Build Guide · Aftermarket
Best aftermarket parts for the Airfix 1:48 Hurricane
The Airfix A05127A 1:48 Hurricane is the recommended starting kit for most builders — but there are aftermarket upgrades that genuinely improve it. This guide ranks them honestly: what makes a visible difference, what's optional, and what's not worth the cost for a BoB build.
The essentials (buy these)
CMK Hurricane Mk.I Cockpit Set — CMK4352
★★★★★ Most impactful upgrade
Full resin cockpit tub, seat, instrument panel, sidewalls and control column. The Airfix cockpit is functional but basic — this set adds the detail that's visible through the closed canopy and transforms the finished model. Drop-fit for the A05127A. The instrument panel and sidewall detail in particular are a marked step up. Hannants ↗
Barracuda Studios Fabric Wing Skins (1:48)
★★★★★ Most visual improvement
Resin replacement upper and lower wing skins with accurate fabric weave texture moulded in. The single most transformative upgrade for the Hurricane at this scale. Once you fit these, no kit wing surface looks right again. Drop-fit over sanded kit wings. Barracuda ↗
Eduard Canopy & Wheel Masks — EDEX712
★★★★★ Essential time-saver
Pre-cut Kabuki tape masks for the Hurricane's many canopy panes. The Hurricane framing is complex and hand-masking is fiddly and time-consuming. These masks save an hour and produce razor-sharp paint lines. Non-negotiable for any serious build. Hannants ↗
Highly recommended
Master Model Browning .303 Gun Barrels — AM-48-172
★★★★★
Turned brass Browning .303 barrels — eight per Hurricane. The plastic kit barrels are solid stubs with minimal detail. The Master Model replacements are hollow, correctly profiled and transform the leading edge from a blind alley to the correct appearance of eight distinct gun barrels. Fit with care — the alignment is very visible. Hannants ↗
CMK Hurricane Exhausts — CMK4356
★★★★
Correct triple ejector exhaust stacks for the Merlin III. The Airfix kit exhausts are over-simplified. These are individually moulded resin stacks with hollowed ends and correct depth. Drop-fit. Hannants ↗
Eduard Brassin Resin Wheels — ED648229
★★★★
Weighted, flat-spotted resin wheels with detailed hubs. The plastic kit wheels are round — no aircraft sits on round tyres after any use. The flat-spot and weight distortion of the Brassin wheels make the parked aircraft look genuinely grounded. Hannants ↗
Optional — buy if you want
Eduard SPACE 3D Interior (1:48)
★★★★
Pre-painted 3D photo-etch cockpit interior. An alternative to the CMK resin set — slightly different aesthetic, similar level of detail. The CMK resin has slightly better depth; the Eduard SPACE is faster to install. Choose one, not both. Hannants ↗
Skip these for a BoB build
- Cannon wing conversions — BoB Hurricanes had eight .303s, not 20mm cannon. Cannon conversions are for Mk.IIc subjects (1942+).
- Mk.IV wing conversions — wrong period entirely.
- Tropical filter — North Africa fit, not BoB.
Build order matters
Install the cockpit resin before closing the fuselage halves. Fit the canopy masks before painting. Add the gun barrels after all painting and weathering is complete. The Eduard wheel masks should be applied before painting the undercarriage.
For the full aftermarket listings with direct Hannants links, see the Hurricane reference page.