Kit: Smer Tempest Mk.V Hi-Tech 
Conversion: No conversion 
Decals: Kit Decals 		 No. 80 Squadron
Wunstorf, North Germany ca. 1946
Fighter 

Hawker Tempest Mk.V
One of my favorites, the Smer/Heller kit of the Tempest is the kind of model that I like very much.Superbly thin trailing edges, perfect fit of parts, low price and an unbelievable corresponding to the "Warpaint"-plans from Scale Aircraft Modelling. Using these plans as a guide, I completely re-engraved the panel lines of the model. The interior with it´s tubular framework, a peculiarity that cannot be represented with photoetch or resin ,  was completely made of  stretched sprue. I like this framework on the Hawker aircraft very much, because one´s modelling-skill  decides how good it looks on the model, not the money someone spent in additional conversion parts. I used a Falcon canopy instead of the kit part. The photoetch pieces that come with the "Hi-Tech" kit do not fit at all (the instrument panel), and the decals are not easy to use, because they are too thin. I tend to say that the normal kit (not Hi-Tech) is the better as the PE stuff is unusable and makes the kit more expensive, the only negative thing is a false sky tone of the codes on the decal sheet supplied with this "basic" kit. Both decal sheets have an impressingly complete amount of stencilling which is very good.
 

Again, Humbrol colors (163/106/165) were used, with the decals coming from Propagteam. The squadron codes "W2-Y" are masked and then sprayed on with sky . If your Propagteam decals are to thin to use (which is often  the case) try varnishing them with Clear on the carrier-sheet, this will help. The color for the cockpit is wrong! Later Typhoons and all Tempests were nearly all-black on the interior. Always check your reference BEFORE painting!

Authors addition to this: The new Academy kit of the Tempest Mk.V is probably a better (easier) starting point for a collection of 1/72 Tempests. Itīs dimensions have a strong resemblance to the old Heller kit .... (shurely a reworked copy). Unfortunately I started making an Mk.II conversion with the Heller kit before the Academy was available. But I´m not shure if Academy copied the nice "to-scale" trailing edges of the wings. Anyway, I think that because of the cheap price of the Heller/Smer kit it will always be my basis on any Tempest conversion. An Mk.VI is waiting when my Mk.II is finished. I have already mated the Obscureco cockpit set with it´s fuselage.

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This Page was last updated: June 2000