GROUP BUILD: 1:48 MONOGRAM Hurricane Mark IIC, Part 1

This model is part of a Group Build on iModeler.com called, "The Old Kit Challenge - Where It All Began." The concept of the build is to revive one of the countless older models out there which are passed over for newer kits - and which may never be built. These older kits were the catalyst for the hobby as we know it today, and this build honors those shared beginnings.
    The group rules are simple:
1. Kits first molded prior to 1981 - Re-issues are okay
2. Any subject matter and scale
3. After-market details to be avoided
4. After-market decals acceptable, since older kits may have unusable decals. (Modern pre-cut paint masks are the only other exception)
    The idea is to try and use what comes in the kit...as much as possible.

THE KIT

MONOGRAM HURRICANE MKII

1:48 Scale

    For this build I'm using a vintage Monogram Hurricane, a kit I snagged on the cheap from eBay. It's a relic of a bygone era, originating in the 1940's as a solid model, which inspired Monogram to do it as a plastic model kit. First released in 1964 (#PA90), it has been re-issued many times since.
    The kit in the box is a Mark II version, and the captivating feature of this kit is its sheer ambition: five distinct MkII versions are promised within a single box! This mirrors the adaptable wing of the real Mk II Hurricane - a wing engineered to accept a variety of armaments and roles. There is something appealing about that kind of versatility.

    But ambition comes at a cost: trying to be everything at once means there are compromises, and the result is that none of the options are rendered with complete fidelity.
    But hesitation disappears when you see the four 20mm cannon on the box art. Long, menacing, and unavoidable, any thought of other configurations goes out the window. This is no longer a flexible platform; it becomes purposeful and predatory in its intent.   
    This one is the first release boxing, and it is quite nice, with stout plastic and crisp, clean moldings in grey and black. Likewise, it was birthed in an age when "realistic working features" appealed to young boys - its intended market.
    So this one sports functional landing gear!

    But I got it cheap for a reason: Inside the box, a chaotic "mash-up" of parts rattles around loosely. Extra cannons, fuel tanks, rockets and more are scattered among the neccessary stock parts - BUT - the clear canopy is missing.
There are plenty of spares for the, "parts dungeon," but with NO canopy, and in its jumbled state, there's no collector value. It was a natural for this build.

The Cockpit
    Ahh, the cockpit. Everyone loves the cockpit, right? It is where the story begins, and like most kits, this one starts there… and reveals something rather, well... underwhelming.
    The cockpit is present — but only in a technical sense. It's not so much a working space as a suggestion of one. There is no seat; instead, you get a rear armor plate with headrest. The instrument panel is nothing more than a flat surface, with a decal that tries (without much conviction), to imitate detail.
    The cockpit “floor” is simply the top of the wing. There is no sidewall detail, no control yoke, BUT, to appease the action-minded lad of the 1960's, a puppet-like pilot figure is glued to the back plate. And that is the entirety of the scene.
    But it's not as bad as it sounds. Once sealed beneath the canopy, the cockpit fades to shadow, barely visible to the eye. And truthfully, I don't get excited about hyper-detailing cockpits in these smaller scales. So I won't fight what is missing; I will add a gunsight, a hint of busyness — and move on.

The Canopy
    The original canopy in this kit was a closed greenhouse that enclosed all that non-existent cockpit detail. But it was missing, and the model would look goofy without it. I needed a replacement. 
    Squadron offers a vac-u-formed version, but that violates the spirit of the group build...and it might invite the wrath of the Modeling Gods. I steeled myself against that possibility, for the sake of the project.
    Then, the Modeling Gods, themselves, offered solution rather than spite. After confessing my plight on the group build page, a fellow builder pulled an original canopy from the depths of his, "spares dungeon" and sent it by post. The gods are appeased—and my Monogram build will be pure in the end. 

    Thank you very much, Mr. Russell J. You are a prince among men. 

The Landing Gear
    The landing gear follow the cockpit’s lead. They are present… but almost defiant in their simplicity. 
    The wheels are the first nit-pick; they are the early 4-spoke pattern. They're serviceable, but wrong for the aircraft being represented. The later 5-spoke type is proper, one of those small details that quietly nags once noticed. 
    Then, there are the wheel wells, themselves… well, the absence of them. They are just empty, featureless voids. This might go unnoticed, but the aircraft stands tall on its gear, exposing just enough of those voids to invite curious glances…
    In its defense, we must remember that models like this were not intended as static display pieces. These landing gear were built to retract with a satisfying "snap", so small hands could zoom the aircraft around the room before guiding it back for a triumphant landing. Working features like retractable gear weren’t just gimmicks; they were a bit of magic at the heart of the experience.
    So I’ll meet it halfway. I’ll dress up the gear legs, add a proper mud and dirt shield within the bays, ignore the incorrect wheels and include the retraction feature — for the spirit of the group build, and for the simple joy of it.

Rivets and raised detail
   Today, we take for granted the intricate and engraved details of modern kits. But in 1964, the tooling technology for that didn't yet exist. Instead, mold-making was a manual process and manufacturers focused on adding dramatic surface details — bold, raised panel lines and rivets everywhere. And this one delivers abundantly - they're both well done, but unmistakably of the era. You can see that clearly in the pictures above.
    The rivets, in particular, are plentiful. That’s not entirely wrong, by the way...the real Hurricane Mk II had many rivets holding it together. But Monogram did what was normal back then: ALL riveted surfaces are the raised, mushroom-head type. Which is incorrect.
    On the real aircraft, the forward third of the wing had smooth, flush-rivets, to reduce drag. But that sleek wing section is missing here… it is pimpled with a zillion little bumps. So the molded rivets will be removed in that area and relevant panel lines scribed in.
    On the subject of panel lines, they're nicely defined on the model, but boldly raised. They will share the same fate as the errant rivets. 
That means shave them down, and re-scribe them properly. Fortunately, Hurricane II's only had paneled surfaces on the wing and engine area of the fuselage. The rest is fabric-covered plywood* and tubular structure, so there aren't a lot panel lines to rework. 
    Must I do all this? No. But some things you can’t leave alone. Done judiciously, this effort transforms the model — it "pops!" and looks a little less like a toy. Raised lines and rivets can't achieve that look.
    Besides, it’s the perfect excuse to pick up a new panel line shaver. I had one once - now mysteriously vanished. But it is one of those tools you reach for again and again, especially if you build older kits. I’m looking forward to having one back in hand.

* FUN FACT: Modelers sometimes weather their Hurricane's with scuffed bare metal on the cockpit sides, to suggest wear resulting from pilots entering and exiting. But that area is fabric-covered plywood... if paint wears off there, it wont reveal a metal undersurface.

Decals
    So now I had the kit, a canopy, and a plan for the build, but something was still off. The decals. They looked in good shape, but their usefullness was in question. The aircraft codes were endered in stark white, as was the empennage band. Both are not right. And overall, the decals just weren't hitting the right notes for me.

   
This build needed something else... and non-original decals are okay. So, I looked around for something different.

    Once more the gods smiled on this build with a bit of treasure: original Monogram decals from the Monogram, "Adversary Series," double-kit boxing #6082.

    These markings depict both a Hurricane MkII and Bf 109E on one sheet. And as luck would have it, the decals are for a famous Hurricane: Fl. Lt. Karel Kuttlewascher’s legendary Mk IIC, “Night Reaper.” 
    Even better, it was not the all-black version we usually see....this one wears Day Scheme camouflage.
    This particular scheme has it doubters, as pictures of it are in short supply. But it is different, and it has cachet. It was also prominently featured on the cover of the old Profile Pubications, Vol. 24... of which I have a copy. 

    Besides, if that scheme was good enough for Monogram, it was good enough for me. So, for five dollars, and a few bucks in mailing — the decals were mine....

    Next came some research. Fortunately, Kuttlewascher and his Hurricane, “Night Reaper” are about as celebrated as any, and information is plentiful. Kuttlewascher was a Czech ace who flew for the RAF, and he made a name by attacking Luftwaffe bombers at night over their own bases! Now that is cool!  
   Most sources fixate on 'Night Reaper's' all-black night fighter scheme, but later, as the need changed, it seems the paint job did, too. The plane retained its black underside, but it's "dark knight" image was dropped and it was returned to Day Scheme colors. And that’s the version I’m after.

    In the end, a decent Hurricane Mk. IIC can be made by smoothing the rivets where necessary, adding some prominent panel lines, then working with what is there. Finally, add a paint job and decals with a little pizazz - and we are wheels up and good to go!
    The work on the rivets and panel lines will start the actual build, since the cockpit only needs basic effort. That is coming next, so stay tuned for Part 2!

Happy Modeling!

David