DH Hornet F. mk.3

For its short service life the Hornet wore a number of very different colour schemes. Three are featured in this kit. Our primary source of inspiration was the very good Buttler, Collins and Derry Hornet book on the aircraft and we backed this up with research in a number of other publications and in discussion with our subject matter experts. 

The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet was conceived in 1941 as a high-speed, long-range fighter tailored for operations in the Pacific Theatre. With the Mosquito entering full-rate production and jet development underway, de Havilland had design capacity to pursue a private venture. Initial concepts (DH.101 and DH.102) explored Sabre and Griffon engines, but by late 1942, the company settled on a twin Merlin-powered design—compact fast and agile, 

Design-wise, the Hornet was a masterclass in aerodynamic refinement. It retained the Mosquito’s wooden construction but introduced a slimmer fuselage, laminar flow wings, and tightly cowled Merlin 130/131 engines producing 2,070 hp each with propellors rotating in opposite directions. These features enabled a blistering top speed of 485 mph at 22,000 feet, probably the fastest of any piston engine service aircraft, and superb handling. Armament included four 20mm Hispano cannons and provisions for rockets or bombs up to 1,000lb, making it a potent strike platform.

Though it missed World War II combat, the Hornet entered RAF service in 1946 and saw action during the Malayan Emergency. Operating from Singapore, Hornets conducted ground-attack missions and reconnaissance, proving their worth in tropical conditions. The Sea Hornet variant, adapted for carrier use and as an all-weather fighter, served with the Fleet Air Arm.

Captain Eric "Winkle” Brown, who holds the record for most number of aircraft types flown, rated the Hornet as his favourite and praised the its performance: "The Hornet was a pilot’s aeroplane par excellence. It had delightful handling characteristics and was incredibly fast for a piston-engined aircraft.” He further remarked, "Its acceleration was phenomenal, and it could out-turn most contemporary fighters with ease.” 

Despite its brief service life, the Hornet represented the zenith of propeller-driven fighter design—an elegant, lethal machine that bridged the gap between wartime innovation and the jet age.

1. 192 plastic parts
2. 8 clear plastic parts
3. 56 photo-etch parts
4. 32 3d printed parts
5. Canopy masks
6. Metal rod & clear film
7. Three marking schemes