Euro Decals 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIB Collection
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Overview
The Hawker Hurricane IIb has gained popularity recently with the recent release of new kits by Arma, so this recent release from Euro Decals is dropping at the right time. The sheet features eight Hurricanes, including one from the South African Air Force and one from a Greek RAF squadron. The options span all the popular camouflage schemes worn by the later mark Hurricanes, including desert, night fighters, and standard day fighters.
The Decals
The decal sheet contains all the essential individual decals for each scheme, including the unique roundels found on some of the schemes. The options cover the following aircraft:
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, BD761, SW-F, 253 (Hyderbad State) Squadron, RAF, based at RAF Hilbastow, August 1942, camouflaged in Ocean Grey & Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, BH125, U, 3 PRU, RAF, based in Egypt, early 1942, camouflaged in overall Bosun Blue with thin yellow outlines around the national markings.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, BG737, Malta Night Fighting Unit, RAF, based at Ta’ Qali, Malta, July 1941, camouflaged in overall Night.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, BE171, YB-B, flown by Sargeant J. F. Barrick, 17 Squadron, RAF, based in Burma, February 1942, camouflaged in Dark Green and Middle Stone over Azure Blue.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, BE421, XP-G, 174 (Mauritius) Squadron, RAF, based at RAF Manston, May 1942, camouflaged in Ocean Grey & Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, Z3971, SW-S, 253 (Hyderbad State) Squadron, RAF, based at RAF Hilbastow, late 1941, camouflaged in overall Night.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, BG971, AX-V, flown by Major Gerald le Mesurier, 1 Squadron, SAAF, based at LG 92, Egypt, 3 July 1942, camouflaged in Dark Earth and Middle Stone over Azure Blue.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb, BD930, FG-E, 335 (Greek) Squadron, RAF, based at LG 37, El Alamein, November 1942, camouflaged in Dark Earth and Middle Stone over Light Mediterranean Blue.
The decals are very well printed with excellent register and color density. The registration is further enhanced by having the center dots of the roundels of the three-and four-color roundels separate. Having used Euro Decals in the past, these will be easy to apply.
Conclusion
This sheet provides some great schemes for the new Arma Hurricane Mk IIb, and there are at least three options on this sheet that I can see myself building. My thanks to Fantasy Printshop for the review sample. Visit their website for this and other great decal releases.