Revell 1/32 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc

By Michael Pattison

My latest model is a rendition of the last Hawker Hurricane ever built, PZ865, a Mk.IIc. It was completed on 27th July 1944 and to honour the occasion, was adorned with the inscription "The last of the Many" and was test flown by Capt. P.W.S. "George" Bulman, who flew the first prototype on November 6th, 1935. It seems it was retained by Hawkers and not handed over to the RAF, but I have read on one site that it was handed over but put into storage and struck off charge in March 1946. Either way, Hawkers bought it back from the Air Ministry and used it as a communications and test aircraft.

It moved to Dunsfold in 1950 and was given the civil registration of G-AMAU on 1st May 1950 where upon it was painted in royal blue with gold trim. It then flew in the Kings Cup air race on June 17th, 1950 and managed second place. On the day, it was flown by Grp. Capt. Peter Townsend who was no stranger to Hurricanes having become an ace on the type during the Battle of Britain. Notice here that the exhausts have been changed, possibly as the result of an engine change.

It later appeared in the 1952 film Angels One-Five once again in wartime camouflage as P-2619 US-B to represent an aircraft of 56 Squadron RAF but was later put back to its civilian colours of royal blue and gold. It appeared again in 1955 with different stripes.

During the fifties and into the sixties, the plane was used for communications work and was involved in the test programs as a chase plane on all the new Hawker types including the P-1127 VTOL prototype which was developed into the Hawker Kestrel which was the forerunner to the Harrier. It was also used in many guises in the filming of the 1969 film "The Battle of Britain". In one or two scenes, it appeared as OK-I to portray the personal aircraft of Sir Keith Park, AOC 11 Group. After this, it was parked until March 1972 when it was presented to the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and has since appeared at airshows in many different markings that represent Hurricane service in the RAF.

Revell have very thoughtfully provided the markings for this in their Sea Hurricane kit, which can be built as a land-based Mk.IIc as well.

If you want to read the build log, check out my thread in the Work in Progress forum.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable build and the kit is a good one. I may build another too, but that one will have guns.

Revell 1/32 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc

By Michael Pattison

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