1/72 Airfix Hunter FGA9

Gallery Article by Carmel J Attard on Jan 18 2012

 

Hawker P1067

History
Regarded as one of the most attractive jet fighters, the Hawker Hunter gave a stalwart service throughout the many years and in many countries all over the world. Five marks of Hunter interceptor served with no less than 30 RAF Squadrons in the span of ten years besides two operational Combat Units and research and training establishments. It all started with issue of specificationF43/46, which called for a fighter powered by an axial jet in preference to a well-proven centrifugal powerplants as, used on Meteors and Vampires. Hawker’s chief designer produced design No P1067 that could be adopted to take the Rolls Royce AJ65 (Avon) or Metrovick F9 (Sapphire). Almost 2,000 Hunters of all types have been produced since P1067 Serial No WB188 flew on 20th July 1951 and in 1953 it established a world air speed record of 727.6 mph.

Painted in an overall duck egg green color scheme the prototype was transported to Boscombe Down airfield during June 1951 in preparation for the first flight piloted by Squadron Leader Neville Duke, Hawker’s chief test pilot. The Hawker WB188 performed perfectly during early flight test programme and less than 2 months later was streaking over the heads of the crowd at Farnborough at 700 mph. WB188 underwent changes during the course of time in service. It was re-engined with afterburning Avon RA7R redesignated as Hunter F3 having a pointed nose and a rounded windscreen. On 7th September 1953 Neville Duke established a speed of 767.6 mph and 12 days later a close circuit record of 709.2 mph. A year of company trials and was then transferred to Halton on instructional airframe with maintenance Command serial 7154M. It is now preserved at St.Athan in the UK.

 

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The kit: Airfix Hunter FGA9 with conversion parts from Pavla Models U72-78 kit
Scale: 1/72
Type: Pavla U72-78 is a resin conversion with vac canopies and a complete decal sheet for WB188

The Pavla upgrade set is intended for the Revell kit of the Hawker Hunter. I have equally well found it conforming to the Airfix Hunter kit which I had readily available among my stash. The Pavla upgrade comes in dark brown resin parts that consist of a detailed lower nose incorporating the wheel well; two different types of engine outlets; parts to make a complete tail unit with separate elevators and rudder; new main wing leading edges and wing tips; a new accurate nose cone and best of all a complete decal sheet of excellent quality. Two clear canopies also are part of the upgrade set. This is not a difficult conversion at all.

The main work carried out started with the wings and forward fuselage followed by the rear engine area. The wing halves were cemented together after lining the inside with a flat piece of thin plastic card to give a base for the filler area to fill holes provided for the under wing pylons which are discarded. The saw-tooth leading edges cut with a razor saw which were then reshaped to the correct aerofoil, filling any slight gaps that may show up by removal of the unwanted saw-tooth. The resin leading edge resin items were not required when using the Airfix kit. In the meantime the resin parts were trimmed from their runner. The cockpit area was then detailed to one’s satisfaction adding the seat pull handle and any detail paintwork. The fuselage is then joined together following the kit instructions. Nose cone and lower half of the Hunter kit were carefully sliced away with a razor saw and new resin parts fitted instead. During the process lead weight was also added to nose area. Kit wheel wells were detailed as there was lack of it in the kit and the gap that shows across the fuselage was blanked with plastic card. The area around the ammunition link collector was smoothened by filing. Gun ports and any sink marks spotted on the kit were filled up and smoothened. The slight over scale thickness at the trailing edges of main planes was scraped to a thinner edge. Airbrake fairing at lower rear fuselage filed down and the undercut area filled up with Plasto and shaped to conform rest of fuselage by a smooth flat file. Any slight disparity between the new resin nose cone and rest of forward fuselage was made good with a small amount of filler. Tail fin and rudder from the tail plane level upward was replaced with resin parts doing away with the rear bullet at root of tail planes. A new tail cone replaces the FG9 engine aft. This had a bullet shaped fairing, possibly housing a para-break at a different location, exactly above the outlet. One could use an alternative engine outlet for a later prototype modification if so desired. I reserved the spare tail cone for a planned future Hunter Mk4. Two accurate canopies come with the Pavla set, one being spare. I managed with one and retained the spare for a future Hunter kit, as they are very clear being vac form type.

Color and markings.
Wheel wells and legs were silver while the Hunter was given an overall coat of duck egg green (Humbrol Sky 90). Tail bumper and other detail was black. An overall coat of Klear was applied and the Pavla pack decals for WB188 were applied. Finally the kit was given an overall coat of semi gloss Model Master lacquer.

Conclusion.
Definitely recommended for all the Hunter fans as it makes into a real replica of the prototype P1067 in all respects. This also gives the correct impression of how clean the Hunter design was right from the beginning, bringing out the graceful appearance of the type.

Carmel J Attard

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Photos and text © by Carmel J Attard