27 replies to this topic

[mywifehatesmodels]

I've been watching this GB for a while now. I've thought about pulling out my old Revell Mk. I (actually, it's a PR Mk. I Trop) kit. I think everything is there to do a proper BoB Mk. I (or, as proper as the Revell kit will allow). I also have a resin instrument panel, wheels and landing gear doors for it. However, it has no decals. The closest I can get are some decals from the Smithsonian edition Mk. IIc kit. But, they really aren't correct. Or, at least, not all of them. I also have a sheet of RAF code letters. I believe they are the smaller, light gray style.

So, I'm thinking about diving into this, but I would want to do it without buying anything more than I already have. I can probably make some of the required decals or even paint what I have to. Although, the idea of trying to paint roundels still scares me a little. Also, this would be more of a "quick build" for me. I know it won't stack up to some of the Hurricanes already underway here, but that's not the point for me. I want to participate and turn this kit box into a built model, on my shelf. I have no idea as to which individual aircraft I would do, but maybe you guys who are more "Hurricane literate" can help me out with some ideas. What do you think? Should I go for it?

John

[big matt]

Well, if it is worth anything, I say jump in. I need some company after starting so late. I am pretty sure you should have no problem getting that Mk II to fit a Mk I. I am having a lot of fun working on my PCM kit. I knew nothing about Hurricane's but a little reading has shown me a pretty interesting airplane.

Go for it !

[mywifehatesmodels]

Thanks, Matt.

I think I will give it a try. Still not sure which squadron/aircraft I'm going to do, but I messed around a little on my computer, playing with roundels and I think I can make decals pretty easily, for anything that I don't already have. I just need to decide what that is and I'll give it a go.

Thanks,

John

[PhilB]

Welcome aboard John, its pretty cosy here!
If this is going to be anything like your 190 then we are in for a treat!

Phil

[Dave Pratt]

John let me root around and see what I have for Hurricane markings...drop me a line if you get a chance and let me know what you might have in mind.I won't be using these decals anymore...

[mywifehatesmodels]

Welcome aboard John, its pretty cosy here!
If this is going to be anything like your 190 then we are in for a treat!

Phil

Thank you, Phil.

This one probably won't be to the same level as the 190 I just did. I do have an idea in mind, to make it a little different, however. We'll see how things pan out. Thanks!

Dave,

I've got a couple of possibilities in mind, but I need to check a few details. I'll PM you.

Thanks, Buddy!

John

[mywifehatesmodels]

After doing a little bit of thinking and looking around through my references, I've come up with a few possible ideas. First off, I've always like Robert Taylor's painting, "Hurricane Force", depicting Pete Brothers' Hurricane on the attack. That aircraft would be one option. However, the code letters (257 Sqn., IIRC) are bigger than the decals that I have. I don't think it would be a problem to paint them, however. The main question I would have is, did this aircraft have any sort of squadron emblem on it? The painting is at such an angle that any additional markings around the cockpit would not be visible. I haven't done any further research, yet, for photographs of this plane.

I've also thought of doing Townsend's aircraft, as I believe the code decals I have would be of the proper size.

My last thought actually comes from another model that I built years ago. It's the Hasegawa Bf-109E-3 (Wk.No. 677), done in the markings of Otto Bertram from 1/JG 2. I thought about the possibility of using this model in an in-flight display with the Hurricane. Doing a little research on Bertram, it would appear that he engaged Hurricanes near Dover on 6th Sept. 1940. I'm sure there were plenty of other instances where he was in close contact with Hurris, but it would be nice to get some more documentation on that, to see which squadrons they were from. Also, if I do this display, I want it to be either "tactically neutral", or depicting the Hurricane with the upper hand, all while keeping it somewhat historically accurate. This may be a tall order, but the point, for me would be to highlight the Hurricane, which will certainly be the better quality model, given the age of the 109 that I have. Here's a pic of the 109E model.




So, what do you all think? Any other ideas?

Dave, if you have some specific decals that would work for a Rotol nosed Hurricane, let me know! That could be the determining factor, too.

Thanks, guys!

John

[MikeMaben]

Brothers was with 32 Squadron. Someone else here is doing his Hurricane also I think.

[mywifehatesmodels]

Brothers was with 32 Squadron. Someone else here is doing his Hurricane also I think.

Hi, Mike.

I have one of Robert Taylor's coffee table books. In it, he describes the research and process he went through, when painting "Hurricane Force". This included being in close contact with Pete Brothers, who was giving him insight into the composition. He states that Brothers was in 32 and 257 Squadrons, as well as one other, IIRC. I know that his 32 Sqn. markings are probably the most documented, though. I'm still not sure which direction to go. I thought about the 32 squadron markings, as well. But, I don't want to be a "copy cat"!

John

[PhilB]

John.
I'm doing Pete Brother's Hurri and as far as I can see there are no squadron logos.
If you look at my thread I've worked out pretty much that they used the very large early codes which were
tapered to fit the fuse.
I've recently got the Kagero book which has a profile of a 32 sqdn hurri although not Pete Brother's one.
It also has decals for quite a few more 1/32 Hurris.
It has 1/32 decals for 32 sqdn which I will use to scale up to 1/24 and cut my own masks
changing one of the letters for Pete's machine.

HTH

Phil

[mywifehatesmodels]

Thanks for the info, Phil. I've been following your build and it looks great.

Do you, by any chance, have any references for Brothers' 257 Sqn. Hurricane, coded "DT*L"? The only picture of it that I can find is the Taylor print.

Regards,

John

[PhilB]

Hi John,
The Kagero book has a profile of DT*H of 257 sqdn and decals for it. Its serial is V7607.
Wouldn't be a problem to change the H and the serial. It also has a small flag on it with a burmese logo.
Don't know if this was for the sqdn or the individual pilot.
If you Pm me an e-mail addy, I'll scan it and send it.
I know Pete Brothers had the "Blue Peter" flag on his 32 sqdn one so he may have had it on this one too.

HTH

Phil

[mywifehatesmodels]

Well, because I'm impatient, I've decided on a plane to model. It will be RF-R, Serial R4175, 303 Sqn RAF (Polish), Sgt Josef Frantisek, Northolt, September 1940. I saw this one listed on the Tecmod decals set and I think I can pull it off with what I have. Also, I had started to lean in the direction of 303 Squadron, as I found records of Sept. 6th, 1940 that shows inolvement of 303 Hurricanes near Dover, as well as Otto Bertram of JG 2. However, after some more research, I discovered that the model of the 109E-3 that I have is as it appeared in May. By September, paint schemes and equipment had changed. So, that scraps my in-flight display idea. But, I should still come away with a good looking Hurricane.

I started off the build by sanding down a lot of the raised detail on the kit. I didn't want to sand it completely away, just smooth it out a little. I don't plan on rescribing/riveting this, unless it's a seam, etc and I feel the need.




Since I had the flight display in mind, I had already robbed a pilot figure from a Spitfire kit and was working on that. Given that I'm not doing any upgrades to the pit, I thought I would still do the pilot. Hopefully, he will draw attention away from the chunks of plastic that are supposed to represent a cockpit! However, if you are familiar with the old Revell/Hasegawa pilot figures, you know that there's not much to differentiate their pose, from that of a cadaver. I had to do something to liven him up a little, so I decided to reposition the head. I did this by cutting through 3/4 of his neck with a razor saw, as seen here:




Next, I had to fix this gaping wound. So, I took some putty and sculpted a collar for his flying jacket. The right side is wedged under his harness (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).





From here, I added the arms and control column. I had to modify both legs and the left arm to get a better fit to the column and in the cockpit. I used a lighter to heat them, then bent/cracked them to where I wanted. After that, I filled in the visible cracks with CA and sanded them to match.





After everything seemed to fit, I painted him. Now, I'm not the world's greatest figure painter (obviously!), but I think he'll be good enough.





Now, I'm almost ready to button up the fuselage and start working on seams. Again, this will be a "quick build" for me. If I had the PCM kit, I would be taking a lot more time to make it better. This one will be good therapy for me, after the 190A I just built.

Thanks to everyone for their input and assistance, so far.

Regards,

John

[Dave Pratt]

great old kit John...cool choice

[mywifehatesmodels]

Thanks, Dave. I think I got this one from you!

Everything is together and the underside is painted. I just masked for the Dark Earth. I should have a coat on tonight. pics tomorrow.

John