Hawker Hurricane Gun Access Panels

[turnipkiller]

Hi all,

I'm working on a template for the Targetware Hurricane, and I've run into a bit of a detail issue for the Mark I.

On the prototype Hurricane, and a few Mk. I's that were in service with the fabric wings, the gun access panels are a rough "+" sign shape. Later Marks, and I think later Mk. I's have the diamond shaped door, with the little doors on it's upper edges when carrying the 8 .303s in the inner wings. (I hope this is making sense, I'll post a line drawing if needed )

I am wondering if the older + sign shaped doors were discontinued when the all metal wing was standardized, or if some Mk. I Hurricanes retained this style of door.

To almost answer my own question, I've not seen any metal wing a/c photos with the + sign doors, but I just want to make sure I am good to make an assumption.

Thanks in advance all.

[Friendly_flyer]

From what I know you are right. The new redesigned wing came with a new ammo hatch. The new wings had not only different covering, but also different internal structuring. The only place the old diagonal beams was kept was around the gun bay, but with the new metal skin, a different sort of ammo hatch became necessary.

If you look at the rivet lines on the wings, you'll see that the hatches fastens to the skin support. The way they are put on is that the trailing edge of the lid is slotted under the plate behind, and is held in place by Dzus fasteners at the front edge. The old + style cover was held with Dzus fasteners at bout front and back (different placement of fastening points too), and did not follow the main spars running along the wing. Thus, the old lid could not be used on a new metal wing gunbay.