Czech Hurricane - Hawker Hurricane - Josef Frantisek - Battle of Britain - 1940 | Fine Art Print
None of the Allied airmen in the Battle of Britain wanted to fly with Czech pilot Sgt. Josef Frantisek DFM. Simply put, he was a renegade who "fought his own war” and was a danger to anyone flying in his formation.
Because of this, the RAF and No. 303 Polish Squadron only allowed him to fly as a "guest” in a "spare” Hawker Hurricane.
In this composition, Sgt. Frantisek had already left his colleagues shortly after takeoff and was on a solo mission to make his first kill of the war near the coast of Dover: a Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 piloted by Lt. Detlev Rohwer. The German plane escaped the attack, but eventually crash-landed in the English Channel. Later in the day, Sgt. Frantisek would get his first actual kill—a different pilot in the same model plane, a Bf 109.
In the following five weeks, Sgt. Frantisek would add 16 more German planes to his kill list, making him one of the top aces of the Battle of Britain. His streak came to a tragic end on 8 October 1940 when he crashed during landing in Ewell, Surrey. Legend has it that he was trying to impress his girlfriend with an acrobatic approach when it happened. True or not, it’s true to his story—the story of a man who lived like a tempest and died in a Hurricane.
magic behind our work
Research and Concept
Every image created is based on a real-life historic event. To ensure accuracy, extensive research is carried out to piece together every last detail. In-house concept artists, then, work up several visual ideas – using different views, settings, and perspectives – before a final design is settled upon.
3D Modelling and 3D scanning
Once the concept is established, a 3D model is created using computer-generated imagery. Studying every piece of reference material available, Automobilists’ artists, then, digitally rebuild the vehicle from scratch, slowly constructing layer upon layer with painstaking detail – even down to the last coat of paint.
Photoshoot
With pre-production complete, it’s time to go on-location and start shooting photographs. This stage can last for several days and involves crews of up to 70 people, depending on the concept. The highest grade of professional equipment is used to ensure the highest quality and resolution images, and extensively detailed sets are also built when required.
Composition
The last step in the production process involves consolidating the digital assets to form the final artwork. In this phase, the 3D elements are rendered with the photoshoot imagery, and to this composite, additional elements – such as light, smoke, shadows, dirt, flames, and weather – are added, to bring the piece to life. Only with these details included it is time to print and frame.
main features

Printing technology
We only use the very best Epson fine art printers, and premium Hahnemühle paper due to its fine texture, which guarantees long lasting color and saturation.

Authenticity
Each Fine Art print is special and carries a unique number. Medium and Large Fine Arts are also accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Shipping
We ship all medium and large artworks worldwide. Framed artworks are heavy and fragile, please contact us for appropriate shipping and handling options.

Framing
Our framed options comprise a dark brown hand-made oak frame with an embossed matt, anti-reflective glass and adequate packaging for safe transportation. Individual framing options are available upon request.