Arma Hobby 70042 - 1:72 Hurricane Mk II b/c - Expert Set

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb/c fighter aircraft plastic model kit in 1:72 scale

Twelve machine guns or four cannon – one box from which you can build the Hurricane in either of its two most common armament fits. Arma Hobby 70042 is a 1:72 Expert Set supplied with two sets of wings: the twelve-gun wing of the Mk IIb and the four-cannon wing of the Mk IIc.

The kit is supplemented with a steel photo-etched fret and self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels. A Vokes tropical filter, two types of underwing fuel tanks and bombs are also included – everything needed to build either a pure fighter or the fighter-bomber configuration known as the "Hurribomber".

The Arma Hobby decal sheet covers six marking options, three of which come with additional bonus schemes. They include Mk IIb BE682/XP-R "Mauritius VII" in Hurribomber configuration of No. 174 Sqn RAF at Manston in summer 1942, Mk IIb Z3675/WX-B of No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron at Church Stanton in August 1941, the tropical Mk IIb HL795/V of No. 274 Sqn RAF in Egypt and Libya in November 1942, Mk IIc BE581/JX-E "Night Intruder" of No. 1 Sqn RAF at Tangmere in May 1942 – the aircraft of F/Lt Karel Kuttelwascher, Mk IIc MW367/DR-B "Jessie" of 1697 Flight Air Despatch Letter Service at Northolt in June 1944, and the tropical Mk IIc LB792/C in Hurribomber configuration of No. 34 Sqn RAF within SEAC in spring 1944, flown by S/Ldr C.P.N. Newman.

What's in the box:

• Two plastic sprues
• Clear sprue
• Steel photo-etched fret
• Self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels
• Two wing options: twelve machine guns (Mk IIb) or four cannon (Mk IIc)
• Vokes tropical filter
• Two types of underwing fuel tanks and bombs
• Arma Hobby decals for six marking options, three of them with additional bonus schemes
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70042
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled model length: approx. 137 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 169 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (photo-etched parts, plenty of small detail)

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

Building the model:

This boxing is aimed at modellers already comfortable with photo-etched parts – the steel fret calls for cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers. It pays to choose the version before starting, as it determines which wings you use: the twelve-gun battery or the four-cannon fit. The same applies to the external stores – bombs, underwing fuel tanks and the Vokes tropical filter are fitted according to the chosen marking option. We suggest finishing the cockpit before joining the fuselage halves, and the supplied masks make painting the canopy and wheels much easier.

The European options call for the RAF day fighter scheme: Dark Green and Ocean Grey uppersurfaces over Medium Sea Grey. Karel Kuttelwascher's No. 1 Sqn machine is a night intruder in overall black, while the tropical options need the desert set of Dark Earth and Middle Stone over Azure Blue. We recommend applying decals over a gloss coat to limit silvering and finishing with satin varnish; on the all-black night scheme a subtle lightening of the panel centres keeps the shape from disappearing into flat black.

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)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched parts
• 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 IIb and Mk IIc:

The Hurricane entered service in 1937 as the RAF's first monoplane fighter with retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit. It retained a tubular fuselage structure with fabric covering, which simplified field repairs and allowed squadrons to be brought back to strength quickly. In 1940 the Mk II appeared with the Rolls-Royce Merlin XX of around 1280 hp and its two-speed supercharger.

The Mk II brought a range of armament fits. The Mk IIb carried twelve 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, four more than earlier versions, plus hardpoints for bombs or extra fuel tanks. The Mk IIc was armed with four 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon, delivering far heavier firepower at short range. Both variants were built in parallel and both served side by side in the same squadrons.

From 1941 the Hurricane was increasingly used for strike work. Fighter-bomber machines, nicknamed "Hurribombers", carried two 250 or 500 lb bombs and attacked targets across the Channel, in North Africa and in the Far East. In the evening and at night Mk IIcs flew intruder sorties over enemy airfields – the best-known pilot of these operations was the Czech Karel Kuttelwascher of No. 1 Sqn RAF. Polish fighter squadrons in Britain also flew the Mk IIb.

Original aircraft specifications (Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb and Mk IIc):

• 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
• Service ceiling: approx. 11,000 m
• Range: approx. 970 km, approx. 1480 km with underwing fuel tanks
• Mk IIb armament: 12 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns
• Mk IIc armament: 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon
• External stores: 2 x 250 or 500 lb bombs or underwing fuel tanks

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby is a Polish plastic model manufacturer based in Warsaw, operating under this name since 2016. The brand grew out of Attack Squadron, previously known for resin accessories for aircraft models. Design and tooling are carried out in Poland, using computer-aided design and scanning of surviving airframes. The kits are recognisable by their very fine surface reproduction – delicate rivets and panel lines – and thin trailing edges. These are complemented by well-executed clear parts and high-quality decals. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48 scales, with a strong focus on Polish aviation – PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra – as well as Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have been recognised in industry awards on several occasions, including a Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The company also continues to develop its approach of supplementing kits with 3D-printed parts and releasing downloadable files for home printing.