1/72 Academy Hawker Hurricane MkII C

Portuguese Air Force

by JGV

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Hi!

 

This time I share with you the venerable Hurricane "dressed" in "Portuguese garments".

 

Who am I to "babble" about this great machine so well described by much better qualified people to do so along our modeling community?

 

About its service in my country wonderful books have been written, so I'll just try to give you the big picture.

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HISTORY

 

Late thirties: In spite its undemocratic political status at the time, Portugal was considered of geopolitical importance by the allies in a global conflict situation. The country was an open door to the Atlantic, still had an important presence throughout Africa, and the Lages Air Base was pivotal on a logistical point of view for massive air operations in case of an all scale war.

 

At the same time, although politically closer to Franco's nationalistic Spain, since this country had been supported by Hitler's Germany during the Spanish Civil War, the Portuguese government was afraid of plans by those two countries to invade national territory, especially the African colonies.

So what became known as a "Cooperative" neutrality was negotiated with allied forces, namely its old friend the UK.

 

Among some very complicated diplomatic/intelligence issues, was the refurbishment of the country's Air Arm by then confined to the obsolete Gloster Gladiator II for Fighter/homeland-defense role.

 

The deal included supplying of the more modern British fighters Hurricane and Spitfire, but as war on Europe escalated, finally the Battle of Britain ravished British resources. Naturally, every airframe available was absorbed by the RAF delaying deliveries to Portugal.

 

The first Hurricanes (IIb's and IIc's) arrived only in 1943 serving well into the fifties.

Standing corrected if needed but I think they were the last operated in the world by the time the type was retired.

 

THE KIT

 

This kit has good detail, from my sources I believe it to be satisfyingly correct and construction was easy enough except for the wing to fuselage joint that left a pronounced step. In order to correct the problem I inserted some plasticard tabs in the wings at its roots thus leveling it a little bit. The rest was made by the usual filler/sanding mode resulting on a good and smooth fuselage.

 

The cockpit was painted Interior green and Black with a Tamiya smoke wash and silver dry-brushing for detail. I used wine-bottle metallic foil to create the seat belts. Unfortunately little can be seen with a closed cockpit but the canopy could not be used open without seriously risking breaking it.

 

The camouflage is the standard RAF day fighter scheme with yellow identification bands on the wing leading edges. The only differences are the green fuselage band and spinner that identified the aircraft squadron.

 

I used masking tape over Blu-tack to create the soft demarcation lines.

 

The usual wash and pastels were used to dirty it up a little and it was done!

 

Just one more note concerning the engine exhausts. They were painted with (393) Revell "car metallic", followed by a Tamiya smoke wash.

 

Afterwards for a more "burnt effect" I dry-brushed them with "clear blue" and "clear red".  Looks quite good although not very much perceptible in the photos.

 

And that's all for now.

 

Thanks again for reading it,

 

Best regards,

 

Jaime "JGV" Vinha

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Photos and text © by Jaime "JGV" Vinha