Fly 32030 - 1:32 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV/V British Fighter Aircraft

Plastic model kit of the British Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV/V fighter-bomber in 1:32 scale

Fly 32030 is a model kit reproducing the late ground-attack versions of the Hawker Hurricane - the Mk.IV and its rare derivative, the Mk.V. While earlier Hurricanes went down in history as the defenders of British skies, the Mk.IV specialised in attacking ground targets: armed with rockets, heavy anti-tank cannon or bombs, it operated over the Balkans, Burma, Italy and the Eastern Front.

The key feature of the Mk.IV was the so-called universal wing, allowing the armament fit to be changed quickly under field conditions, together with additional armour for the engine and radiator - essential for low-level attacks. The kit also covers the Mk.V, built in just three examples as an experimental aircraft with the more powerful Merlin 32 engine and a four-blade propeller.

The model is produced using short-run injection moulding, typical of Fly. It is aimed at modellers who value rare subjects and accept a little more test-fitting and clean-up work than mass-produced kits require.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with airframe and armament parts
• Clear parts
• Decal sheet for seven marking options
• Illustrated instructions with painting profiles

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:32
• Catalogue number: 32030
• Manufacturer: Fly
• Assembled model length: approx. 307 mm, wingspan: approx. 381 mm
• Skill level: intermediate/advanced (short-run injection kit)

Marking options:

• Mk.IV KZ188 "C", No. 6 Squadron RAF, Prkos (Yugoslavia), January 1945
• Mk.IV PB173, RAF, Boscombe Down, 1942
• Mk.IV LF468 "F", No. 351 (Yugoslav) Squadron, 1945
• Mk.IV KZ802, No. 42 Squadron RAF, Burma, July 1944
• Mk.IV KZ944, No. 43 Squadron RAF, Burma, July 1945
• Mk.IV KW908, Argentine Air Force, 1948
• Mk.V KZ193, prototype, trials at Boscombe Down, 1943

Note: Glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This kit requires assembly.

Building the model:

This is a short-run kit, produced in moulds that are less precise than those used in mass production. Parts generally have no locating pins and edges need careful clean-up. Dry-fitting before gluing is recommended, along with taking time over the fuselage halves and the wing joints. The build goes more smoothly if you break it into sub-assemblies and paint the cockpit before closing the fuselage.

Late-war RAF aircraft typically wore Dark Green and Ocean Grey upper surfaces over Medium Sea Grey undersides; aircraft operating over Burma often carried schemes with Dark Earth. The Yugoslav and Argentine options have their own distinct markings - full schemes are given in the instructions. Applying decals over a gloss coat reduces the risk of silvering, and a satin finish suits aircraft of this period.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Modelling putty for filling gaps
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel wash to bring out detail

About the aircraft - Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV:

The Hawker Hurricane was a British fighter designed by Sydney Camm and first flown in 1935. It was Hurricanes, rather than the more celebrated Spitfires, that shot down the majority of German aircraft during the Battle of Britain - they formed the backbone of Fighter Command at the time. Its mixed construction, with a tubular fuselage frame covered in fabric, made it easy to repair in the field and forgiving to fly.

As faster fighters appeared, the Hurricane gradually shifted to ground-attack duties. The Mk.IV, introduced in 1943, received the universal wing, which allowed different armament fits to be carried: two 40 mm Vickers S anti-tank cannon, eight RP-3 rockets, bombs or drop tanks. The engine and radiator gained additional armour against ground fire.

Mk.IV aircraft fought mainly over the Balkans and in Burma, supporting Yugoslav partisans and Allied forces in the Far East. The Mk.V, fitted with a Merlin 32 and a four-blade propeller, was intended as the next step in the ground-attack line, but the programme was abandoned after just three aircraft - by then the Hurricane was outclassed by newer designs.

Original aircraft specifications (Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV):

• Length: 9.81 m
• Wingspan: 12.19 m
• Height: approx. 4.0 m
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 or 27 inline engine, approx. 1620 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 530 km/h (considerably lower in ground-attack configuration)
• Fixed armament: 2 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns
• Universal wing loads: 2 x 40 mm Vickers S cannon, or 8 x RP-3 rockets, or 250/500 lb bombs, or drop tanks
• Armour: additional plating protecting the engine and radiator
• Total Hurricane production (all versions): approx. 14,500 aircraft
• Hurricane Mk.V: 3 aircraft built

About the manufacturer - Fly:

Fly is a Czech model company specialising in aircraft kits produced using short-run injection moulding. Its catalogue covers 1:32, 1:48 and 1:72 scales, and its hallmark is subjects rarely tackled by the large manufacturers - the Hurricane in 1:32, the F7F Tigercat, the Bristol Freighter and the experimental NASA AD-1. Fly kits frequently include masks, and for several years the company has also developed its own line of 3D-printed upgrade parts. The brand is valued by modellers looking for unusual subjects unavailable from mainstream producers.