Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
E-Z Snap Together Model

Pegasus Hobbies, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Pegasus Hobbies has released a number of "E-Z Snap" kits over the last few years.

One of their recent releases is a 1/48 scale Hawker Hurricane Mk.I. The kit represents a late production Mk.I with the metal wing and three-bladed de Havilland propeller.

Pegaus Hobbies' Hurricane Mk.I comprises just 25 parts in a caramel coloured plastic, with one more part in clear and a single marking option supplied on both waterslide decals and optional self-adhesive PVC stickers.

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Thumbnail panels:

The plastic parts are well moulded with no flash or ejector pin marks in obvious positions. There is a fine orange peel texture on the surface of the large parts, so light sanding with 1,000 grit paper will be advisable before assembly.

Surface texture is very nice indeed. The Hurricane's characteristic fabric rear fuselage and tail surfaces are consistent and more restrained than the more expensive Hasegawa kit. This is supplemented with crisply recessed panel lines on the forward fuselage and wings.

Cockpit detail is adequate for a kit of this type, with deep detail moulded to the inside of the fuselage sidewalls, an instrument panel, and a seat with footrails moulded as one piece. This should all look quite busy when fitted and painted.

However, a gunsight is not supplied, and the one-piece canopy will further restrict the view of the front office.

Wheel wells are boxed in. The main undercarriage legs are moulded with the covers in one piece, with the wheels and retraction struts supplied separately. Alternate (shallower) parts are offered for an optional retracted undercarriage - a nice touch.

The antenna mast, rudder post and tail wheel are all moulded directly to the port fuselage half, so care will be required when handling the model during assembly. The rudder post and rear navigation light are a bit chunky, so it miht be advisable to cut these off cleanly and replace them with more petite items closer to the end of construction.

The main parts are fitted with large locating pins, so glue will not be required. Even so, I reckon a little liquid cement would not go astray!

Markings for a single Hurricane are supplied, but two marking methods are offered. The first is a conventional waterslide decal sheet, which is well printed, thin and in register.

The second is a sheet of self-adhesive, peel-off vinyl stickers.

The red and blue of the national markings look a little bright for the wartime colours in both cases.

It is easy for we "real" modellers to be a bit snobbish about snap together kits, but a number of recent releases are more than worthy of a second look.

Pegasus Hobbies' 1/48 scale Hurricane Mk.I falls into this category. Yes, it will be ideal for the absolute beginner, but its sound outline and consistent surface detail also makes it an ideal candidtate for further detailing as a "serious" modelling project. It will be much easier to build than the multi-insert Hasegawa kit, while the detail and surface texture is a great improvement over the 1/48 scale Airfix offering from the 1970s.

It is inexpensive too.

Whether you have the hankering for a quick build, or you are a Hurricane fan looking for a detailing project, Pegasus Hobbies' 1/48 scale Hawker Hurricane Mk.I should be on your shopping list.

Text and Images Copyright © 2009 by Brett Green
Page Created 17 November, 2009
Last updated 18 November, 2009

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