Special Hobby Tempest II in 1/32

[Roger]

And on to the next project.  I wanted something a bit bigger to make more of an impact on the show tables, so I thought this would fit the bill.  Of course at my rate of progress, the RAF will probably get their new Tempests before I finish this!!
To the pictures - first one shows the very nice box art!
Next are all the grey and resin parts drying after a bit of a wash.

[Roger]

Here are the completed sidewalls.  Nearly all kit apart from the wiring - can you spot the piece of Matchbox Tempest II that I added though?

[Roger]

I am quite conscious that most builds of these kits I have seen end up with anhedral on the inner wings, like some mutant Stuka cross breed.  So I am being very careful to make sure everything fits properly, in particular the internal parts.  As you can see from the before and after photos, the rear bulkhead needed a little bit removing to get a perfect fit.  Fingers crossed for the wing fit!
Also visible is a replacement head armour in plasticard, the kit one is slightly too short, and a bit thick.  The lower armour plate was just shined down a bit.

Cheers for now,
Roger

[zak]

What, you mean it won't be ready for Telford this year.

[Haddock]

As my Latin teacher used to say "digitum extractus".

[Roger]

Now that the other projects are off the bench I can press on with this one.  The cockpit build has been quite involved, but is all now painted and the various sub assemblies are ready to bring together.  I used Xtracrylix Aircraft grey green and Tamiya black, details and dry brushing with Vallejo, and Windsor and Newton oils as a wash.
Cheers for now,
Roger

[Roger]

Every Special Hobby Tempest I have seen finished has way too much anhedral on the wings - even the two in the competition at Telford.  Learning from this, I have been taking steps along the way.
My lower wing section was also quite warped, so much so that part of it had snapped.  This picture shows the wing clamped to a board with sections of sprue under the wing to give the right shape.  Then I built on the wheel wells, adding some structural elements from plasticard, and bracing everything with short sections of sprue.  Not pretty, but I reckon you could park a Sherman tank on that wing now (1/35 only, other tanks are available) without it bending.
Onwards and upwards,
Roger

[Roger]

Some progress on this one  And a step back - I dropped it and snapped the head armour off, which was the first part I fettled on this kit.  Easily fixed back on later though.

Cheers
Roger

[Roger]

Ammunition tanks fitted.
TTFN
Roger

[Roger]

Undercarriage finished.

Roger

[Roger]

All done.
TTFN
Roger

[Roger]

BTW, this colour scheme relates to 1948, by which time the Tempest II had become the Tempest F2.  Better get it right for MSea!

R

[MSea]

You better had  -- or the rivet counters will get YOU .

[zak]

Looks good, I look forward to seeing it in the flesh so to speak.

[Haddock]

Looks nice, as usual.
Haddock.