The
Airfix 1/24 Hurricane Mk1 plastic aircraft model accurately recreates the real like aircraft used by the Royal Air Force throughout World War II.
Operational on all fronts during the Second World War, the Hawker Hurricane came to be regarded as one of the most rugged and reliable fighter and ground-attack aircraft in RAF service, but undoubtedly it was its defensive role during the Battle of Britain in 1940 that forged its distinct niche in aviation history. Designed by Sydney Camm to Air Ministry Spec.
F.36/34 for a new monoplane fighter for the RAF, the Hurricane prototype powered by a Rolls-Royce P.V. 12 engine, later named Merlin, made its first flight on November 6th 1935, in the hands of test pilot George Bulman. Handling trials at Martlesham Heath followed and resulted in a production order of 600 aircraft, the first of these entering service with 11 Sqn. at Northolt in December 1937.
The original fabric-covered wings gave way to the metal stressed-skin type in 1939, the Merlin III replacing the earlier Merlin II and the fixed-pitch two blade Watts propeller being changed to the two-pitch D.H. type and later still to the Rotol constant speed. At the outbreak of war on September 3rd 1939, the RAF possessed 19 Hurricane squadrons and the type saw action in France and Norway.
During the Battle of Britain between July 10th and October 31st 1949, the average strength of Fighter Command was 1,326 Hurricanes compared with 957 Spitfires and it was on August 17th that a Hurricane pilot, Flt. Lt. J.B. Nicholson, gained Fighter Command's only V.V. of the war when he shot down an Me11Q from his blazing aircraft. The two Hurricanes for which markings are provided in this kit are typical of the period during the Battle and were both flown by distinguished pilots. The first, P2798 coded LK-A was the personal aircraft of Flt. Lt. (later Wg. Cdr) I.R. Gleed D.F.C. of 87 Sqn. based at Exeter. Allocated P2798 on May 18th 1940, in France, Gleed scored many of his 15 victories in it. He made his last flight in the aircraft on June 26th 1941.
The other Hurricane VY-Q P3854 was operated by 85 Sqn. and flown by Sqn. Ldr. Peter Townsend who is credited with six victories during the period. The Hurricane Mk.1 was powered by a 12-cyliner, 1,030 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin III engine giving a maximum speed of 324 m.p.h. at 15,650ft. and a range of 505 miles.
Armament: Eight .303" Browning machine guns in wings. Span 40ft, length 31ft 4in. Humbrol Products gratefully acknowledge the assistance given in the production of this kit to Hawker Siddeley Aviation and Francis K. Mason Esq.
Manufacturer:
Airfix Model:
14002 Hurricane Mk1 Scale: 1/24
