ACADEMY 1:48 HAWKER HUNTER F.6

Reviewer: Nick Hall  (dixhall@hotmail.com)

The Hawker Hunter's design can be traced back to the 50's when it was clear that a replacement for the Vampire and Meteor was needed.   The first prototype flew in July 1950.  The F.6 came into service in 1956 with a more powerful Avon engine and a revised wing leading edge to cure a high altitude nose-pitching-up problem.  Academy also make a 1/48 representation of the FGA.9 which is essentially the same as this kit except for weapon load and decals.

The Academy kits capture the unique lines of the Hunter quite well, but there are a number of problems associated with both kits (and since they are basically the same kit reboxed - the problems are commonplace).  Particularly the cockpit tub and ejector seat are too small, undercarriage legs are incorrectly positioned, wheels on all undercarriage are too small and the two-piece canopy does not fit properly.  Aeroclub and KMC have undertaken to release resin detailed cockpits which can be used for these kits and will go some way to helping with the cockpit problems.

Onto the F.6 kit which is the subject of this review.  The F.6 comes with a selection of appropriate stores comprising 100-Gal drop tanks, 1000-lb and 500-lb bombs, plus rocket pods.  There is a plethora of decalling to undertake and even includes the warning symbols on the pylons.  Two RAF aircraft examples are replicated, the distinctive black and gold tailfin checkerboard pattern from No. 63 Sqn (depicted on the box cover) and another from 65 Sqn.

The F.6 kit includes the ejector gun for the outboard wing pylons and this is wrong, because this was only found on the FGA.9.  You will therefore need to fill with holes on the upper wing surface.  The blast tubes on the cannon troughs is on only one of the aircraft  - the No.65 Sqn version has the tubes but the No.63 Sqn doesn't.  This will need to be corrected at the appropriate construction step.   The underview diagrams with colour scheme/decal callout of the examples in the kit clearly show which one has them and which doesn't once you know what to look for.   The flaps can be positioned as open if you desire but will require a bit of cleaning up to get rid of the ejector pin marks.

The kit also captures the intake area well and internal trunking, plus the internal splitter plates and compressor face.  On the other side of the coin, however, the air brake looks pretty crude (mind you it does look pretty crude on the real thing).  The wheel well detail has been done well and decal placement/colour callout has been given on a separate A4 sized sheet which is good.  Colour references are given in FS and BS number codes.

The kit was reasonably straight forward to put together (other than those parts pointed out above) and the panel lines are quite well defined.  The completed product is nice and looks everything like the real thing.  Despite its shortcomings I'd recommend this kit to intermediate modelmakers who want a nice representation of an F.6 Hunter.

Related Reviews: Academy 1/48 Hunter F.6 - another viewpoint  :  Academy 1/48 Hunter FGA.9
        Matchbox 1/72 Hunter T.Mk 7/F.Mk 58

Related In-the-box Reviews:  Airfix 1/72 Hunter FGA.9 

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