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

[adt70hk]

Forgot to upload a picture of the destructions commentary on the drop tanks....

 

[adt70hk]

Excellent research mate, looking forward to an excellent build!
Sreve

Excellent bit of “rabbit hole” exploring Andrew and makes sense.

I think the yellow ring added to the roundels and wing leading edge was a wartime addition for quicker identification in the heat of battle.

So as a post war aircraft it’s likely that it has had its paint stripped which increased its speed and had post war markings added, maybe

Looking forward to watching your build.

Geoff.

Thanks for the support chaps.

Geoff

in terms of the yellow/IFF issue, I am sure you're right.

In terms of the silver/BMF, looking back at Chris Thomas' comments, he actually posted an extract from a book he wrote for Eduard, which can be loosely summarised as follows:

• they did do trials with a BMF Tempest in the war but the results were seemingly inconclusive
• their had been discussions in the RAF/Air Ministry in 1945 about the need for camo at all, given that many the USAAF aircraft were doing without it.
• the removal/replacement of the camo came into effect in Feb 1946 stating that "...the agreed schemes and the new Day Fighter Scheme was to be an all-over ‘silver’ painted scheme, with as smooth a finish as possible."
• however some units, simply stripped the current camo off their planes but then discovered that keeping bare metal finish in good condition was tricky, so they started to paint them silver
• in the case of this plane, the pilot had the paint stripped off in April 1946, albeit it was soon replaced by a Tempest II

Therefore this plane is a bare metal finish with the different shades seemingly being down to the 'grain' of the aluminium when laid in alternating directions. As I said, I will have some fun trying to replicate the effect.


HTH.

ATB

Andrew

 

[Geoffers]

Hello Andrew.

Have you considered doing it with real metal foil?

Jen at Jenesis models does a series of tutorials on her YouTube channel.

It might be more effective than paint, it’s one of the things I’ve been meaning to try for a while but haven’t got around to it yet.

https://youtube.com/@jenesisdesignsandmodelcraft?si=rc0PZBTLVeH2mgfy

Geoff.

 

[adt70hk]

Hi Geoff, not this time but might think about it in the future. Thanks for the link.

 

[adt70hk]

OK chaps

So by my standards I have made positively lightening progress but before the progress shots, some BIG news........

.................


.................Airfix have finally done an update RAF WWII era pilot.....at least for this kit. I'll let that sink in.......

That's right.....the 1960s amorphous 1960s era blob has finally been retired. Not sure if it will apply to all kits but the pilot in this one is much better done and, more importantly, I didn't have to cut his feet off to get him in!


Anyway update as follows and as you can see a lot has happened:

• Cockpit done...didn't spend a huge amount of time on it as most of it won't be seen
• Pilot done...likewise didn't spend too much time on him
• Fuselage halves joined
• Wings attached
• Any filling needed completed and sanded
• Now ready for priming.

Thoughts on the kit:

• Surprising amounts of flash on some pieces for such a new mould...nothing major but it's there all the same
• Fit...generally very good...dry fit looks like it's almost been glued in some places, with no gaps, even on the wings/fuselage joins
• Most fit issues almost certainly my fault...especially on the fuselage.
• They helpfully label some parts port or starboard!
• The drop tanks have mouldings for fuel lines you can paint if you're VERY careful...I just repeatedly dropped very thin paint into the groove
• Instructions slightly unclear at one point and so the insert to complete the top of the cockpit is in hindsight not pushed down at the front but not badly so
• Only real complaint is the wing fit/design. As many reviews note the trailing edge is far too thick. However, my main complaint is the way they go together. In this scale you often see the the trailing edge being moulded as a single piece that is part of the top wing half, with a nice smooth edge. The bottom half then butts up against this away from the trailing edge. In this case though the two halves are perfectly matched, with the join on the trailing edge, making a clean join much harder to achieve, at least IMHO

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew


PS sorry for so many pics....but I have got a lot done


-----------------------------------


Flash.....a number of pieces on this sprue were affected...plus the port starboard labelling









Some dry fit shots....you get the idea









The internals and new pilot.....



























Drop tank fuel line







Ready for priming....

 

[scottie3158]

Andrew,
Looking good mate. It does seem strange to have so much flash on a new mould. The pilot is a great improvement but I can't help thinking that he would look better if they gave him a bit of character by turning his head slightly to one side rather than that straight ahead stare you always get.

 

[flyjoe180]

Your Tempest went together well Andrew, look forward to the paint job

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Nice progress Andy.

 

[adt70hk]

Andrew,
Looking good mate. It does seem strange to have so much flash on a new mould. The pilot is a great improvement but I can't help thinking that he would look better if they gave him a bit of character by turning his head slightly to one side rather than that straight ahead stare you always get.

Your Tempest went together well Andrew, look forward to the paint job

Nice progress Andy.

Thanks as always for the support chaps. It is really appreciated.


Scottie - You make a very good point about the pilot. I have a couple of AM 1/72 ones and they do that. It does make them look a bit more interesting.


Thanks again.

Andrew

 

[adt70hk]

Ok chaps....

So primer is on which shows some very minor filling is needed but is so minor I may let it got. Not as quite as smooth as the Mustang primer job but not too shabby.

Also, in my last post, I forgot to say I have also finished the wheels and prop/spinner. The spinner is red as that is what was actually on the plane, not silver as Airfix have depicted.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

 

[adt70hk]

Ok chaps....so mottling is now done.....such an easy technique with a myriad of possible effects!

Next up is the green on the wheel wells and undercarriage.

ACW as usual

ATB

Andrew

 

[adt70hk]

Okay so a short update.....

....interiors of the wheel wells and the like have now been painted interior green-grey, as this is apparently the way it was done.

Helpfully the bits of plastic for the 'in flight' option of U/C and wheel well covers are single pieces and so double as a good template for DIY masks.

They also helpfully double as blanks to keep the new green wheel wells covered for when the main coat goes on, although the tolerances are so tight with the interior paint in place that I had to scrape a bit of the plastic off around the edge of them to get them in place.

And after I took these shots, the first coat of aluminium went on, so another update will follow tomorrow.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

 

[Tim Marlow]

Coming along very nicely Andrew. Interesting paint scheme as well. Airframe alum8nium should look good over the mottling.

 

[scottie3158]

Looking good mate.

 

[adt70hk]

Coming along very nicely Andrew. Interesting paint scheme as well. Airframe alum8nium should look good over the mottling.

Looking good mate.

Thanks chaps. Glad you're both liking it.


Tim - It does offer some some interesting options doesn't it. I'll find some pics of the other planes with the same aluminium effect and put them up.


Thanks again chaps.

ATB

Andrew

 

[adt70hk]

OK chaps, so main aluminium coat is on. I actually used duraluminium, as I used aluminium on the Mustang and so fancied experimenting with something different only having done one all metal finish so far.

As you can imagine, given the reflective nature of the paint, it's quite hard to pick up the mottling effect well, unless you get the angle just right and then it actually looks a bit too mottled.

Next up are the different colour panels.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

 

[Jim R]

That's worked well. Subtle panel variation next

 

[adt70hk]

Hi all

Just realised that I forgot to include two other photos showing the mottling effect.

ATB

Andrew

 

[adt70hk]

That's worked well. Subtle panel variation next

Thanks Jim. The masking is the bit I'm not looking forward to, especially at this scale. There are some interesting curves and most of the panel lines are actually not nice and straight......

ATB

Andrew

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

The pre shading is such a hard thing to judge. One top coat too many and you loose it. That looks fine to me Andy and the next stage, variation of panel colours will really finish it off.