Arma Hobby 70025 - 1:72 Hurricane Mk I Eastern Front - Limited Edition

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

A Hurricane in Finnish and Romanian markings is a sight that surprises even experienced modellers. Arma Hobby 70025 gathers four such machines in a limited edition based on the 2018 1:72 tooling.

The kit is supplemented with two resin parts – early five-spoke main wheels, characteristic of aircraft from the initial production period. Die-cut adhesive masks and a Techmod decal sheet for four marking options are also included.

The options cover two Finnish Hurricanes of Lentolaivue 10 and Lentolaivue 26 and two machines of the Romanian Escadrila 53 at Mamaia, including the aircraft of Lt av. Horia Agarici and Lt Constantin 'Bâzu' Cantacuzino.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprue – 50 parts
• Clear parts sprue – 8 parts
• Two resin parts – early five-spoke main wheels
• Die-cut adhesive masks
• Techmod decals for four marking options
• Assembly instructions with paint codes and a template for cutting canopy and landing light masks

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Product code: 70025
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 137 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 169 mm
• Skill level: intermediate/advanced (resin parts, adhesive masks, small details)

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

Building the model:

Besides the standard assembly, the kit calls for work with two resin parts. The five-spoke wheels should be cut from their casting block with a modelling saw or a fine blade, the cut surface smoothed and the parts attached with cyanoacrylate glue – resin cannot be bonded with ordinary plastic cement. The cockpit is completed and painted before the fuselage halves are joined, and the supplied adhesive masks make work on the glazing far tidier.

For the Finnish Hurricanes we suggest olive green and black upper surfaces with light blue undersides, complemented by the yellow identification bands typical of the Eastern Front. The Romanian machines wore colours close to the British ones with their own national insignia. The instructions give paint codes for all four options. We recommend applying the decals over a gloss coat 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:

Hurricanes reached the Eastern Front by two entirely different routes. Finland bought a small batch of aircraft before the Winter War and acquired further examples later; these machines served with Lentolaivue 10 and Lentolaivue 26, mainly as interceptors and trainers.

Romania received its Hurricanes as part of deliveries made in the late 1930s, before it joined the Axis. In the summer of 1941 the aircraft of Escadrila 53 operated from Mamaia airfield on the Black Sea coast. Lt av. Horia Agarici became widely known for victories scored in the first days of fighting, and Lt Constantin 'Bâzu' Cantacuzino went on to become Romania's most successful fighter pilot.

The aircraft used in the east belonged mostly to early Mk I production batches: with the Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III engine, eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns and early five-spoke wheels. Simple servicing and a rugged structure proved their worth in harsh climatic conditions.

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 has produced plastic models in Warsaw since 2016. The brand grew out of Attack Squadron, known to modellers for resin upgrade sets, and has since built a catalogue of its own kits. The designs are created on computer, using scans of surviving aircraft, and the moulds are designed and cut in Poland. The models stand out for very fine surface rendering – riveting and panel lines – and thin wing trailing edges. The manufacturer places great importance on the quality of the clear parts and the decals. The range covers 1:72 and 1:48, with a special place for Polish aviation, including the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra, and for Allied designs of the Second World War. The company's kits have won industry awards many times, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg fair. The manufacturer also develops the practice of supplementing kits with 3D-printed parts and files provided for home printing.