The Hurricane in Finnish service - Airfix 1:72nd

The Hurricane had a surprisingly brief career in the Finnish air arm. Twelve machines were purchased at the end of the Winter War early in 1940 from RAF stocks although two failed to arrive in Finland. The ten that did arrive in Finland touched down after the Finnish defeat in mid-March. By the time of Barbarossa the Hurricanes - in service with LLv 30 - were deployed to defend south-east Finland and first saw combat on July 2, 1941, shooting down two Polikarpov Chaikas. A DB-3 bomber was downed the next day followed by two more Soviet types the day after that. In both instances the Hurricanes had to break off combat after engine problems and starved of spares the Hurricanes were subsequently grounded for long periods. Even items such as spark plugs had to be retrieved from shot-down Soviet Hurricanes. Indeed the Soviets had specifically asked Britain not to supply the Finns- ultimately Britain declared war on Finland towards the end of the year. During 1942 the Hurricanes flew with LeLv 26 based in Helsinki-Malmi and were primarily used to prepare pilots to fly the Fiat G.50.

My model is another build of the new-tool Airfix Mk I, decals from Xtradecal representing Hurricane HC-451.

Below; 'HC 452' is the machine in the FAF museum. 'HC 465' was a Mk II delivered duing 1943 and owner Philip Lawton who lives in Finland had his restored example (see below) painted up in the scheme it would have worn during the war.

The first two images below are original war-time shots from the Finnish SA-KUVA archive

 During 2014 a Canadian-built Hurricane II was restored and repainted in temporary Finnish Air Force livery as HC-465, an aircraft originally captured from the Soviets after putting down on a frozen lake after running short of fuel during February 1942. It was the only Mk II that the Finns flew. HC-465 flew the last mission by a Finnish Hurricane on May 31, 1944. The restored Hurricane was registered G-CBOE in the UK. Owner Philip Lawton lived in Finland and displayed the aircraft there. The aircraft returned to the UK after a display season in Finland where there was great interest in the type..

I have to say that I think the Airfix new-tool Mk I looks less like a Hurricane than ever when not in RAF markings. There is something in the shape of this kit that does not quite look 'right' - some have suggested the height of the canopy is over done and that translates into a 'shortened' fuselage. The only view that looks more or less correct is that seen from above as below. However the details are nice - cockpit, undercarriage, wheel wells, exhausts - and this is a big improvement on the 'old-tool' of course. I have still to build my Arma Hobby kit. Perhaps soon.

new Fly Hurricane IIa in 72nd scale

New addition to the stash via Heeprutt ebay seller today. Quite into Hurricanes at the moment so will probably make a quick start. A view of the box contents, which feature the Hasegawa kit parts in the bag, a new decal sheet, resin propeller, wheels (2 x sets, one with post war block tread) and pilots seat plus a paint mask for the canopy.... not bad for £15. Box top artwork - a Malta Hurricane from the Night fighter unit - may be inaccurate in the 'desert' scheme, although the desert camo over Night looks pretty neat.

A note on Malta Hurricanes via Tony O'Toole

The Hurricane was operational during 1940-41 as the main RAF fighter across the British Empire`s oversea`s war zones,...... from Malta, N.Africa, Greece, Russia, Burma, Singapore , Java etc and the delivery scheme was Dark Earth and Dark Green,.. later with Sky or Sky Blue undersides. Although up to 1941 black and white halved undersides were specified for overseas based fighters. Those in N.Africa began to receive Mid Stone over the Dark Green areas after delivery at Egyptian MU`s during 1941 but many continued until the end of the year in the original delivery scheme until it became more common in 1942 when adequate numbers were arriving. It was not until very late 1942 and more likely 1943 that the desert scheme was applied on the production line in the UK. So those arriving in Malta from the UK also wore DE/DG uppers. However in 1940 the RAE in the UK was experimenting with a new desert scheme incorporating a new colour which eventually became Middle Stone. At least two aircraft were delivered by carrier to Malta in this scheme,....... with black and white halved undersides which were still specified for overseas`s based fighters into 1941.

Airfix new-tool Hurricane Mk 1 72nd scale VY*G, 85 Sqd

Putting the finishing touches to another small scale Airfix Hurricane Mk I, this time the 85 Sqd boxing. What a nice kit and great decals. Recommended references for these early Hurricanes are the two monographs recently produced by Lela Presse in their 'Air Battles' series entitled 'Hurricanes on the Continent'..

Note the use of the use of the Squadron "hexagon" marking on the fin, even though the fin flash is now in use and the gas patch ouboard of the wing roundel usually applied closer to the cockpit. Of interest as well is the light-toned spinner..

Albert Lewis's Hurricane, also 85 Sqdn, showing the outboard gas patch on both wings, but no sign of a hexagon on this or other pics from the series. The fin had the broad red stripe

More on 85 Sqd Hurricanes here

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234907653-hurricane-i-vy-cg-of-85-sqn-lille-seclin-around-apr-1940/page-2

new-tool Airfix Hurricane Mk. I in 1:72nd build review (2) - finished

...finished the first of my Airfix new-tool Hurricane Mk. 1 fighters which I started back in July here in the colours of the first squadron to receive the type, No. 111. 'Venturi' tube is missing from underneath the port cockpit sill. Neat kit, once you get past the disappointing wing fit, nicely detailed although I've added the cowl bead sight and pilot's foot step from fuse wire. Finished in Humbrols enamels, although my dark green (30) came out a in a very strange shade requiring a bit of a re-spray.

new-tool Airfix Hurricane Mk. I in 1:72nd build review (1)

inspired by the arrival of the latest Batailles Aeriennes devoted to the Hurricane in France Sept 39- May 40 I picked up and made a start on the new-tool 'rag-wing' Hurricane. After a few days fettling and sanding I'm just about to apply paint - for a lovely new tool, I found the fit was disappointingly poor, especially the two wing halves. Cockpit though is fantastic for the scale, although the control column is perhaps slightly too big..the Hawker pedal boards and 'see-through' cockpit floor are nicely rendered though.

The Batailles Aeriennes monograph covers the Belgian Hurricanes, H-22 being featured on the Airfix decal sheet..lots of optional detail parts in the box including both types of prop, lower fuselage strake, rudders etc

I've pinched the belts from the Valiant Wings update set - this is designed for the old tool Airfix Hurricane. About the only other part that could be used on this kit is the pilot's foot step...