Airfix Hawker Hurricane I - Part I

Considering the beautiful new tooling of Airfix's Hurricane II I've recently acquired, I was deeply disappointed when I opened the box containing the earlier variant of this venerable airplane. Hiding in its flashy red box was a really "old dog" from sixties or maybe even earlier. I admit that this initial letdown almost made me put the kit aside, after all why waste time on something this ancient when there are so many more attractive offerings.

Here's the thing though - amazingly, there seems to be no other models of Hurricane I in 1/72 on the market at this moment! Airfix plans to release one later this year, but currently their old release is all that a fan of Battle of Britain can get in this scale. With this knowledge in my mind, I decided to proceed... but my heart wasn't in it.

As pictures below clearly illustrate, the model is extremly basic. With the exception of a generic pilot seat, the cockpit lacks any detail, not even a steering stick. Instrument panel consists of plain plastic surface, integrated with the fuselage halves. "Luckily" the canopy is thick and sturdy, thus obliterating any view into the cockpit once in place.

Airplane body is represented in equally rudimentary manner. Fuselage halves fit together well, but there is no crispness or detail to speak off. Joint between wings and fuselage leaves large gaps that need some work. Undercarriage is perhaps the most disapointing part of this kit - wheel wells are completely missing, thus exposing the 'dirty underwear' of model components.

If you get the impression that this modell isn't receiving a lot of "love" from me, you're absolutely correct. This lack of enthusiasm shows in the results - the fact is that I am mostly going through the motions here.

Hurricane I from Airfix shows its age and needs a replacement... badly!

Perhaps the most positive part of this kit are the decals of Irish Airforce. 

This rather unusual option is what convinced me to proceed with the build. 

In general, the model fits together rather nicely. 

One exception is the joint between wing roots and the fuselage.

Underside of this model is really nasty! I should have tried to cover up this mess, 

but I couldn't convince myself to spend more time on this kit than absolutely necessary.

Apparently the Irish stuck with standard RAF camouflage scheme of this period. 

Dark sea grey on the top... 

and Ocean Grey for lower surfaces.

Gap between wing root and fuselage still visible. 

More filling and filing followed.