A Desert Storm

[NARSES2]

In early 1944 No 20 Squadron RAF and it's brand new Hurricane Mk V's were on their way to the SE Asian theatre of operations when,whilst re victualing at Basra, they found themeselves being hastily disembarked from their transports and told to prepare for immediate operations in this Persian Gulf theatre of operations.

Little did they know that this would be the start of a 4 year attachment to Gulf Air Forces (latter better known as 4TAF) that would finally see them approaching the gates of Vienna.

Of more immediate concern was the need to quickly re-camouflage their aircraft, which had been completed in the standard Far East scheme of dark green/dark earth/grey with the small SEAC style roundels. Whilst at their temporary airbase, the Basra FAA base, they found copious quantities of naval and coastal command colours but none really suitable for operations over the arid terrain of the hinterland. The aircraft's undersides were not a problem after quantities of Light Mediterranean Blue were found in an old store house. This however still left the topsides.

Eventually some enterprising erks managed to secure a deal at the local army stores where in exchange for the sergeants mess spirit stocks sufficient stores were obtained to repaint the squadrons aircraft. It is still not known if this exchange was official sanctioned or not but upon examining the units disciplinary records this author thinks they were not.

Anyway this is why 20 Sqd became the only RAF unit to have it's aircraft painted in old army "Caunter" scheme colours of Terracotta and Light Stone which, as it turned out, proved extremely effective at the altitudes the squadron operated at. To compound the difference all the aircraft seem to have been painted individually by their ground crews using brushes and an approximation to the approved pattern.The squadron's aircraft tended to operate in pairs with each 40mm gun variant accompanied by a "standard" 4 x 20mm gun aircraft and proved devastating against the Turkish armour which was mainly of Italian origin and poorly armoured.

To the model then. It's the AZ Hurricane IV boxing which includes the 4 bladed prop for the Mk V. I'd originally intended to fit exhausts from a Matchbox Spitfire XVI but one set has been surrendered to the carpet monster and has still not surfaced. Paints are by Lifecolor and White Ensign for the main scheme with the "usual" suspects providing the remaining colours used. Transfers are from the kit. It's a nice kit which I enjoyed. Not shake and bake certainly but enjoyable and a goes together well. Many thanks to Geoff (Thorvic) for the army colours suggestion 

Both this and my Spitfire 22 succumbed to the great kitchen renovation dust storm of 2012 and no matter what I do I can't remove the remaining detritus 

[JayBee]

Very nice, Chris. Those colours realy suit it.

[PR19_Kit]

Nice one Chris.  

At first you tend to think 'Ah, a different scheme on a IID Hurri' and then you think 'Er, maybe not.....'  

Did they build many Mk Vs with the 4 bladed prop in the RW?

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Interesting backstory & a good-looking model. Good to see a different take on the Hurricane.

[Captain Canada]

I'm still not convinced trading spirits for paint is a good deal, but the model looks good in those colours !

[NARSES2]

I'm still not convinced trading spirits for paint is a good deal, but the model looks good in those colours !

The unit's Sergent's obviously agreed as I think that's why they appear in disciplinary records 

Did they build many Mk Vs with the 4 bladed prop in the RW?

According to Putnam's 3 Mk V's were built Kit. However I can only assume they all had the 4 bladed prop

[Cobra]

Superb Job! Tell Me Why Does the Hurricane Look Good in Any Paint Scheme? You did a Top Notch Job,IMHO Dan