Airfix 1/48 Hawker Hunter FGA9/FR10/GA11 (A09192) ~ In Box Review

[Ratch]

History:

The Hawker Hunter was developed in the late 1940s – early 1950s. On 7 September 1953 the modified first prototype broke the world air speed record reaching 727.63 mph. The single seat Hunter entered service with the R.A.F. in 1954. Further developments saw several variations fulfilling diverse operational requirements. Hunters were also sold to foreign air forces. The Hunter was withdrawn from R.A.F. service in the early 1990s, though the Lebanese Air Force continued with the Hunter until 2014, giving the design 60 years of service.

The box art recreates a famous incident on 5 April 1968, when Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock marked the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the R.A.F. by flying his Hunter through the arch of Tower Bridge. This unauthorised low flying stunt resulted in arrest for Pollock. He was later invalided out of the R.A.F. on medical grounds, thus avoiding a court martial.

Review:

The 1/48 Scale tooling originates from 2018, when it was released as an F.6. In 2020 it was re-issued with additional runners as an F.4. To this, additional parts have been included, giving a total of 142 parts. Dimensions for the model are 291mm x 214mm. The kit is manufactured in India. It is graded at Skill Level 2 with 3 Flying Hours on the box.

Detail quality look very nice to me (a Hunter ignoramus), but I know that an ex-Hunter mechanic, is less than impressed by the discrepancies of the panels. No pilot is provided and 20g must be added if the model is to be displayed grounded.

Frame A

Frame B

Frame C

Frames D & F

Frame E

Instructions are in a 20-page, A4 leaflet, illustrated over 71 stages, with a further 5 pages of main painting instruction and decal placements.

Paints advised are:

11 Metallic Silver

26 Matt Khaki

33 Matt Black

53 Metallic Gunmetal

56 Metallic Aluminium

69 Gloss Yellow

85 Satin Coal Black

89 Matt Middle Blue

123 Satin Extra Dark Sea Grey

130 Satin White

163 Satin Dark Green

164 Satin Dark Sea Grey

166 Satin Light Aircraft Grey

These are not included in the kit.

Airfix provides their usual reference material, in the form of schematics for the decal placements. Decals are by Cartograf, whose quality is beyond reproach.

Three schemes are provided:

Scheme A is for XF442, the FGA.9 flown by Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock, No. 1 Squadron, RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, England, 5 April 1968.

Scheme B depicts FR.10, XF459 of No. 4 Squadron, RAF Gütersloh, West Germany, 1961.

Scheme C is for GA.11 of the Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit, RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, England, 1976.