Phil's Hawker HURRICANE
Land-Based Fighter, Defense of Rangoon, Burma, February 1942
Click on Image for FULL RES
Monogram 1:48
by Matt and Phil Carter
restored/detailed by Matt Stein Restoration of this model, originally built over 30 years ago, was basically identical to that done on Phil's P-40b, already described. In addition, the above full view was the last my camera would take, before its focusing mechanism failed, restricting all subsequent pics (below) to macro (closeup) mode. So - pending acquisition of a new/fixed camera - I'll just describe the unique features/additions highlighted in each of the following:
Click on Image to EnlargeLike many of the decals on Phil's P-40, all the originals here (top-left and bottom) remained in great shape, after having been very well-applied to begin with. I added the prominent nose art (top-right) of the pilot's girlfriend "Snooks" (totally fictitious - actually using the portrait of Marge Bong from the P-38 of her husband, renowned US ace Ira Bong), and adjacent kill flags, all from my decal spares box.
Click on Image to EnlargeOne de-riguer improvement was to drill out (and then attempt to better paint) the exhaust stacks. My finish on them really turned out more evocative of oxidized copper, rather than steel IMHO - however I left them because I liked the look very much.
Click on Image to EnlargeHurricanes flew alongside the Flying Tigers in the defense of Rangoon, over Tavoy, over the mouth of the Salween River and other areas around the Gulf of Martaban generally from January of 1942, in strikes against Japanese amphibious assault- and naval air forces, among others. To depict a "tropicalized" Hurricane, I transferred the Vokes air-filter chin scoop - or at least (in keeping with the straight restoration theme) Monogram's somewhat innaccurately-shaped rendition of one - directly from Phil's second Hurricane, with only repainting to color-match to this model (bottom).
A 100% new addition was the reflector "gunsight" (top) - complete guesswork, and ending up far more visible behind the windshield than anticipated - hewed from a clear-styrene scrap.
Click on Image to EnlargeBy far the largest modification was enhancement of the otherwise featureless wing leading edges with landing lights and twelve machine guns, accurate for the Maylaya/Burma Hurricanes. Made from nested plastic dowels, the MGs are overscale - probably by 25-50% - but do produce the effect intended. The "lamps" inside the landing light fixtures are actually dishes from Matt Stein Models' 550-scale Mk37 gun directors, though visibility suffers due to ill-fitting plastic lenses - the only major delay in this work, and best I could come up with, from my current bag of tricks - however these can be replaced as soon as I can find better-suited parts.
This was a very gratifying restoration, and looks very compatible - very good, IMHO alongside Phil's restored P-40b, which I am eager show as soon as a new/fixed camera will permit.
Cheers,
-Matty
