Arma Hobby 70061 1/72 Sea Hurricane Mk Ib Arma Hobby

Sea Hurricane Mk Ib, injected plastic model kit with 3D printed parts, 1/72 scale

Sea Hurricane Mk Ib aeroplane

At the start of World War II, the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm did not have a single modern fighter at its disposal. Given the urgent need, the decision was made to embark Hurricanes, solid and proven machines. The first land-based “Hurris” took off from the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious, which in the spring of 1940 transported No. 46 Squadron RAF to Norway, but at the time it was a one-off feat. Another attempt to navalise Hurricanes were the so-called CAM ships, i.e. merchant ships equipped with a catapult to launch a fighter in defence of an attacked convoy. After completing the task, the plane was supposed to return to shore or land on water and sink. These machines were designated Sea Hurricane Mk. Ia and entered action in the spring of 1941.

The first true naval fighters were the planes designated Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib. They were equipped properly for carrier borne operations: an arrestor hook, catapult spools, a radio with “Navy” frequencies and instruments reading in knots. They only lacked folding wings. All 340 Mk Ib Sea Hurricanes were converted from used “land” Mk.I Hurricanes. They entered action in July 1941. These planes took part in all the most important Royal Navy operations in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic and Mediterranean for over a year. Their greatest achievements occured during the escort of two very important and very different convoys: PQ-18 in the Arctic (17 kills), and Operation Pedestal to Malta (25 kills), in the summer and fall of 1942.

Kit includes:

• Arma Hobby Hurricane Mk.I injected plastic sprues
• 3D printed set with fuselage bottom, arrestor hook, exhausts (2 options), mirror, headrest, gun camera, oil collector ring, catapult spools and anti-glare exhaust shields.
• Decal with 5 marking options
• Painting masks for the canopy (kabuki paper)
• Correction panels for wing flaps (vinyl)

Marking options:

• Sea Hurricane IB, Z7153 “F”, No. 801 Naval Air Squadron, aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, Operation Pedestal, August 1942
• Sea Hurricane IB, V6695 “K”, No. 801 Naval Air Squadron, aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, Operation Pedestal, August 1942
• Sea Hurricane IB, AF953 “A”, No. 802 Naval Air Squadron, aircraft carrier HMS Avenger, summer 1942
• Sea Hurricane IB, V7506 “7T”, No. 885 Naval Air Squadron, aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, Operation Pedestal, August 1942
• Sea Hurricane IB, Z4849 “7G”, pilot: Sub/Lt Hugh Popham, No. 880 Naval Air Squadron, Operation Pedestal, aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable, August 1942