Airfix 1/72 Hawker Hunter FGA9

AIRFIX 1:72 Hawker Hunter FGA Mk.9
'In The Box Review'

Reviewer: Myself (braithy@bigpond.com)

Kit: 02073 - Hawker Hunter FGA9

Aircraft: The Hunter is a famous jet aircraft of UK design - one of the most successful ever from that country. It developed from the 1948 prototype designated P.1067 as a single seat, single engined, swept wing fighter and was produced in quite large numbers early into the fifties. At one stage the prototype held the absolute speed record of 1164 km/h. After massive defence cuts were initiated in the mid to late fifties, a number of surplus Hunters became apparent. While many were destined for the scrap-heap some F.Mk 6 models could be upgraded and converted to a Ground Attack role to replace the ageing Venoms in RAF service. Thus was born the FGA Mk.9 variant specifically converted for this role. Most remained in service until early to mid 1970's when they were replaced by Phantoms and Harriers.

Parts: Airfix have a reputation for producing cheap kits of good quality and one of the areas they like to save costs in is wrapping the parts in cellophane or plastic bags! Quite renowned for this with most of their kits and this is no exception. There are seven small sprues of 47 medium grey parts placed in the box with one-piece canopy. For once all the parts remained attached to the sprue when I opened the box!
There is some evidence of flash, small amounts that require a fairly quick trim before proceeding.
Parts are a bit soft and would easily warp if placed in tempting conditions (eg: heat etc)
Another observation, some of the sprue pins are a bit thick so will require nippers to ensure a clean detachment of parts from the sprue.

Instructions: An 8 page A4 sized booklet that provides a brief history on the front, 10 easy to follow assembly views and a four view diagram for each of the versions the kit produces showing markings, decal placement and colour scheme. Paint colours are noted from the Humbrol range of paint. The instructions provide paint numbers for individual parts but as is the norm these days (in trying to have airfix buyers also purchase Humbrol paints) only the Humbrol Numbers are listed. If you use any other paint brand you are best advised to have a conversion table handy (one is on this site). The assembly steps are very easy to follow and keep you informed of some option decisions depending on the version you are building, and also other things like the noseweight. However, the exact positioning of parts is a little vague in areas. Overall rating - Good.

Versions: Airfix have provided the kit with the ability to replicate two examples - both RAF. A No.20 Sqdn based at Tengah, 1962 in upper Dark Green and Dark Grey camouflage with aluminium undersides, and the other in the same camo scheme of No.79 (Shadow) Sqdn, No 229 Operational Conversion Unit, Chivenor, 1972.

Decals: They look to be quite good, nice register with reasonable carrier film and appear to be thin for a good conformity when applied. They also appear to have overcome the two most common problems with Airfix decals which are 'bleed through effects' and 'off-centred' red dots in the main roundels. Those red dots are actually affixed onto the blue/white roundel separately by yourself for better effect. The only concerns are very fine little scratchlike imperfections. A fair bit of stencilling is also supplied.

Accuracy: Measures up to scale quite well and contains all the lines unique to the Hunter. There aren't any perceivable problems before the build up other than a slightly incorrectly shaped fin. NB: Further observations supplied by a fellow modeller, see Other Comments section below as it appears this kit is not all it is cracked up to be.

Detail: Panel lines are all raised and are scribed quite well. Rivet detail is also fine and not too excessive. Undernose gun troughs are molded but shallow. Cockpit detail is as usual Airfix standard - sparse! All you get is a seat, base (which doubles up as nose wheel bay interior), pilot figure and a stick. There's no instrument panel, you'll just have to use the dashboard on the fuselage for this. Wheel wells are devoid of any detail whatsoever. Aftermarket detailing sets are a must if you want anything worthwhile, or intend to rig an open cockpit.

Options: The Canopy is one-piece so the kit only allows provision for closed cockpit. Gear doors seem to fit well to allow wheels up. A pilot figure is provided. Rudder and main wing flaps are separate so are thus positionable. The ventral speed brake is a separate piece but there is no provision for it to be extended so a little improvisation is required if you wish it open, such as adding in the operating jack. Two pylons for stores are provided under each wing, you get a choice of a pair of medium drop tanks, large drop tanks and rocket pods to attach thereto.

Impressions: About all you can say is that this appears to be a typical 80's era Airfix kit of a good type. There doesn't look to be any hidden surprises and a quick test fit of a few of my pieces revealed that this was going to be a straightforward kit to build. I have recently built a Saab Draken (refer to the review on this site) and I believe that this kit will fit pretty well the same mold - so to speak. Lines of the Hunter are captured very well, I think the intake could be better as it has a rear wall and is quite shallow, but it should suffice. Parts breakdown is pretty straightforward and logical. Fuselage halves are split vertically and include the tailfin, nose and wing intakes already in the mold. Wings are split into four pieces, upper and lower pairs and the rest of the pieces are just undercarriage, stores, cockpit assembly and external garnishments (aerials, flaps, brake etc).

Other Comments: After posting this Inbox review I received some fairly negative feedback - both at the kit and my review - by a fellow modeller who says that he has spent long hours getting this kit to look right. He argues that the Hunter's airbrake does not show a jack externally and supplied a rearview picture of a Hunter supporting this. As I recall, the Hunter had specific problems in finding a suitable airbrake and some FGA.9 Hunters were fitted with a jack to the airbrake (I have pictures clearly showing this). My suggestion would be to check your references carefully when deciding whether to opt for a jack or not. He also provided the following information as contentious points in terms of this kit's accuracy:- Location of the wheel wells, the wings are set too far back, the canopy is too long, the fuselage is too short, the dogteeth are perpendicular to the leading edge instead of being aligned straight fore/aft, the wingtips are incorrectly shaped, the nose is incorrectly shaped and requires putty on the upper surface to contour it, the tail cone is not tapered enough and the undercarriage fairings are the wrong shape.

This sort of accuracy is very hard to detect 'in the box' but I would encourage you to keep these points in mind if/when modelling this kit. He summarised his comments stating that he believes it's more or less an update of the aged 60's Airfix F.6a kit. If this is true then the points raised regarding the accuracy should be well heeded.

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