1/48 Hasegawa Hawker Hurricane IIc |
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Gallery Article by Graham Tarran
on July 19 2003 |
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Night Intruder - “Night Reaper"
Released
according to the instruction sheet in 1997, this was probably the oldest unbuilt
kit in my “70+” stash. I recall
being mad keen to obtain a copy upon release but remained totally unimpressed by
the markings provided (two 3 sqdn machines, plus the famous “Last of the
Many”). Instead, I have worked my way through others of their
Hurricane offerings. Then along
came Eagle Strike with their sheet 48126 “Night Hurricanes” which
provided some great schemes to relieve the rather boring (in my opinion)
standard temperate day fighter scheme. (Incidentally & for anyone
interested, this sheet contains an error in that the first option is NOT
Smallwood’s “United Provinces Cawpore1” as stated on the instructions but
an all black 247 squadron machine with early type “low-viz” markings, but I
digress).
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Much
has been written about this kit & the fit problems around the underside of
the wing leading & trailing edges - I lost the fabric detail on the
underside of the fuselage when remedying the problem in this area.
Navigation
lights were drilled out & drops of red or green as appropriate were put in
the holes. As this was a “night
intruder” machine, I also added the exhaust flame guards, provided in the kit.
Apart
from the Eagle
Strike
decals,
I also added an
Ultracast
seat, the CMK detail set that
provides the underwing 44 gal tanks & replacement & more finely detailed
cannon barrels, plus a Squadron canopy, cut & fixed in the open position.
The
machine is marked as “Night Reaper”, flown by Flt. Lt. K M Kuttlewascher, a
Czech pilot with 1 squadron RAF operating from Redhill in 1942.
Ocean Grey & Dark Green uppers with “night” undersides & red
spinner. Note the “night”
coloured rudder, probably a replacement from an all “night” machine.
The appellation “Night Reaper” is carried on the starboard cowling
beneath the exhaust pipes.
Xtracolour
paints used for the main scheme with details in Humbrols.
I usually prefer to leave my models “mint”, that is with no
weathering, washing etc. However,
the Eagle Strike sheet even provides battle damage repair patches for
certain area of the fabric covered fuselage & tail; adding these I thought
it also fitting to add a little subtle weathering which I limited to exhaust
& gun staining (using Xtracolour “exhaust”) with a thin black wash for
the landing gear & bays.
Graham Tarran
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