A while ago, I decided to build two Arma Hobby Hurricanes in 1:72. It was going to be sort of a contrast build – one Mk.I and the other gun totting Mk.IIc, one in desert camo , the other in green camo, one in desert setting and the other in winter setting. Below is the story of the two builds which were going side by side until the painting stage.

Arma first released Mk.I kit and later Mk.II. I think this is the first time I’ve seen a manufacturer improving the kit between the two subversions – there was nothing wrong with Mk.I to start with but Mk.II received a number of finer details like added positive rivets in the wheel wells, more pronounced fastener detail and further refinements in the cockpit. Mk.IIc served in Lybia so the weathering of the wheel wells is dustier looking.

Finnish Hurricanes had additional armor plating added to the seat and headrest which I recreated using sheet styrene.

The wings received a full riveting.

I added Kitsworld 3d printed harnesses to both seats, though I was not very impressed by the quality of them – quite grainy print and an annoying white stripe by the side, that I tried to hide away with washes.

I used a Yahu instrument panel on Mk.I but to be honest, when I saw how good looks the kit instrument panel with a couple of layered instrument decals, I wouldn’t recommend an aftermarket replacement. And even more so, because the IP sits pretty deep in the cockpit and not much of it will be seen even with open canopy.

The fuselage halves were joined together and appropriately riveted. You can see how little of the cockpit and especially instrument panel will be visible.

Fuselages were attached to the wings. Some slight sanding of the mating surfaces was needed, but just a few swipes and wings clicked on without a seam. Having them primed now with Mr.Surfacer/MLT combo, they are ready for the paintjobs!

Due to a business trip to Luxembourg, this is a last update on the project for a week or so. Mk.IIc was painted in the RAF desert camo using Mr.Paint colours – Azure Blue, Mid Stone and Dark Earth.

I am back! Decals were applied and they give quite a character to this desert scheme! Some silvering appeared around the serial code, but I think I’ll manage to deal with it with weathering process. Not bad for 20 odd year old decals from LiftHere!

Working on weathering the Middle Stone part of the camouflage using Abteilung oil paints only. Experimenting a bit different approaches to the classic panel line washes etc. and I think the results are way more convincing. The additional riveting I did earlier during the build, helps define the surface even more convincingly.

I’ve pushed myself this past week and managed to mostly finish the upper weathering by weathering the Dark Earth, adding speckling, paint chipping, scruff marks and exhaust stains as well as paint fade to the markings.

Finnish Hurricane also received its basic camouflage.

There’s just a few markings besides the roundels on this aircraft and Arma decals behaved nicely.

After applying the decals, I applied the VMS satin varnish and started with Oil Paint Rendering (OPR). The effect is rather subtle but that won’t be the case when the model is finished… Following this, I will add the chipping effects, paint scratching and even more weathering.

More paint distressing, scratches and chipping added… Just before the finish line with the Finn!