Andrew's 'Secret Santa' 1/72 Airfix Tempest V (post war)

[adt70hk]

Hi all

So now that the Mustang is done, this will be next victim. You probably won't recall but this was a Secret Santa present from a colleague at work at Christmas- clearly they know me too well!

As most of you will probably know the Tempest was the fighter that Sydney Camm was probably hoping for when coming up with the Typhoon but that suffered a number of problems and struggled at altitude as a 'pure' fighter.....but of course it was immensely powerful and found it's niche as one of the great ground attack of the war.

I have discovered in my research that six Tempest variants were suggested, with it initially being planned to name it the Typhoon II. Apparently, this was because the Air Ministry wanted to avoid delays should problems hit one engine, meaning an alternative powerplant would already be available (I am happy to be corrected on this). Although prototypes of all six were apparently built, only three actually saw production though the MKs II, V and VI. Around 800 MKs II and V were built, with around 140 Mk VIs making it off the production line. However, the MK V was the first to enter frontline service and as far as I have been able to determine the only one to see frontline combat in WW2 (again happy to be corrected on this.)

This particular kit is a 2023 rebox of a 2022 new tooling. Both marking options are for planes as they were flying following the end of hostilities WW2, in both cases in 1946.

Having consulted with colleagues on my team, they have decided I should do the all metal finish as they think it looks better. Oh and I need you to be on your best behaviour chaps, as I will sharing this thread with them!

Usual sprue shots below and even gave the work area a real deep clean before starting work on it.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

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Hopefully useful links:

- uk.airfix.com/community/blog-and-news/workbench/hawkers-tempest-fighting-thoroughbred?srsltid=AfmBOooT8M8PXkEHHJU8NQWMDc8D7 pWtRBtQxPo9Ff93DFQPEbRg0M-r
- www.key.aero/article/240-kills-why-hawker-tempest-v-was-dangerous-opponent
- www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-a02109-hawker-tempest-mkv--1324973



A nice clean work area....what's not to love......and as you can see the light shines through the spray booth canopy really well.








The obligatory box art, sprue and destructons pics

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Following along Andy.

[PaulTRose]

This will be good

Can i ask what paint you be using for the NMF?

[pjgtech]

Cool, looks a nice kit, look forward to seeing the updates.....have fun building it buddy... 8-)

[flyjoe180]

Excellent choice Andrew. It will be interesting to see how this compares to the two older Academy Tempests I built recently. I found a lot of useful references online.

[Geoffers]

Nice one Andrew

I’ve got this one in the stash so will be interested to see how it goes together, good luck with your build

Geoff.

[yak face]

Nice one andrew , it looks a beautifully detailed little kit . I’m curious to know why Airfix decided to do the drop tanks on the clear sprue though ? Is there a viewing level window on them or something? Those underwing numerals look like ‘fun’ too ! Ive just done a Vampire fb5 that had the same multi part serial numbers , they were a pain due to the undercarriage doors having lumps and bumps on them and the decals were not very flexible , hopefully yours go on better , cheers tony

[adt70hk]

Following along Andy.

This will be good

Can i ask what paint you be using for the NMF?

Cool, looks a nice kit, look forward to seeing the updates.....have fun building it buddy... 8-)

Excellent choice Andrew. It will be interesting to see how this compares to the two older Academy Tempests I built recently. I found a lot of useful references online.

Nice one Andrew

I’ve got this one in the stash so will be interested to see how it goes together, good luck with your build

Geoff.

Nice one andrew , it looks a beautifully detailed little kit . I’m curious to know why Airfix decided to do the drop tanks on the clear sprue though ? Is there a viewing level window on them or something? Those underwing numerals look like ‘fun’ too ! Ive just done a Vampire fb5 that had the same multi part serial numbers , they were a pain due to the undercarriage doors having lumps and bumps on them and the decals were not very flexible , hopefully yours go on better , cheers tony

Good to have you all on board chaps. I'll try not to let you down!

Paul - I will be using Vallejo Metal Color. I understand that by and large lacquer based metallics are the best but as I paint in the kitchen, they're ruled out due to the smell. Metal Color are though apparently the best water based ones out there (at least according to numerous recommendations)......and certainly my experience with them has, so far, been flawless...they spray beautifully, very smooth and with great coverage.

Joe - You're right there is a lot of material out there and after failing to find any pics of the plane in question I finally found one which was very enlightening....another post to follow.

Tony - In terms of the clear plastic, it's actually commented on in the instructions and my research revealed that the fairings on the Tempest drops tanks were largely made from clear acetate....more details below.


Thanks again chaps for the the support.

ATB

Andrew

[scottie3158]

oh go on then, I will join you mate.

[yak face]

Tony - In terms of the clear plastic, it's actually commented on in the instructions and my research revealed that the fairings on the Tempest drops tanks were largely made from clear acetate....more details below.

Ah , very nice touch by Airfix then , just shows that theyve really done their research

[adt70hk]

yak face, Geoffers, flyjoe180 - Geoff, Joe, Tony - as promised more info following some research


WARNING - ERRORS IN AIRFIX'S DESTRUCTIONS

OK chaps, so plastic has been cut and I've pretty much reached the point where primer needs to fly for the internals.

However, in my research I stumbled across a discussion on another site with one picture of this plane in the workshop and pics of other Tempests in the same metal finish. In this case an individual, Chris Thomas, who has written a number of books on Tiffies and Tempests, chipped in with some very helpful information and it turns out Airfix have got a number of things wrong. I also found out some interesting info on the drop tanks.

So firstly, if you plan to build this plane with these markings, please bear in mind the following:

• SN228/XC-D did not have a yellow band around the fuselage roundel as was often the case...and Airfix provide...fortunately I have just acquired some AM ones for another project.
• Most Tempests, including this one had 4-spoke wheels, not five as Airfix would have you fit. Fortunately there is a set of 4-spoke wheels in the kit. According to Chris Thomas, "The 5-spoke (Typhoon) wheels were only used on very early production Tempests, early in the JN-serial range."
• SN228/XC-D had a red spinner not a silver one as depicted in the instructions. Chris Thomas knew the pilot Sqn Ldr ‘Poppa’ Ambrose "quite well" and he said the spinner was red and apparently one of his sons had drawn a picture of it with a red spinner. To add to the evidence, if you look at the base plate of the spinner in the picture, whatever colour it is, it is not silver - so red it is.
• Although it may be a lighting issue in the photo, it looks like SN228/XC-D does not have yellow leading edges, as was often the case. Additionally, I have seen a number of pics from the same period showing both silver and camouflaged Tempests without them - so the yellow is going.
• You will also notice the dark stripe down the middle of the fuselage and on the panel underneath the front of the canopy. Chris Thomas has been told that this is caused "by the 'grain' of the aluminium when laid in alternating directions." Again I have pics of other planes with exactly the same effect. Whatever the reason, this offers some interesting opportunities in terms of the final paint scheme and making it look less monotone.

• SN228/XC-D clearly does not have the large underwing serial numbers in place, at least when the above photo was taken, and on the starboard wing. So were they ever added at a later date, if at all, or were they only on the port wing? Interestingly, none of the other Tempest pics of planes in the same finish show underwing serial numbers on either wing.....

Secondly, in terms of the drop tanks, you will notice that they are done in clear plastic. This is deliberate and not just a production decision:

• the instructions specifically comment on it
• it appears they are made of "clear acetate sheet". I have seen this stated on a number of sites, along with supporting photos.
• someone on one site, has said this is "...so that the ground crew could see the latches lock into the wing location points...", which kind of makes sense.

Pics below in case you're interested.

ATB

Andrew


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SN228/XC-D in the workshop
- No yellow edge to the roundel, a non-silver spinner base plate, seemingly no yellow leading edges and tonal variations on the panels.








Clear drop tank fairings
- The destructions, a close up snip of Pierre Clostermann's first Tempest before it was delivered to the squadron and a nice close up of the tanks (so far this is the only one I could find)

[adt70hk]

oh go on then, I will join you mate.

Good to have you on board! So when are you going to build a plane!??!!?????????

Ah , very nice touch by Airfix then , just shows that theyve really done their research

Tony - they did indeed. See the post I have just put up.


ATB

Andrew

[yak face]

Great info andrew , another conundrum the photo throws up is there doesnt appear to be any underwing serial on the undercarriage door ?

[adt70hk]

Great info andrew , another conundrum the photo throws up is there doesnt appear to be any underwing serial on the undercarriage door ?

Tony

You make a great point and this had been commented on in the thread I found, which I missed, so good spot.

Could you therefore add another bullet point to my above post, so it's all recorded in one place for posterity, as follows:

• SN228/XC-D clearly does not have the large underwing serial numbers in place, at least when the above photo was taken, and on the starboard wing. So were they ever added at a later date, if at all, or were they only on the port wing? Interestingly, none of the other Tempest pics of planes in the same finish show underwing serial numbers on either wing.....

Thanks.

Andrew

[yak face]

Sorted

[adt70hk]

Thanks Tony!