1/32 PCM Tempest V

[Ian M]

An old hand like you probably knows this but I find plopping the resin part onto a blob of blue tac helps stop it flying about when I cut it...

Also when cutting thin parts with a knife, make the first pass with either the back of the blade or a scribing tool.

Like I said, you probably knew that but thought I would share any way..

Ian M

[stona]

Good advice Ian. I do use a scriber to help liberate the smaller bits.

The wheel wells or even exhausts are pretty straight forward but I'm sure you can imagine how tricky that very fragile gun sight was !



I have a couple of Tamiya razor saws and also a fine and extra fine blade from Radu Briznan (I hope I spelt that right). You have to clamp the blade in a holder, which he supplies, with a couple of screws and provide your own handle but I rate them highly.



Cheers

Steve

[Vaughan]

Another interesting build Steve, keep posting the photos. By the way was it an expensive kit?

[Ian M]

Looks like a good little blade that. I use an old x-acto razor saw. A bit big at times but does the job. I'm on the look out for new one, so I might just look into the one you use.

Those castings look very good indeed. The ones for my Mossy where ok but quite brittle. how are those ones.

Good job on that sight! (My fun bit was the replacement struts!)

While we're hear, whats the difference between a Typhoon and a Tempest? As a casual on looker they look pretty alike.

Ian M

[stona]

The resin is good. If you find it very brittle work on a warm day or warm the resin up slightly. I will have a little bit more "give" in it.

The Tempest and Typhoon ended up being substantially different. The original plan, as of a meeting between the Ministry men and Camm in March 1941, was for a thin winged version of the Typhoon, powered by a new version of the Sabre engine, incorporating wing root radiators and capable of 430 mph. The wing would rectify the disappointing altitude performance of the original Typhoon. This was then referred to as a Typhoon II but by February 1942 the name Tempest appears. Various prototypes were ordered, both with inline engines (EC.107C which became the Sabre IV, Sabre II) and a radial engine (Centaurus IV). There were proposals for a Griffon engine type and one was eventually built (LA610) as a Hawker Fury prototype and direct ancestor of the Centaurus powered Sea Fury. As you can see it was all a bit complicated!

To cut a long story short the plan to keep much of the original Typhoon in the Tempest, apart from the wing, didn't work and substantial modifications were made to the fuselage, which was substantially lengthened to incorporate fuel tanks in front of the pilot as there wasn't room in the thinner wing for large enough tanks. The fin was also very different. Other changes are less visible.

The two still appear superficially similar, particularly if the comparison is with a late Typhoon with the one piece sliding (bubble) canopy, but side by side there are obvious external differences, apart from the wing.

The only version of the Tempest to see WWII service was the Tempest V with the big chin radiator. The radial engine Tempest II missed the war as did the tropicalized version of the Tempest V designated Tempest VI.

The P-51 is probably rightly regarded as the "best" fighter of WWII (whatever the hell that means!) and all the usual suspects will follow along. The Tempest is for some reason often overlooked. It was a late comer and a very fine aeroplane indeed.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

Thanks Steve that was simple enough...

Ian M

[Guest]

Although references are somewhat sparse, it's likely that the Fighter Interception Unit flew unpainted Tempests against the V1s, since there's a remark, in their ORB, that they were awaiting delivery of unpainted Tempests from Hawker's. Eventually the FIU became 501 Squadron, and there's one photo of a n/m Tempest in several books.

One minor "error" is the layout of the seatbelts; while the Tempest was almost unique in not using the Sutton, but what was universally known as the "Q Type," the quick-release box was not attached to the shoulder strap (in the event of the pilot abandoning the aircraft, it would probably have smacked his ear as he left.) As far as I can tell, it was on the right thigh strap, where his right hand would have naturally fallen on it.

Edgar

[stona]

Thanks Edgar. The quick release box is incorrectly attached to the left shoulder strap in the P-E in the kit. It shouldn't be a great chore to shift it.

I'm aware that 501 Squadron had a few unpainted Tempests on the books for a while. Apparently they only went 5mph faster and in Mason's words, "were not widely adopted."

I toyed with a NMF version but have chickened out! I'm going for a No.3 Squadron example in full distinctive markings, sometime before they set off fro the continent. I haven't done "stripes" for a while

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

I've spent hours doing the minute photo etch! There is an option to stick some plastic bits in instead of this. Considering the small cockpit opening on a Tempest it's not a daft option.

This shot was taken on my phone as SWMBO has nicked the camera for the day!



I'll get a better shot when I start putting it all together.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Looks good to me. This PE are fine...

[Guest]

Definitely watching this one. One of my all time favorite aircraft! Looking great so far!

[Guest]

looking very nice to build... and i'm not have any doubt that from your factory will exit another master piece...

watching it

Roman

[stona]

looking very nice to build... and i'm not have any doubt that from your factory will exit another master piece...watching it

Roman

Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'm not getting as much time as I'd like at the moment. It is a project that will suddenly leap ahead once all the fiddly cockpit and other sub-assemblies (like the radiators and wheel wells) are done.

I had about an hour this morning and managed some of the pilot's harness.

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

I was saying that larger scale models are often 3 or 4 models in one and this cockpit is a case in point.



I've not attached the rear frame (with seat attached) yet. It is just positioned for the piccies. If I attach it where it should be the front and back of the assembly, that is instrument panel and seat armour, don't fit quite right in the fuselage. I haven't yet figured out either what I've done wrong or exactly how to fix it. It is fixable, it is most important that it looks right once in the fuselage.

Here's the seat harness. It's photo etch and not great in my opinion! It's what's in the box and anyway I only have RB productions Luftwaffe belts in my cupboard.



I have already knocked up the radiator sub-assembly and the tail wheel assembly looks pretty straight forward. Once done I'll look at getting everything into the fuselage and closing it up, forever hiding all the little details!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Looking ace Steve loving this one.

John