Exotic Decals 32015 - 1:32 Belgian Hurricanes - Hawker Hurricane Mk.I in Belgian Service

Belgian Hurricanes – Hawker Hurricane Mk.I in Belgian service in 1:32 scale

Exotic Decals 32015 is a waterslide decal set for 1:32 models of the Hawker Hurricane Mk.I fighter, depicting aircraft in the colours of the Belgian military aviation (Aéronautique Militaire) during the May 1940 campaign. It is a subject rarely found among the markings supplied with kits.

What's in the box:

• Waterslide decal sheet with markings
• Illustrated painting and marking placement guide (aircraft profile views)

Set specifications:

• Scale: 1:32
• Product code: 32015
• Manufacturer: Exotic Decals
• Accessory type: waterslide decals
• For: decals for Hawker Hurricane Mk.I aircraft models
• Material: waterslide decal sheet

Waterslide decals – schemes not offered in the box

Decals let you reproduce the national insignia, tactical numbers, unit emblems and stencilling of a chosen aircraft on your model. Decal makers usually focus on schemes and versions that are not included as standard with plastic kits, so you can build a specific, historically documented airframe or a less common operator.

These are waterslide decals, transferred onto the model after soaking in water. A common, recommended approach is to apply them over a gloss coat, which prevents decal silvering, and then to seal everything with a matt or satin coat depending on the finish you want. Decal setting solutions can help the carrier film conform to surface detail.

The decals are intended for models in the stated scale. As kits of the same aircraft from different manufacturers may differ slightly in dimensions and panel layout, it is worth checking that the markings fit your particular kit before purchase.

About the aircraft – Hawker Hurricane Mk.I in Belgian service:

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat low-wing monoplane fighter and, alongside the Supermarine Spitfire, one of the RAF's main fighters during the Battle of Britain. Seeking to modernise its obsolete fighter force, Belgium ordered a batch of Hurricanes from Britain in 1939, while the Belgian company Avions Fairey received a licence to build further examples at its plant in Gosselies.

At the time of the German attack on 10 May 1940 the Hurricane was operated by the 2/I/2 Aé squadron based at Schaffen. Most of the Belgian Hurricanes were destroyed on the ground in the first hours of the German raids on the airfields, and the few survivors were lost the following day. Despite this brief and unfortunate service, the Belgian Hurricanes remain an interesting and little-known chapter in the type's career.

Specifications (Hawker Hurricane Mk.I):

• Length: approx. 9.84 m
• Wingspan: approx. 12.19 m
• Height: approx. 4.0 m
• Take-off weight: approx. 3,000 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin II/III inline engine, approx. 1,030 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 520 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 11,000 m
• Range: approx. 720 km
• Armament: eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns in the wings

About the manufacturer – Exotic Decals:

Exotic Decals is a Polish aircraft decal brand associated with Toro Model (Tomasz Mankowski) of Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland. Its range focuses on less obvious subjects: the colours of the Belgian, Romanian, Croatian and Italian air arms, as well as captured aircraft evaluated by the enemy. Many sets cover specific, historically documented airframes.

The decals are issued in the popular aircraft scales 1:72 and 1:48, with some subjects also available in 1:32. Each set comes with a painting guide featuring aircraft profiles to help position the markings on the model.