Lifelike Decals

1/72 Hawker Hurricane Part 1 decal sheet

Product # 72-025

Product Article by Floyd S. Werner, Jr. on Mar 15 2013

 

 

Looking for something different for your small scale Hurricane? Well  Lifelike Decals has just what you need in their latest offering. Based on the Airfix or Hasegawa Mk I or the Academy, Airfix, Hasegawa or Revell Mk II, these decals are anything but ‘normal’ Hurricane livery.

The instructions are on two single sided A4 pages printed in full color. One page contains the cover and the stencil locations. The other contains the history of each machine and the plan views. The history is really neat. Often times a decal manufacturer will present you with decals and say they are the best. Well you don’t know the references that were used to develop them or the history behind the pilot or aircraft. Well Lifelike does that for you. Not only do they provide the history of both they also tell you where they drew their conclusions from. This is what sets Lifelike apart from the rest of the decal makers.

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The decals themselves are on two sheets. The decals are printed by Cartograf so you know they are the best in the world. The first sheet is 4” x 5 ˝” and includes everything but the nose art. The second, smaller, sheet features the individual nose art designs and white background for them. Both sheets are in perfect register and suitably thin. Because they are printed by Cartograf, you know they will react well with Microsol and Solvaset. 

OK admittedly the first aircraft is a ‘plain jane’ Hurricane but it has really cool markings. A Hurricane Mk. I flown by F/L Arthur Clowes of No. 1 Squadron. This famous aircraft has the yellow jacket.on the nose with a heavily chipped panel below the cockpit. Bottom line it is still a cool looking aircraft. Painted in Dark Green/ Dark Earth over Sky this aircraft is 

The second aircraft is a night fighting Mk II. Painted in overall flat black this aircraft features nose art which for a night fighter is very unique. Flown by S/L James MacLachian of No. 1 Squadron. The Grey codes add a lot to this aircraft.

The third and fourth aircraft are actually the same aircraft, a Mk. II, just from different time frames. The first rendition is “The Last of The Many”. It was bought by Hawker Aircraft Company after the war where it was de-armed and raced. The first rendition is from the 1949 and 1950 air races marked as “41” and the second as “99” is from the 1951 National Air Races. The best thing about this aircraft is the Royal Blue color scheme with gold highlights. Beautiful markings for a brutish looking airplane.

I really enjoy the colorful options that Lifelike provides. The history is an added bonus. The quality of the decals and the usefulness of the instructions makes this, and all of Lifelike Decals, an exceptional value.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Lifelike for the review copy. You can get your copy directly from them at
http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~lifelike/ . Let them know you heard about it here.

Floyd S. Werner, Jr. IPMS # 26266

      

Photos and text © by Floyd S. Werner, Jr. IPMS # 26266