1/48 Academy Hunter

Gallery Article by Bill Clark

Here is Academy's Hawker Hunter - converted, with the aid of Aeroclub's conversion/detail set to a Mk 5.  Conversion includes the removal of the wing leading edge dog-leg, and the inclusion of the small - bore jet-pipe.

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The Mk 5 was powered by the Armstrong Whitworth Sapphire engine, as opposed to the Rolls Royce Avon.  It was virtually identical to the Mk 4.  The Hunter depicted is WP133/"L" of 34 Sqn, as she appeared in 1956 based on Cyprus for the Suez crisis - hence the stripes.  There has been some conjecture on these colours. Most eyewitness reports suggest a lighter colour than Yellow. Scale Aircraft Modelling had an article in 1986 where the theory was that this was due to a shortage of Yellow paint on Cyprus, so, whatever yellow they had was lightened - by adding white, or using Light Stone - as used by the Army on Cyprus.  I opted for the former.. using a 50:50 mix of yellow and white.