AMG 1/72 Hawker Demon

[TeeELL]

As I have reported, I picked up a 1/72 Hawker Demon kit at SMW. I will review the contents in detail a little later, but for now here is a look at the box art:

[TeeELL]

The kit is presented in a lid and tray type box, neither sturdy nor flimsy, containing 2 ziploc bags and folded A4 instructions etc.
The box lid features 2 Demons of 64 Sqn flying in formation - a reproduction of a digital image by one Pat Spiers. On one long side of the box are colour renditions of the aircraft that can be built, directly, from the contents.
Looking at the instructions, they are presented in a 2 sheet folded A4 ‘booklet’ with one additional A5 sheet for the ‘technical stencils’









Note the mislabelled 29(F) Sqn and 6 Sqn side views!

[JamesPerrin]

That PE oil cooler(?) looks fun.

[TeeELL]

Looking at the contents of one ziploc bag we find the transfers, some PE and clear film with instruments printed and the wind screen.



The transfers all appear to be in register and various ‘wireless/telegraphy’ signs are included. The are rudder stripes although none of the schemes utilise them and they are an unusual inclusion for the Demon.

The PE includes: seat belts, the oil cooler (23 parts in total), windscreen frame, cockpit detailing components, control horns etc. Certainly more than enough to put off the faint hearted! Lol

[TeeELL]

Moving on to the sprues, of which there are 5.
Sprue A: this sprue contains the 3 basic fuselage components. The top of the fuselage has been designed to drop in a variety of cockpit configurations.



The details seem very fine with tiny rivet detail, slightly raised sections for panels and a definite textural difference between the ‘fabric’ and ‘aluminium’ parts.

Sprue B:
A second ‘common to all’ sprue containing wings, wheels and cockpit floor (the bulkhead, centre left, is not for this model).



The detail on the wings is stunning, under magnification it is possible to make out the reinforcement stitching over each rib! The wheel hubs feature equally minute details.

[TeeELL]

The Third sprue contains a miriad of parts, some of which are unbelievably fine. There is a cockpit section - for the Hart perhaps? - the fin and rudder along with the tailplane and, positionable, elevators. I note, there is even a tailwheel as utilised on ‘Turret Demons’. The other components are too many to list but include the U/C legs and prop.

[TeeELL]

Having all but completed the write-up on the next sprue, my iPad froze and I lost the whole lot! That is why I have continued in a new entry.
The forth sprue (D - funnily enough), continues the, mostly, common to all approach. Of particular note are the fuselage side frames and the very fine defensive machine gun (sorry, can’t remember if the Demon had Lewis or Vickers).



The final Sprue ‘E’ has components specific to the Demon: the cockpit section, exhaust pipes, bulk heads etc,



I’ve not been able to compare the model to scale diagrames (notwithstanding their accuracy!) but the manufacturer is at pains to thank Mr John Adams of The Aeroclub Company for his ‘great help’.
However you look at it, the new kid on the block is a step up from the Airfix offering - which requires a great deal of work to correct just the rear cockpit position!

I hope this in-box review has been of help.

Oh! I forgot to mention: there is no rigging guide whatsoever.

[TeeELL]

That PE oil cooler(?) looks fun.

James,
I have utilised similar ‘aftermarket’ oil filters on my Airfix Demon - very fiddly indeed.

[PaulBradley]

Very nice - I can see me getting one or two!

An excellent reference book is the Mushroom Model Publications' Hawker Hart Family, which I can thoroughly recommend. Our own John Ratz did a review for IPMS a few years ago: https://ipmsusa.org/reviews/Books/Aircr ... family.htm

John seems to have been busy in his retirement - he's also thanked profusely for his help with the Dora Wings Proctor/Vega Gull kits!

[iggie]

Excellent review Tony, and a nice looking kit. The fuselage interior framing looks very delicate indeed and the oil cooler looks to be very tricky!

[AndrewR]

It looks very impressive. The oil cooler looks downright scary!

[Chuck E]

That looks pretty good. I bet a super model could result from that.

[TeeELL]

That looks pretty good. I bet a super model could result from that.

Chuck,
I m seriously considering creating a ‘turret Demon’ from this model, using the parts from a Kora resin kit! I guess that will guarantee AMG will release their own in 2022!

I spent a lot of time on my Airfix Demon, so I am not sure I want to retire it.







These are all images of my Airfix Demon

[JohnRatzenberger]

Thanks for the IB Review, Tony, it's appears to be a stunner.

Go ahead and do the "turret Demon", I'll catch up by then ...

[TeeELL]

I thought I would ‘bump’ this a little! I am looking for photographic info on the ‘turret’ Demons flown by 29(F) Squadron. More info:
https://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=22694