1:32 tail wheel fork early for Hurricane Mk.I/II

Tail Wheel Fork for the Hurricane Mk.I/II, 1:32 — Early Version (3DF)

This is not an airplane kit, but a 3D-printed detail accessory from brand 3DF in 1:32 scale. It replaces the tail wheel fork on the Hawker Hurricane Mk.I/II model. The base plastic kit needs to be purchased separately.

The tail wheel is the small rear wheel on aircraft with a conventional, so-called tailwheel undercarriage — the aircraft stands nose-up on the ground and rests on this wheel at the tail. The fork is the thin structure that holds this wheel.

Why choose 3D printing

The fork is thin and intricate, so the injection-molded plastic part from the box tends to be coarse and disproportionately thick — a mold simply cannot produce a thinner shape. Yet this part is clearly visible: the model stands on its landing gear with the tail low, usually right at the viewer's eye level. 3D printing can produce a thin, sharp, and dimensionally accurate fork with detail that injection-molded plastic cannot match. In the large 1:32 scale, that difference is especially noticeable.

Early version — check your aircraft

The set is explicitly for the early shape of the fork. The Hurricane's tailwheel undercarriage changed during production, and later aircraft had a modified tailwheel leg. We recommend checking the exact difference between the early and late fork for your specific aircraft against a period photograph — we don't want to claim anything we can't back up. The product name does not state a specific kit, so compare the part with your kit's landing gear before buying.

The real subject

The Hawker Hurricane was the workhorse of the Battle of Britain — it shot down more enemy aircraft than the more famous Spitfire. It had a partly fabric-covered fuselage over a metal frame, which simplified production and repairs. For Czech modelers, the Hurricane is a strong subject: a number of Czechoslovak pilots flew it with the RAF, including with No. 310 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron, formed in 1940.

Working with the material and building

• Cut the fork from the supports very carefully — the thin arm is fragile and will snap if broken off roughly.
• The part is glued with cyanoacrylate or epoxy; regular polystyrene cement does not bond this material at all.
• Wash the part in lukewarm water with dish soap — leftover print resin would otherwise cause problems under the paint.
• If sanding is needed, do it wet; dry dust is harmful to health and must not be inhaled.

The accessory is supplied unpainted and without the base kit. Glue and paints are not included in the package.