1/72 Hurricane Mk.IA - Dywizjon 303

The Hawker Hurricane Mk.IA was the backbone of British fighter defence in 1940, and it was this type that formed the armament of 303 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. The Mk.IA designation distinguished the machines fitted with a three-bladed variable pitch propeller (de Havilland or Rotol) from the earliest production units with a Watts fixed wooden twin-bladed propeller - a change that greatly improved take-off performance and performance at altitude. Armament remained unchanged: eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns mounted in the wings, powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III engine of approximately 1,030 hp.

Squadron 303 "Kościuszkowski" was named after Tadeusz Kościuszko and formed at RAF Northolt on 2 August 1940. The squadron's pilots were Polish veterans with combat experience from the defence of Poland in 1939 and from fighting over France - they thus entered the Battle of Britain as some of the most experienced pilots in all of British skies. Although they only joined the fighting in mid-August, they are credited with 126 confirmed kills in just 42 days of active service, making them the most successful squadron of the entire battle. Among the most notable aces were Witold Urbanowicz, Jan Zumbach and Mirosław Ferić. The machines bore the squadron's code designation "RF" and standard RAF camouflage: dark green and dark earth on the upper surfaces, light blue or light grey on the underside.

The 1:72 scale Hobby 2000 kit features a model of this historically exceptional aircraft with decals for specific 303 Squadron machines and pilots. The 1:72 scale is one of the most widely used for WWII single-engine fighters - the model is detailed enough for display, yet space-saving. The paint scheme follows the standard 1940 RAF paint scheme with any highlighting of paneling, operational soiling and wear appropriate to intensive combat service. The package does not include paint or adhesives required for assembly.