$2000 expected for fighter

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 7

$2000 expected for fighter

PA London A New Zealand-made model of Britain’s famous wartime fighter, the Hurricane, is expected to fetch more than S2OOO at an auction in London later this month. The highly detailed model built by the Studio Aguila, Gisborne, is being sold by a private British collector. The Hawker Hurricane Ila in the markings of the Royal Air Force’s No. 17 “Eagle” squadron, is a replica of aircraft No. 7608 which flew with the squadron in August, 1940. The Hurricane will be sold as part of a big sale of model engines, trains, cars, and ships to be auctioned by the London firm of Christies. Christies’ presale estimate puts the Hurricane’s likely | price at between £lOOO and £1 200 (SNZI99O to iSNZ239O). A spokesman said

n the model was “extremely le fine-” s Although it is not known j. whether the Hurricane h model was built recently or ... soon after the war, it has a s wingspan of 75cm and is 62cm long. .] Made of more than 7000 parts with removable panels a and cowlings, it includes hydraulics, wiring, armament, a and fuel systems. 1 The cockpit is fully in- ” strumented and has flying - controls, gunsight, and seat v and the Rolls-Royce Merlin - engine is also to the perfect 1/16 scale, including eiecI trical, cooling and fuel sysf terns. , Wing and fuselage details I are also perfect, including! - eight machine guns and am- : munition boxes, and the ' 3 fuselage is covered in battle- | r scarred camouflage. I The aircraft will be auci tioned on April 30 at Brigh- 1 1 ton.