the standard British fighter camouflage of 1940–1941: Dark Earth and Dark Green above with Sky undersides. The unit markings are worth particular attention, as they give each model its character. We recommend applying the decals over a gloss coat and finishing with satin varnish, with the panel lines gently emphasised using 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:

After the defeat of Poland in 1939 and of France in 1940, thousands of airmen from occupied Europe made their way to Britain. The RAF formed national squadrons from them – Polish, Czechoslovak, Belgian, Norwegian – and most of them began their service on Hurricane Mk Is.

The Polish Nos. 302 and 306 Squadrons and the Czechoslovak No. 310 Squadron were among the units that brought combat experience gained earlier at home and in France. The Americans wrote a chapter of their own: volunteers of No. 71 Eagle Squadron went into action before the United States entered the war. F/O Stanley Michel Kolendorski, an American of Polish descent, was killed in May 1941.

The Hurricane Mk I, with its Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III engine and eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, was forgiving, easy to fly and tough. Those very qualities made it the aircraft on which airmen from all over Europe began their RAF service.

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 was founded in Warsaw and has operated under its current name since 2016, continuing the work of Attack Squadron – a brand specialising in resin accessories for models. Design is carried out in computer software, with the designers using scans of surviving aircraft. The moulds are made in Poland, so the manufacturer controls the entire process of creating a kit. Characteristic features include very finely rendered rivets and panel lines, thin trailing edges and clear, well-finished canopies. The decal sheets included in the boxes represent a high standard of printing. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48, including aircraft of the Polish air force – the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra – and Allied types of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have won industry awards many times, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg fair, and the company develops 3D-printed parts and downloadable files in parallel.