1:72 Hawker Hurricane Mk I

Decals 1:72 Hawker Hurricane Mk I from Techmod

A set of waterslide decals in 1:72 scale for a model of the Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighter, part number 72013. The motifs are printed on a sheet, they are activated with water and slide from the paper backing onto the varnished model. The maker is the Polish brand Techmod, which specializes in decals for aircraft models and prints them with a thin carrier film. It is not a kit and not a finished model.

The real subject

The Hurricane was the first British fighter with an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing gear and eight machine guns in the wings. Its fuselage still had a tube frame with a fabric covering at the rear, which made it an aircraft easy to repair: a shot-up panel could be changed overnight. In the Battle of Britain more Hurricanes were in action than Spitfires, and they destroyed more German aircraft than any other British type. Early machines had a two-blade wooden propeller, later ones a three-blade propeller with variable pitch. Czechoslovak pilots also flew them in Royal Air Force service.

Application tips

A decal holds best on a smooth, glossy varnished surface; on a matte or roughened base a visible rim stays around the motif. Trim each motif as closely as possible, leave it 20 to 30 seconds in lukewarm water and then slide it from the paper onto a spot wetted with water. Press the air and the excess water out from the center toward the edges. On doubly curved surfaces and over engraved lines a decal setting solution helps. Overspray the finished markings with a protective varnish in the degree of gloss that the rest of the model has.

Who the set is for

• modelers who build the Hurricane in 1:72 scale
• those interested in the Battle of Britain and the early war years
• builders for whom the markings from the kit are not enough
• collectors of aircraft decals in small scale

It is an accessory for the model, not a kit. The base kit, paints and varnish are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.