Inspired by KitMaker member Dirkpitt289's build 1/72 Daimler-Benz Spitfire EN830 here on AeroScale I intend to build a Hawker Hurricane diorama.
My idea is to convert Revell's 1/32 Hurricane Mk.I into a Mk.IIa/b and paint it in two different paint schemes, one on each side of the fuselage. Russian on the right side and Finnish on the left. Although there will be two different paint schemes on the plane, it will be one and same plane, Z2585.
Research
Z2585, a Hurricane Mk.IIa, was originally used by 316 sqn, RAF (Polish). According to the Finnish researcher Pentti Manninen it was transferred to the Russians as past of the lend lease in early 1942, becoming 'White 42'.
White 42 was forced to land behind enemy lines in February 1942 after running out of fuel. The Finnish Air Force captured the plane at the crash site at the lake Tuoppajärvi (Topozero), a lake located between the White Sea and the current Finnish border in Karelia.
The recovered war booty aircraft was refurbished and put into flying condition becoming HC-465 in the Finnish Air Force. HC-465 used the fuselage from the Mk.IIa Z2585, but it's wings was from another war booty Hurricane Mk.IIb.
Parts
As mentioned in the Topic Title the kit I plan to use is Revell's 1/32 Mk.I. Some work needs to be put into the kit as it is an old kit (originally made in 1971) that has raised panel lines and loads of raised rivets. It also comes with Mk.IIc wings with the 20 mm canons.
Grey Matter Figures has made a very nice cockpit for this kit. Trying to keep it in a slimmer budget I have only bought their seat and control stick though. I intend to use the kit parts and perhaps scratch building some details instead. I also plan to use the kit decals for the instruments as they look pretty good. Maybe I'll drill out the holes and put a clear sheet in between to create some depth, we'll see. Seatbelts from Eduard will be added together with a Gunsight from Quickboost.
The fuselage will be left as it it comes in the kit though I will try to re-scribe the panel lines. While doing this I will try to keep the rivets, only sanding them down a bit
For prop and spinner I will use Grey Matter Figures resin parts. Same for the exhausts.On the wings I will remove the 20mm cannons and try to re-scribe the panel lines, once again without destroying the rivets. For the HC-465 side of the plane I will add two .303s from Air Master Series. Landing gear hatches and wheels will be GMF parts.
When it comes to decals the plan is to use Techmod FAF decals for the swastikas and serial. On the Russian side of the plane I will use the kit decals except for the over painted areas. CAM Decals Russian stars will added. The 42 number I will try to Air Brush onto the plane.
Diorama
I will place the plane into a winter diorama. At the moment the plan is to split the diorama halves by a barb wire fence and placing at least one figure into it. It will not be a crash site diorama as for the pictures of 'White 42'. The plane will be on it's wheels.
The main part of the research done for this project so far is done by using Kari Stenman and Kalevi Keskinens excellent book series Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia. I can really recommend them to modellers interested in Finnish Air Force history.
Please give me some comments, hints and tips along the way, I'll need it!
