Arma Hobby 70037 - 1:72 Hurricane Mk IIc Trop - Model Kit

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Trop fighter aircraft plastic model kit in 1:72 scale

That distinctive "chin" under the nose is the hallmark of Hurricanes serving in hot climates. Arma Hobby 70037 reproduces the Mk IIc in tropical configuration, with a two-part Vokes dust filter, in 1:72 scale and in the Model Kit boxing.

The model comes from the 2019 tooling used across the brand's Hurricane Mk II range. The sprues are notable for their very fine surface texture, including the fabric-covered rear fuselage and control surfaces, thin trailing edges and well-executed clear parts.

Decals are provided for two marking options. The first is HL885/AX-Z of No. 1 Sqn South African Air Force, flying from landing ground LG142 in Egypt in September 1942 – the aircraft of Lt Stewart "Bomb" Finney. The second is LD726/Y of No. 113 Sqn RAF over Burma in 1944, flown by F/O Graham Skallam.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Clear sprue
• Two-part Vokes tropical filter
• Decals for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70037
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled model length: approx. 137 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 169 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (small parts, small scale)

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

Building the model:

Assembly is straightforward and logical, and the modest parts count makes this a sensible choice also for modellers new to 1:72 aircraft. The smallest components – cannon barrels, undercarriage legs and the pitot tube – call for a careful hand. We suggest painting and finishing the cockpit before joining the fuselage halves, as access becomes limited once the airframe is closed. The two-part Vokes filter is worth fitting carefully under the nose, since it is the element that most strongly defines the tropical silhouette.

Both options wear schemes typical of hot-climate theatres. The Egyptian machine calls for the desert combination of Dark Earth and Middle Stone uppersurfaces over Azure Blue. The Burma aircraft needs the Dark Earth and Dark Green scheme with light grey undersides used by Far East units. We recommend applying decals over a gloss coat to limit silvering and finishing with satin varnish; a light dusting of pigments around the undercarriage and lower fuselage captures the dusty conditions of both theatres well.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding sticks for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers for the small parts
• Brushes in various sizes, optionally an airbrush
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish before decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• Panel line wash to bring out the surface detail

About the aircraft – Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Trop:

Designed in the mid-1930s as the RAF's first monoplane fighter with retractable undercarriage, the Hurricane retained a tubular fuselage structure with fabric covering. That solution proved its worth outside Europe: damaged aircraft could be repaired on improvised landing grounds with minimal workshop support. The Mk II with its Rolls-Royce Merlin XX of around 1280 hp reached the Middle East and North Africa as early as 1941.

Desert operations called for the large Vokes dust filter fitted under the nose ahead of the supercharger intake. It protected the engine from sand thrown up during taxiing and take-off, at the cost of a little top speed. Aircraft in this configuration – known as "trop" machines – fought in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, over Malta, and in India and Burma.

Armed with four 20 mm Hispano cannon, the Mk IIc was particularly well suited to close support work. On the Burma front RAF squadrons used Hurricanes against Japanese transport columns, supply dumps and infantry positions in difficult terrain. The type soldiered on there until the end of the war, long after newer designs had replaced it in Europe.

Original aircraft specifications (Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Trop):

• Length: 9.84 m
• Wingspan: 12.19 m
• Height: approx. 4.0 m
• Wing area: approx. 23.9 m²
• Empty weight: approx. 2600 kg
• Loaded weight: approx. 3480 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin XX inline engine of approx. 1280 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 540 km/h (slightly lower with the tropical filter)
• Service ceiling: approx. 11,000 m
• Range: approx. 970 km, approx. 1480 km with underwing fuel tanks
• Armament: 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon
• Special equipment: Vokes dust filter under the nose

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Behind the Arma Hobby name stands a Polish plastic model manufacturer from Warsaw, active under this brand since 2016. It previously traded as Attack Squadron and specialised in resin accessories for aircraft kits. The whole process – from CAD design and scanning of surviving airframes to cutting the moulds – takes place in Poland. The kits stand out for their very fine airframe surface detail, subtle rivet lines and panel lines, and thin trailing edges. Well-detailed transparencies and high-quality decals round out the package. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48 scales, with particular emphasis on Polish aviation – PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c, TS-11 Iskra – and on Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Arma Hobby releases have won recognition in industry awards on several occasions, among them a Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg fair. The company also develops the idea of adding 3D-printed parts to its boxings and of providing files for home 3D printing.