Local interest Tempest V

[bull-nut]

I almost forgot that I'd signed up for this, but now that the two Sherman's are done, it's time to shift back to thinks with wings. Specifically, this kit;

 

With which I will attempt, in my ongoing project to model one each of all of my local squadrons types, a passing representation of one of the aircraft flown by No501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn RAuxAF. Which served as a fighter squadron from 1938 until it's disbandment in, IIRC, 1957.

 

(Yes, I know 501 still exists, but they are now a logistics support squadron, and I don't have room to display an Atlas!)

 

Airframe reg and codes to follow once I have suitably perused my reference material. I know I've seen a period photo of a bare metal finish somewhere. I want to say EJ533 SD-R, but I'll be back later after consulting Nil Time.

 

Edit: SD-R was EJ538, but was stripped of paint, so she will be my subject for this GB.

 

Edited March 31, 2018 by bull-nut

[Beard]

I'm just about to post a WiP of the same kit, with a similar theme (!), so I'll be following.

[Col.]

Welcome to the GB bull-nut. It's always good to hear of someone working on a model with a personal connection or local interest and the Tempest is a fine subject on its own so these extra factors will make for a great project.

[bull-nut]

And so it begins; I forgot to take sprue pics before I started, so I'll refer you to @Beard's build if I may.

 

Anyway, there's not much to the cockpit in this kit, just a seat, stick, pedals and not even an instrument panel, but since the cockpit opening is tiny, I didn't bother adding any, I may squeeze in a pilot from the Revell set later. In the meantime, the office got a blast of Tamiya IJN cockpit green, a wash of Citadel Athonian Camoshade, and then I closed up the fuselage and added the main-planes. I think I'm going to need some filler before I go much further, plan for tomorrow is filler and tail surfaces.

 

 

TTFN

[Beard]

34 minutes ago, bull-nut said:

not even an instrument panel

There is an instrument panel, it's underneath the propeller...

 

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

This one is SDR.  Heller kit - same mould.

Jet Age has an interest in 501, and I found a mag article about them. I'll PM some photos over later.

 

Titled "The Expendibles",  501 were to stop V1s at any cost.

This dio replicates a painting of one about to be tipped.

Various pictures of planes and pilots, one that particularly lives in my memory: an American pilot on exchange, rank Flight Officer, receiving a medal from the King.

 

Edited April 8, 2018 by theplasticsurgeon
More info.

[bull-nut]

1 hour ago, Beard said:

There is an instrument panel, it's underneath the propeller...

 

 

Doh! That'll teach me for trying tandem builds. No matter, I don't think it'll be visible anyway, and not fitting it should make squeezing in a pilot easier. Or maybe I'll separate the fuselage halves and squeeze them both in tomorrow, I'll see how it goes.

[Creepy Pete]

Funny, I was also briefly toying with the idea of building a Tempest from 501 Sqn as a local interest build in this GB. Mine would have been from the other side of things, though. Squadron Leader Joseph Berry, famous V-1 killer, was shot down just 5 kilometers from here in 1944, during a raid to Bad Zwischenhann in northwest Germany. It was a low level raid with 3 Tempests, and Berry's plane (ZJ600, SD-F) got hit by small calibre fire from the local German radar station just outside my town. He couldn't get to altitude to bail out and crashed into a field.

 

I couldn't find the Eduard kit, though, so maybe some other time. I'm looking forward to your build!

[bull-nut]

@Creepy Pete. Thanks for the info, I'll have a look through the references for that incident, I don't recall it from my last read through.