Search the Community

Undoubtedly, Hawker Hart was the most significant technical step forward produced by the British aviation industry during the interwar years. Talking about the standard Kestrel bomber, it has been also one of the lucky interwar airplanes attracting wider attention of kit manufacturers, starting with Frog Penguin in 1936, and going on with Airfix (1957), Aeroclub (beginning of 90’s) and Amodel (2012). On purpose, I am not listing either the AZ kit, which is Hart only by name, and requires quite serious surgery to get the right airplane type out of the box, or the Merlin copy of the Frog Penguin model. The latest arrival to the family was produced by Arsenal Model Group (AMG) from the Ukraine and it was released miraculously this summer amidst the turmoil of the war. The kit was introduced here: It is with certainty the best 1/72 Hart kit regarding the moulding quality so far. As concerns the level of detail, both interior and exterior, it is simply a nitpickers’ wet dream. At least in the box, let us see how it fares on the workbench. I am not going to use one of the kit markings. Instead, I am going to build it as K-2091 from No. 11 Squadron, Risalpur, NW India: Using the legendary Modeldecal sheet: The kit shows outstanding respect to historical accuracy and attention to detail, so it is rather surprising to find a few omissions right after opening the box. The first one is the missing fuselage gun body in the interior. Clearly somehow “forgotten”, because the cocking handle is present on the PE fret (orange arrow) – at least I think so. By the way, would some of you know what the part indicated by the green arrow could be good for? The next ones are the missing air intakes on the top of the cowling, which are quite prominent on many Harts. Curiously, they seem to be hiding behind the propeller in step 20 of the instructions, but they are not present in the kit. By the way, the instructions are quite generic, probably in order to be able to use them for as many Hart variants as possible. No problem for Hart aficionados, however they can be in parts rather misleading for the uninitiated. Both of the above issues can be very easily corrected, but the last one is more critical. Contrary to the 1/48 AMG Hart, its smaller brother contains just one upper wing central section, the one with two fuel tanks. Not exactly a problem for me, because “my Hart” was (by lucky coincidence) equipped with the later “Hind” wing and thus two tanks – see the orange arrow in the photo of K-2091. However, most Harts (especially home based) were equipped with one wing fuel tank only, and therefore caution is needed. Although some people may simply decide to ignore the problem, the modification is not that complicated and I will recommend it, if references for your particular Hart say so. The Hart has not been portrayed well by kits only, but by reference literature as well. So as usual, selection from my collection concluding the initial post.

Tempest Mk.II Centaurus Engine (P48005 for Special Hobby/Eduard)) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby Special Hobby and Eduard have collaborated on a new Tempest II kit in 1:48, and it’s a lovely kit with the large cylindrical cowling hiding the brutally powerful Centaurus engine with two banks of nine cylinders that could produce over 3,000hp in its final variants. It is barely seen inside the fuselage when prepared to fly, but with the cowling open it’s a different story. This set is designed to allow the modeller to open the cowling and show off the beast in all its glory, using a combination of 3D printed and traditional resin parts to adapt the kit to suit. It arrives in a rectangular yellow-themed box, and inside are two Ziploc bags of resin parts and the folded instructions that act as padding to protect them from damage. In total there are sixteen parts, the most impressive of which is the 3D printed engine that is printed as a single part with tolerances so fine that you can see deep into the cylinder banks if your eyesight is good enough. The six 3D printed cowling clasps are almost as impressive due to their small size, and these are double-bagged to further protect them. Construction begins with removing the cowling panels from the front of the kit fuselage halves, leaving just the top and bottom hinge-points projecting over where the engine will be fitted. The inside face of these will need to be thinned down from inside, test-fitting as you go, then shaving away some of the width of these areas until the motor slides into position without snagging, using the slots in the back plate as a guide. Before gluing the engine into place, the cylindrical bell housing is glued into the recess in the front, aligning it with the tab and slot around the edge. The kit intake lip is then adapted by inserting the two C-shaped resin lips to the back, leaving spaces of 5.8mm between the parts so it can be attached to the fuselage. After gluing it in place, the four cowling panels are attached hinging from the top and bottom, adding the small open closures into the grooves in the bottom two panels. The top cowlings are propped up by a pair of curved stays that help you achieve the correct angle when opened. There will be a lot of painting going on throughout the building of this set, and you will need to check your references for the correct shades, as there are no colour call-outs in the instructions. Conclusion 3D printing just keeps getting better all the time, and the detail of the engine is phenomenal, with praise due to the designer for what must have been complicated and intricate work. If you only have one Tempest II, perhaps you need another specially for this set. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Here's my first go at a kit which is older than me! The 1963 Airfix version of the Hawker P.1127, of course the very original design which eventually became the Harrier. Let's just say that kit design and quality has come a VERY long way in 50 years... (to be fair, I'm sure this was great for the manufacturing technology available at the time). I've seen some beautiful versions of the kit online - quite a few where people have smoothed & filled the finished thing. I decided to keep it as original as possible although the kit canopy was way too wide (a common issue). In the end I used the front part and replaced the rear section with a part from a GR1 kit. I also swapped the kit seat for a spare resin one (sanded down a bit to remove modern headbox etc). Added a bit of dirt to represent the live version in testing (and highlight a little of the extensive rivet details on the surface) and added underbody strakes, although reference photos are not thick on the ground! To be fair to the kit, the one thing I thought I'd have trouble with was the old decals: in fact, they went on fine, they weren't fragile, and they conformed really nicely to the surface. A couple of final shots with my Airfix GR9 kit - the first and the last of the Harrier lineup together. About half a century between the real things (and also the kit versions) showing how both have evolved almost beyond recognition. Thanks for reading!

Source: https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/shop/new-for-2018/hawker-hunter-f6-1-48.html Airfix is to release in October 2018 (?) a new tool 1/48th Hawker Hunter F.6/F.6A kit - ref. A09185 Schemes: 1) XF418 - 4 FTS Brawdy 2) XF509 - 4 FTS 3) Dutch AF V.P.

Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib (70061) 1:72 Arma Hobby The Hawker Hurricane was one of Britain's foremost fighters of WWII, and although overshadowed by the more graceful and slender Spitfire during the Battle of Britain, it was a capable aircraft that was available in large numbers, and made more than its fair share of kills during the conflict. It went on to see service to the end of the war, but was relegated to less onerous tasks as technology leapt forward resulting in faster, more agile aircraft that came on stream on both sides of the conflict. The type originated in the early 30s and first took to the sky in 1935, despite the Air Ministry’s tepid reaction to monoplanes at the time, and it was an aircraft that set standards for fighters that followed it, being a monoplane with a predominantly metal airframe, retractable landing gear, an enclosed cockpit and of course the delightfully powerful and throaty Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Compared to the Spitfire it was a little old-fashioned, starting out with a fabric-covered ‘rag’ wing that was eventually replaced by an all-metal unit, and it was less aerodynamically streamlined, with a thicker wing and overall chunkier, blunt appearance. Although the wing was replaced by a metal aerofoil later on, it kept the fabric rear fuselage and as such was able to have minor damage repaired quickly and easily, compared to the Spitfire that would have to go back to a repair facility for structurally insignificant through-and-through bullet damage. A fabric patch and a few coats of dope, and the Hurri would be back to the fray, which endeared it both to its pilots and ground crew alike. The Sea Hurricane was initially developed to be launched from Catapult Armed Merchantmen (CAM Ships) as a one-shot launch that would be used to defend a convoy from attackers, and then either flown to friendly shores, or ditched close to the convoy in the hope of being picked up. The aircraft were converted from well-used airframes for a last hurrah to protect the merchantmen, and were initially known as Hurricats. They had several alterations to make them suitable for launch and operation by Navy pilots, including naval specification radio gear. The later 1B was equipped with an arrestor-hook and catapult equipment and were used on aircraft carriers of various types, while the later 1Cs had cannon armed wings and an overboosted engine that put out 1400hp at low level. The IICs were used on naval carriers, and over four hundred were built. The Kit Arma’s Hurricane Mk.I was first issued in 2018, and has been reboxed in various guises since then. This new boxing depicts the Hurricanes that were converted to maritime specification, with the sprues to match. The kit arrives in a small end-opening box, and inside are two sprues of grey styrene, a clear sprue, a Ziploc bag of 3D printed parts, a sheet of pre-cut kabuki-style masking material, a sheet of pre-cut black vinyl (not pictured), a decal sheet and the A5 instruction booklet with colour profiles to the rear. If you’re a neophyte to Arma Hobby kits, the detail is excellent, with fine engraved and raised details, plus a generous quantity of components within the box that many companies would consider to be aftermarket. As a 1:48 modeller, I’m really quite envious of the quality of these kits. The fishtail exhausts had come free from their mountings in transit. No harm done, and no clean-up done before taking the pics. Construction begins with the main gear bay for a change, which is made from two C-shaped parts that form both bays in one assembly, with a central tank applied to the front wall before it is inserted into depressions inside the upper wing, which is moulded as a single span part. The gear legs and dividers are installed and painted, then the full-span lower wing is offered up and the assembly is glued together in a similar manner to the real aircraft. Work begins on the cockpit, starting with the rear bulkhead, which has a round headrest, the seat and decal four-point belts. The instrument panel is also made from the styrene panel with raised details, and two decals laid one over the other for enhanced detail. Before the rest of the cockpit is made, there need to be some alterations to the fuselage halves, cutting out the lower section between the trailing edge of the wing roots and the tail-wheel fairing. This is replaced later by a 3D printed insert. With the dusty work out of the way, the cockpit sidewalls are detailed with framework overlays that fit into sockets moulded inside, adding a cross-brace under where the seat will go, and gluing the completed instrument panel into the front. On the top of the wing, the foot troughs, control column and rudder pedals are applied to the centre, section and the fuselage is closed around the rear bulkhead and seat, filling a hatch panel line on the starboard side for one decal option. Flipping the fuselage over, the 3D printed insert and arrestor hook are slotted into place, and you are incited to drill a small hole low on each side of the fuselage and place a length of wire or rod into the holes. The two pre-cut vinyl panels should be glued under the centre of the wings to depict a pair of raised panels, and two more resin parts are also placed there next to the location of the central radiator housing. The wings and fuselage can now be mated, taking care not to ping off the raised cockpit detail perched atop the wings as you bring them together. At the rear, the elevators are moulded as one and drop onto the back of the fuselage with the fin and moulded-in rudder inserted from behind to complete the empennage, adding the tail-wheel into its socket under it. One decal option has a pair of glare hiding strakes added in front of the cockpit to preserve the pilot’s night vision whilst flying that are 3D printed and wafer-thin. A scrap diagram shows where they locate from above to assist you. Inverting the model will allow you to put the retraction jacks on the gear legs, and the wheels on the axles, with their captive bay doors fixed to the outer side of the legs. The radiator housing is a separate assembly, but it needs the radiator core inserting in the centre and a top fairing adding before it can be emplaced, with a circular light behind it painted with clear orange. Forward of the radiator is a chin intake, and you have a choice of two styles of 3D printed exhaust stubs with partially round or full fishtail ejectors that give a good impression of being hollow, especially for their size. Each wing leading edge gets a clear landing light, and under the port wing a T-shaped pitot probe is inserted into a small hole in the skin. The Mk.Ib mounted a De Havilland propeller, the blades of which are moulded as a single part, sandwiched between a spinner cap and back-plate, which has a peg on the rear to fit though the fuselage front insert that is secured in place by a styrene washer and a little glue to keep it mobile. This is then carefully glued into the front of the fuselage, with a resin oil-catcher lip fitted around most of the cowling behind the prop. The windscreen is fixed to the forward deck after adding the gunsight to the coaming, and has a 3D printed rear-view mirror glued on top. To pose the canopy open or closed, there are two parts, one patterned to fit the cockpit aperture snugly, the other widened slightly so that it can slide over the spine behind the cockpit, stopping just before the aerial mast, which you’ll need to join to the tail with a piece of fine wire or thread to depict the aerial itself, and the fly-lead that enters the cockpit via the spine. You can see a great side view of this in the colour profiles at the rear of the booklet. Markings In the typically generous Arma Hobby manner there are five decal options included, and you’ll need to decide which one you plan to depict early as it affects the finer details of the building of your model. All options are painted in grey/green camouflage over a sky underside, and have their individual markings to differentiate them. From the box you can build one of the following: Z7153 F, 801 Naval Air Sqn., Aircraft Carrier HMS Eagle, Operation Pedestal, August 1942 V6695 K, 801 Naval Air Sqn., Aircraft Carrier HMS Eagle, Operation Pedestal, August 1942 AF953 A, 802 Naval Air Sqn., Aircraft Carrier HMS Avenger, Summer 1942 V7506 7T, 801 Naval Air Sqn., Aircraft Carrier HMS Victorious, Operation Pedestal, August 1942 Z4849 7G, 880 Naval Air Sqn., Aircraft Carrier HMS Indomitable, Operation Pedestal, August 1942 Decals are by Techmod, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion A superbly crisp model of the doughty Hurri in her seafaring role, with a comprehensive gaggle of multimedia parts adding extra detail and accuracy to the proposition, making the asking price more than reasonable. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

A few years ago at Scale Model World HORNBY AIRFIX were giving out slips of paper on which visitors could write down the models that they wished for. On my paper I wrote 1/72 AW Argosy and as I handed it in to some young assistant who probably had no idea what an Argosy was I thought " no chance ". I have wished for an injection moulded 1/72 Argosy for years and hoped that a mainstream manufacturer would produce one. Then at last year's Scale Model World there it was to my absolute surprise, on display in a glass cabinet on the F-RESIN stand courtesy of Mr Palix of MACH 2 a built up RAF Argosy in camouflage scheme, And on the table were the sprues of parts for anybody interested to study closely. I already had experience of MACH 2 as I had built their Breguet Atlantic so I knew what to expect.............................. But there in front of me was a built up one so they must be buildable.............. They seemed to be flying off the stand to eager buyers so I thought I better get one before they ran out so I bought the RAF silver and white version. On arriving home a close study of the parts gave me some misgivings. The plastic parts had a rough surface with lumps of molten plastic stuck to them. Small parts such as aerials and vortex generators were so crude that they would require scratch making. But really this is what I expected anyway. The instructions only give a rough idea about particular areas of the model as you are expected to already know something about the subject you are building. What did impress me was the inspiring colour scheme and decal placement guide printed in full colour. The quality of the decals looked to be excellent. My wife wanted it to be a Christmas present so I became distracted with another project and it wasn't until March this year that I started cutting plastic off the thick sprues and set to on the laborious task of cleaning up the parts. The Argosy was finally completed in September and I was able to display it on our model club table at Scale Model World where it was the only Argosy to appear in the whole show............. What has happened to all those Argosies that were bought last year ? I took photos of the build as it progressed and so I will share these with you in the sequence that I built it as though I were building it now. Adrian I'm laughing because I know what's coming next...................TOMMY COOPER

Eduard is to release from late 2020 or early 2021 1/48th Hawker Tempest Mk.II kits Source: https://www.eduard.com/out/media/InfoEduard/archive/2020/info-eduard-2020-01.pdf V.P.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ArmaHobby/posts/3462056447158021 Considering it'll be most probably a WWII period a/c and in 1/72nd this will be uninteresting to me... My (Polish) wishes - 1/48th plastic kits from: TS-8 Bies, TS-11 Iskra & PZL-130 Orlik. V.P.

Kovozávody Prostějov (KP) is to release in 2021 a family of 1/72nd Hawker Tempest kits. Source: http://www.modelarovo.cz/novinky-kovozavody-prostejov-na-1-q-2021/ - ref. KPM0219 - Tempest Mk.V - Wing Commanders https://www.aviationmegastore.com/hawker-tempest-mkv-wing-commanders-kovozvody-prostejov-kpm72219-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=175515 - ref. KPM0220 - Tempest Mk.V - Clostermann https://www.aviationmegastore.com/hawker-tempest-mkv-clostermann-kovozvody-prostejov-kpm72220-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=175516 - ref. KPM0221 - Tempest Mk.V - Srs.1 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/KPM72222 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/hawker-tempest-mkv-srs-1-kovozvody-prostejov-kpm72221-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=177481 - ref. KPM0222 - Tempest Mk.V - 486.(NZ) SQ https://www.aviationmegastore.com/hawker-tempest-mkv-no-486nzsq-kovozvody-prostejov-kpm72222-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=175517 - ref. KPM0226 - Tempest Mk.II - Export - ref. KPM0227 - Tempest Mk.II/F.2 - ref. KPM0228 - Tempest F.2 - Silver Wings V.P.

New Arsenal Model Group (AMG) project is a 1/48th Hawker Hart kit - ref. 48902 Moulds are reported in progress Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1963572877288497&id=1505395696439553 3D renders V.P.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Lukgraphkits/posts/2601550333492357 V.P.

Hi guys, Can't find any complaints on 'tinternet'. I have just received an order which includes 3 sets of aftermarket Reskit 1:72 resin wheels (RS72-0287) for early Hurricanes I will be building later. They are far too small and are more like 1:100 scale. They are far smaller than all other kits I have! The tail wheel is ok. In the same order are sets of Reskit Bf109E wheels and the size is fine (cracking looking detail!). Anyone else purchased said RS72-0287 wheels and anyone know the outside diameter of an actual Hurricane Mk1 tyre? Regards, Lindsey

Tempest Mk.V Upgrade Set (73772 for Airfix) 1:72 Eduard Airfix made a lot to WWII RAF modellers very happy when they released their new Tempest kit, which I reviewed here when it arrived. It’s a nice modern kit, but you can always improve on styrene injection parts with PE and resin. As usual with Eduard's Photo-Etch (PE) and Mask sets, they arrive in a flat resealable package, with a white backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are sandwiched between. This set comprises two sheets of PE, the smaller one that is nickel-plated and pre-painted, and a larger bare brass sheet for constructional aspects of the set. To apply the new parts to your model, you must first remove the adjustment mechanism from the seat, two prongs that jut out from under the instrument panel, the rudder pedals, the outer surface of the chin intake and a few small parts in the cockpit sidewalls. The seat gets a realistic adjustment ratchet to replace the kit parts and a full set of four-point pre-painted seatbelts; the instrument panel is covered with a detailed dual-layer panel, complete with glossy dial faces and additional parts for the centre section; the side consoles are replaced with new painted PE parts and a forest of levers and other raised instruments; the sidewalls are detailed with new parts on both sides, including various boxes and controls. The L-shaped mount for the gunsight has a new face added to its compass to detail it up; the rudder pedals are replaced with new detailed parts; the control column has a control linkage added to the front; the foot plates are laid over with more detailed skins, with a small wheel glued to the front of the adjustment wheel. The constructional part of the set begins with the chin intake that is fitted with a new mesh panel; the tail gear bay has a skin added to the inside front of the bay, then the main gear bays are begun. Initially, a 0.3mm section is removed from the ends of the ribs moulded into the underside of the upper wing to accommodate the thickness of the skins that are added to the bays. This comprises a full set of detail inserts, plus other structural ribs and a full set of new gear bay doors that are folded up from two layers. More new doors are folded-up for the tail wheel bay, bulging the doors by rolling a ball-pen over the opposite side of the area to obtain the correct shape. Under the chin, a new two-layer cooling door is made, and the bulged fairing underneath is detailed with various small parts and a strut that holds the flap open. The last part is a stirrup for the pilot to step up onto the wing on the way in and out of the aircraft. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Fly is preparing a new 1/32nd Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc kit - ref.32012 New moulds or Pacific Coast Models Hurricane repop/new variant (http://www.scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/all-things-aviation/132-135-scale/132-kit-reviews/482-pacific-coast-models-132-hawker-hurricane-mk1-qbattle-of-britainq)? Source: https://www.fly814.cz/hawker-hurricane-mk-iic V.P.

When was the Hawker Tempest crowbar moved from the floor to the headrest? Apparently it was moved at mod 363, but does anyone know when this mod came in? Eduard have the brackets for it on all there Tempest kits headrests, though no crowbar is supplied. Does anyone have a close up of it installed at the headrest position? What was the colour of the crowbar? I've got a B&W picture from the pilot's manual, when it was mounted on the floor and it could be silver or grey green maybe?

Tempest Bomb Racks with 500lb & 1000lb Bombs (4442 & 4443 for Eduard/Special Hobby) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby The WWII Hawker Tempest was a capable fighter with power to spare, so that it could become a fighter bomber by the addition of a pair of stubby pylons, one under each wing to which the bombs were lashed, with sway-braces keeping the bombs steady during flight. It was able to carry either two 500lb or 1000lb bombs, which is the aim of this pair of sets from CMK. Arriving in their usual blister pack with instructions and card header keeping the parts inside, each set contains resin parts for two bombs, plus a small fret of Photo-Etch (PE) separated from the resin by a sheet of clear acetate. Both sets are broadly similar to build, with one exception. The larger bombs have separate fuses in their nose. Otherwise, it’s a case of removing all the parts from their casting blocks, adding the sway braces to the pylons, which are handed with L & R next to each other on the block, then adding the four PE stabilising vanes, spinner on the rear, and surrounding the PE vanes with the tubular outer fin. A scrap diagram shows the correct location for the pylons, and as mentioned the larger bombs have a short fuse inserted into a depression in the nose. Bomb Racks & 500lb Bombs (4442) Bomb Racks & 1000lb Bombs (4443) Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hi there! First I'd like to wish you all an happy new year! Health, happiness and brouzoufs for 2022! To start 2022 nicely, I've opened a box that should please you Brits. The very nice looking Hawker Hunter F.6 from Revell in 1/72! There were some goodies in the box, but after a quick look at the sprues, I've decided not to use, as I just want to keep the build simple. Modeller's datafile say this is a nice kit, with just a few errors/problems, most of them easy to correct. I only regret the lack of external load, with only a pair of tank and Sidewinders. I've in the stash an old Xtradecal decal sheet dedicated to International Hunters, and the one and only F.6 there suits me well. So be it, my Hunter'll be Saudi.

In the Czech Modelforum it's mentioned that after the 1/48th MiG-21, Spitfire and Bf.109 families, Eduard has as long term project the North American P-51 Mustang in the same scale (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234974169-148-north-american-p-51-mustang-family-long-term-project-by-eduard/). But as another possible project, the Eduard's Boss, M. Sulc, has also mentioned the Hawker Hurricane! Maybe more news at the yearly Eduard's Novemberfest 2015. Wait and see. Source: http://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=68170&start=5865 Strange considering Airfix is working on a new tool 1/48th Hawker Hurricane kit (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234972972-airfix-148-hurricane-mk1/). If not a Hurri then another British subject Mr Sulc? Like a Hawker Tempest or a family of Griffon powered (Mk.XIV...) Spitfire by example... V.P.

AviS is to release 1/72nd Hawker Cygnet kits. - ref. BX72044 - Hawker Cygnet with Anzani engine Sources: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/BX72044 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/hawker-cygnet-with-anzani-engine-avis-models-bx72044-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=181280 -ref BX72048 - Hawker Cygnet with ABS Skorpion Engine Sources: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/hawker-cygnet-with-abs-skorpion-engine-avis-models-bx72048-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=181281 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/BX72048 - ref. BX72050 - Hawker Cygnet with Bristol Cherub III engine Sources: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/BX72050 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/hawker-cygnet-with-bristol-cherub-iii-engine-avis-models-bx72050-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=181282 V.P.

Tempest Mk.II Late ProfiPACK (82125) 1:48 Eduard The Tempest was the successor to the Typhoon, both of which were penned by the incredibly talented Sidney Camm and his team. The Tempest was split into a number of parallel sub-projects to prevent it stalling in the event that any of the potential engine options ran into difficulties or were cancelled. The Tempest II was designed from the ground-up to be powered by a radial engine, and eventually used the Centaurus that had originally been destined for the failed Tornado project, a fact that initially caused some teething troubles until the engine mounts were replaced and some other tweaks made. The aircraft was very similar to the more well-known Mk.V from the firewall backwards, but with the huge cylindrical cowling it bears more than a passing resemblance to a Sea Fury. Due to the state of the war as it reached service, the initial orders were successively cut back, even though the aircraft's massive power delivery and more streamlined front section resulted in a faster aircraft. Under 500 airframes were eventually built, some as pure fighters, while the rest were converted to fighter-bombers, as the needs of the war shifted once the Allies dominated the skies. In service, the Tempest Mk.II was found to be an excellent aircraft, and was the fastest prop-driven fighter of WWII at low altitude, even faster than its sibling, despite the heavier Centaurus engine, which was more than compensated for by the missing weight and drag of the chin-mounted radiator. It was also rugged, could take plenty of punishment, and could be thrown around the sky by a competent pilot despite its thin wing, and some airframes were converted for use as fighter bombers. After the war the surplus airframes were sold to other nations following retirement from RAF service, with some lingering on as target tugs into the 50s. The Kit This is a reboxing of the Eduard Early kit, which contains identical plastic to this one. It arrives in the new gold-themed box with a digital painting of a British Tempest II launching rockets during a ground-attack on the lid, plus profiles of the decal options on the sides. Inside are six sprues in blue-grey styrene, two clear sprues, a fret of pre-painted Photo-Etch (PE) parts, a small sheet of kabuki tape masks, two decal sheets, and a glossy instruction booklet in spot colour with full colour profiles at the rear. Anyone that has seen the initial Tempest kits from Eduard will know the quality of the mouldings, and some of the sprues in the box are from the original Mk.V, while two are newer, complete with exceptional detail that includes rivets, cowling fasteners, and fine engraved panel lines that are at the pinnacle of current injection moulding technology. Construction begins with the pilot’s seat, which is assembled from back with two side parts, plus the adjustment mechanism that is fixed on the right, with the PE lap belts added, leaving the shoulder harness until later. The seat is fitted to the rear bulkhead, which has the floor slotted into it, the rudder pedals and the control column put in place, complete with the three-faceted instrument panel, which has the choice of painting a detailed styrene panel, adding four instrument decals applied to a simplified panel, or using the pre-painted PE parts with their glossy dials that attach to a mixed PE and styrene frame and consist of two layers for the best detail. This fits to the front of the sidewall frames, which both have additional PE and styrene details glued on, plus the cross-member that supports the compass, which also has its own PE face. The frames, cross-member and front bulkhead are added to the sides and front of the cockpit, and the instrument panel installs on two pegs on the cross-member along with the port side console. When closing up the fuselage there is a styrene engine front and spacer that inserts into the front cowling lip, then the fuselage halves need a coat of paint inside the cockpit area, plus a few small parts added to the port side, and a bit more paint in the tail wheel bay and its two-part bay former, then you can glue them together. Attention shifts to the wings, starting with the wheel bays, the ribbed roof of which is moulded into the underside of the upper wing halves. The bay walls are boxed in with individual panels, plus a few ribs and stiffeners, all of which is painted in interior green on both sides, with a splash also applied to the full-width underside of the bays and the radiator intakes, which also has a radiator core inserted into the starboard wing root. The wings and fuselage are brought together and joined by the front cowling lip, which also gets the interior green treatment, and in the top of the nose, just forward of the canopy, a styrene louvered intake is scraped back to take a PE replacement for the filters originally only fitted to tropical-converted airframes, but eventually becoming a de facto standard. The tail of the beast has the vertical fin moulded-in, to which you add the rudder, the elevator fins and flying surfaces that are all able to be posed deflected if you choose. The ailerons are also posable, and are made up from two parts each, one in each wing as you’d expect. If you look at the cockpit aperture, it is far too large at this stage, until the sill insert is added along with a number of parts on the rear deck and the gunsight under the front edge. It’s time to insert a pair of clear nav-lights in the wingtips, a pair of leading-edge inserts for the twin cannons, their tiny barrel stubs, and finally the exhaust stubs peeking out from behind the cowling on each side. They’re not hollow tipped, but at that size only a sharp-eyed viewer will notice. The tail wheel is first to be added, made from a two-part styrene wheel with anti-shimmy groove, slipping it between the yoke, which attaches to the strut, then inserts into a depression in the bay roof. The bay doors are attached to the sides with small tabs, and an actuator fits in the rear of the bay behind the wheel. The main gear has the smooth styrene wheels with Dunlop in raised lettering on the sidewalls. These slide onto the axles of the struts, and have the captive gear bay door glued to the opposite side, then the completed assembly slots into the bay roof, and would benefit from some brake hoses from your own supplies of lead wire. The retraction struts are fitted later, along with two additional bay doors. While you’re fitting the wheels, you fit the identification lights, two tiny clear parts behind the spent cannon brass chutes, another in the mid-fuselage, and two tiny parts under the fuselage level with the wing leading edge. The crew access stirrup has a replacement PE handle added and a short aerial with PE alternative are arranged around the trailing edge of the wing, then that big prop is made up. The prop has all the blades moulded into a central boss, which is trapped between the back-plate and spinner cap before being slipped over the drive-shaft. You get the choice of open or closed canopy that uses the same clear parts, beginning with the windscreen that is glued to the front of the cockpit, then the canopy with a separate frame can be glued closed against the windscreen, or slid back to get a better view of the interior. The final airframe elements are a couple of gear-down indicator lollipops that glue into their depressions in the inner wing panels, and another choice of PE or styrene aerial just behind the canopy. You have another choice ahead of you, which is to have a clean aircraft, one loaded with additional fuel tanks, or a set of eight unguided rockets, four under each wing. The tanks and their short pylons are all moulded in clear, and there is a decal to be applied over the clear level indicators on the side of each pylon. The rockets each have separate tails and a PE igniter lead, and a detailed guide to their correct painting, each one glued into its own set of holes, which you should probably have drilled out from the inside earlier. Remember that one. Markings You get a generous six decal options on the extensive larger sheet, with a few choices of overall colour schemes, plus a choice of desert or temperate for option D, as the researcher felt it was inconclusive – that one’s up to you. You also get a sheet of kabuki tape masks for the canopy and tailwheel, plus the walkways at the root of the wing if you’d rather not use the decal option. From the box you can build one of the following: PR805, No.33 Sqn., Butterworth, Malaysia, 1951 PR772, S/Ldr. G T A Douglas, No.152 Sqn., Risalpur, India, November 1946 PR782, No.16 Sqn., RAF Fassberg, Germany, 1948 A152, No.5 Sqn., Royal Pakistan Air Force, 1949 PR666, Sqn. Ldr. T H Meyer, No.30 Sqn., Santa Cruz, Bombay, India, 1946 HA598, No.7 Sqn., Royal Indian Air Force, 1947 Decals are by Eduard, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. The smaller decal sheet contains the stencils for the airframe, optional weapons and fuel tanks. These are also available as a separate set from Eduard if I recall correctly. Conclusion It’s a highly detailed kit right out of the box, made better by adding some rather nice PE for the cockpit and a well-appointed decal sheet with plenty of options. The Tempest II didn’t get a fair shake of the stick in service, so make sure you buy plenty so they get some belated attention. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Zvezda is to release in 2021 a new tool "easy-build series" 1/72nd Hawker Hurricane kit - ref. 7322 Source: https://vk.com/doc6108131_578170851?hash=b62de4a6f84263e904 V.P.

Tempest Mk.II Gun Bays (648638 for Eduard/Special Hobby) 1:48 Eduard Brassin After everyone finished jumping up and down with glee at the release of Eduard’s new Mk.II Tempest in 1:48 with its cylindrical cowling and massive radial engine, the detail hounds started to wonder what extras would be around. So far we’ve had a number of sets, and now we have the Gun Bay set. The gun bays on the model are moulded closed, so the first thing you'll need to do it cut the wing apart, making a T-shaped hole in each upper panel, following the panel lines shown in the instructions. You'll also need to chamfer the inner side of the landing light blister inside the lower wing, or your bays won't fit. On first looks, this set appears identical to the Mk.V bays, and to a great extent that is correct, but for the rear lip on the trailing edge of the wing, which has been changed, presumably to make construction easier. The whole bay frame is moulded as a single part per wing, and is given a PE floor with the lower wing internal structure depicted. The two ammo boxes fit into the top of the T each side of the cannons, which are added after, and plumbed in with some small resin parts. The rear of the bay is a mixture of resin and PE parts to obtain the correct thickness of the trailing edge once the bay is offered up to the underside of the upper wing. It fits within the hole, recessed to give a more realistic look and thickness to the bay edges, which are then lined with PE parts that replicate the lip and fastener locations, with the front sections inlaid with more PE to depict the hinges so that the new resin bay doors can be attached folded forwards, while the aft section is loose and usually laid upside down on the wing when removed. A CAD image shows their correct orientation, and Mr Hobby paint codes are called out throughout construction to aid paint choices. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hawker Hurricane Mk.Ia, pictures from the Finnish Air Force museum, hanks to Sergey.

I understand most Hunters only had Navigation Lights (Red, Green, and White in the Tail). Red & Green (probably ?) on, but Tail blinking? Pattern/Sequence? At least some of the Swiss Hunters (MK58 - Export version of the FG9) were fitted with an ACL (Landing Light - A swing down type), about half-way along the underside of the Fuselage. I wish to fit such a light to a Turbine Powered model I have, but apart from a few long distance photographs cannot find any details. Help please... Cheers, JimR

RP-3 60lb Rockets for Tempest Mk.II (648641 for Eduard/Special Hobby) 1:48 Eduard Brassin This set arrives in a familiar shallow Brassin cardboard box, and contains eight resin rocket bodies with moulded-in fins, eight launch rails, a sheet of Photo-Etch (PE) brass and a small decal sheet, which anyone with the set for Mk.V Tempest will recognise immediately, as it is a rebox with a new name. The rockets need their exhausts drilling out with a 1mm bit, and are then decked out with numerous PE fittings that facilitate their attachment to the rails later on. The rails are handed, so take care when installing them, then glue the rockets in place and attach the launch command wire to the back of the rocket and the rear of the pylon. Strangely, Eduard still shows the tails hanging down from the wing in their CGI rendering, which is only the case on the ground when they have been fitted to the rails but aren't yet plugged into a socket. Remember this though, and you'll be fine. As usual the paint codes are in Gunze shades, and the decals are also shown in place on the same diagram. Review sample courtesy of