Parts for the Matchbox Hawker Tempest

[TeeELL]

I was searching for a 1:72 Tempest II model without success, until a Matchbox kit came up on an auction site for ‘not a lot’.  

Considered a ‘toy’, the overall dimensions and shape of the Matchbox Tempest (as the Tempest II/F2) compare well to scale drawings.   The kit lacks the details of the current generation of kits but in view of its general accuracy I felt that a bit of 3D intervention would work wonders.  I started on the cockpit (in truth much of which will be all but unseen).

This shows the typical floor section with the separate rudder pedals attached.  The unit fits between the raised inner section of the kit cockpit floor - I’ve since increased the longth of the rear most cross member as it abutts the back of the raised section.

the seat was created by a combination of copying the Airfix seat and photos, the plastic rods fit through holes printed (not printed?) in the 3D model.  The bar behind the seat holds the seat centrally, the plastic rods are pushed through and cemented to the wall of the kit and CA’d to the seat.  Once all is set the sacrificial positioning bar is removed.  (the holein the forward section of the fuselage was made in error when working out how to fix the printed floor.)

 

Using a number of references, I designed an instrument panel incorporating recessed ‘instruments’, the gunsight, compass and side panels with throttle:
 

 

For my model, I decided to use the Yahu instrument panels so removed the recessed instruments etc and added a sacrificial centering bar as per the seat.  I printed a separate throttle unit to attach.

The gunsight has been printed as a separate unit und slides into the recess at the top of the instrument panel.  It has a long positioning ‘tongue’ to make fitting easier and the help hold it in position - thus is can be fitted after the model has been painted, if so desired.

 

Moving on to the forward fuselage for the Tempest II.  I’ve seen a variety of options for representing the grill that is a prominent feature on top of the engine nacelle, from painstaking scribing to painting to transfers - I decided to see if it could be 3D printed:

The particles of dust were readily washed away.

 

At the front end Matchbox simply provided a plate, split between the nacelle halves - in truth this is really all that is required as precious little can be seen once the propellor assembly is fitted!  

 

I had read about the profile shape of the cowling so decided to see what needed to be done as well as remove the all to obvious seam.

whilst happy in principle with my first attempt, it didn’t look right.  When compared to scale drawing the cowling was about 1mm too short.  Adding that length to the CAD drawing enabled me to achieve the prototypical contour:

 

Having created the cowling the kit part had to be removed (actually, I’d removed that already to ensure the fitting lip of the 3D part fitted).

I now had a void where a Centaurus should be.  A simple disk would had done, so I sort of created one:

 

This was refined and ultimately became 2 parts - the ‘engine’ and the ‘gear box’, by adopting that concept I can fit the engine and, when all the masking and painting is complete, fit the gearbox/propellor assembly:

 

 

 

The Centaurus has recesses on each of the ‘exhaust pipes’ which fit the rear of the cowling.  On mine, although I’ve CA’d each one, I’ve backed up the fitting with a ring of plasticard inside the nacelle.  I didn’t want the engine to fall back when I presed the gearbox/propellor assembly in.

 

 

Externally, the kit nacelle has 8 rounded circular stubs representing the exhaust pipe outlets, again I wondered if it might be possible to 3D print rectangular replacements:

Not perfect but better than the originals - this was a first go, I revised the print since then.

 

 

[TeeELL]

With the fuselage and interior completed, buttoned up and primed, it was time to look at the wings and U/C.

The Tempest has a landing light one side and downward ident lights the other, on the kit these are represented by raised shapes.  I drilled these out and then designed and printed inserts for the lights various - a single reflector for the landing light and twin for the ident.  The reflectors were painted with Molotow Crome and the ident reflectors subsequently painted with the appropriate Tamiya clear.  These have been inserted into the recess from inside the wing with a recess to allow a transparent cover to be added

 

The transparent pieces were covered in masking tape and punched out, leaving the masking tape in-place the covers were glued into the recesses.  
 

Time to address the ammo chutes.  After trying to cut out the openings I decided to go back to the CAD drawing board and design and print inserts - after all the grill worked.

 

 

the panel in the wing was removed and replaced with the printed part:

 

Time to move on to the U/C and associated parts.  Figuring that the new tool Airfix Tempest would have accurate U/C parts, I recreated their operating mechanism HOWEVER, subsequent study of the Granger drawings and ‘walkround’ photos showed that I was unwise to copy a mainstream producer.  I designed my own operating gear and operating jack (I will use these when I build the Airfix Tempest V).  I don’t have images of the individual parts.

 

I have designed a cross member, the operating jack and the operating mechanism which you will see in the next photo.

I found files for 1:48 scale U/C legs for a Sea Fury - very similar to those of the Tempest (certainly in 1:72).  Those were re-scales and I was amazed that all the details were re-created in 1:72;  I’ve added support sections for the U/C door.  In addition there is a hole running down through the upper part of the leg to allow for some reinforcement.

 

Moving on to the U/C door that is attached to the leg.  I copied the shape of the Matchbox door and then ‘debossed’ the details into it, again using the Airfix doors as a guide. Now you think I would learn?  Nah, subsequent reviewing of Granger and walk-rounds had me redrawing the details, in addition I made recesses for the lugs on the U/C leg (I was delighted to find that when put together the door would stay in place!).

This is a view of the various components that go together to create the main gear (there’s a bit of white tac’ holding everything in place:

 

 

From L to R - operating jack (the rod fits into a hole in the rear of the ‘mechanism’), cross piece, operating trapezoid, U/C leg (I know you knew that), U/C door.

 

I am undecided about the tail wheel just now, the Tempest had a twin tread ‘anti shimmy’ tyre; do I create and print one or not?

 

I cannot proceed just yet as I am waiting on some cannon muzzles and pitot tube.  In the mean time, in a final flurry of Fusion frenzy, I decided it would be an idea to design a jig to drill mounting holes for the U/C legs.  I am using blunted 23G hypodermic needles (0.63mm dia) as the reinforcements, they protrude from the top of the legs by 2mm.

Using the Granger drawings; the legs sit 15 deg 48’ forward and 5 deg 13’ outwards.  With the steel pin I realised drilling a hole as accurately as possible would help enormously.  I set too.

The design centered around a specific type of drill bit, so with measuring stick, verniers etc I designed my drill jig with 15 deg and 4 deg (I read that the ‘correct’ outward angle doesn’t ‘look right’ on a model).

This is what I cam up with (showing the drill bit at its 2mm depth)

 

 

I was very pleased with the end result, the drill bit fitted exactly as planned - I presented it to the wing……..

Oh dear!  I had very carefully designed it the wrong way round - were I to use it the gear would point rearwards and inwards, still the concept worked.

i considered revising the CAD drawing but, in the end, went for a clean sheet design:

 

Even this isn’t quite right as the L-shaped piece in the foreground should sit 3mm higher.  That had been addressed but not yet printed.

 

That’s all for now folks!

 

 

[TeeELL]

I am already fielding order for these parts from Poland and Belgium!!

[Troy Smith]

9 hours ago, TeeELL said:

Granger drawings

I thought THE Tempest drawings were the one by Arthur Bentley?  

Originally published on Scale Models in 1974 or so. He may nor have done the Mk.II,  I'd have to find them to check.   

Very interesting upgrades for the old Matchbox kit.

9 hours ago, TeeELL said:

1:48 scale U/C legs for a Sea Fury - very similar to those of the Tempest (certainly in 1:72).

AFAIK basically the same. The Sea Fury was lighter than the Tempest, they might have been strengthened for carrier use but I don't know if visible for model use.

 

HTH 

[TeeELL]

Everyone, please excuse my ‘brain fa*t’, I’ve no idea where ‘Granger’ came from - please note that the drawings I am referencing are those of A L Bentley.

Thanks @Troy Smith for causing me to check.

[TeeELL]

I have realise that I had the Al Granger data booklet on the Hawker Woodcock sitting around -  I guess my brain transposed them.

[TeeELL]

I have completed all the parts for the Matchbox Tempest (some will fit, or could be used to improve, any other Tempest kits, from SMER to Airfix)

The final parts are the inner fuselage doors and associated operating jacks and a jig to set those doors at the correct angle.  I’ve gathered the final versions of all the parts into one file and will create a ‘print plate’ file.

 

The parts list:

FUSELAGE

cowling ring

gearbox

centaurus

exhausts x 2

grill

prop length trim guide

floor

control column

rudder pedals

instrument panel detailed - OR - instrument panel plain (for YAHU) + throttle

gunsight

seat

 

WINGS

ammo chutes x 2

landing light

I/D light

fuselage light

U/C inner doors P&S

U/C door jacks P&S

U/C inner door fitting jigs P&S

U/C operating jack x 2

U/C operating mechanism x 2 (early style)

U.C bay X-member P&S

U/C legs P&S

U/C leg mounted doors P&S

U/C leg drilling jigs P&S

 

[TeeELL]

This is a photo of a full set of parts for the Matchbox Tempest II plus an ‘identifying sheet’ for the smaller, more obscure parts.  The set shown has the detailed instrument panel with integrated throttle unit.  The alternative option has a plain panel for use with the YAHU aftermarket set, and includes a separate throttle unit to add.  (The lower photo is a build plate for the latter).

 

[TeeELL]

I was considering £6 for the fuselage parts, £5 for the cockpit parts and £8 for the wing & U/C parts, £2 for the drill jigs.  Or £15 for everything bar the drill jigs.

What do you think?

[TeeELL]

I was writing the instructions for fitting the 3D parts when I realised I had an error with the ‘floor’; that has been corrected and replacement floors are being printed.

[The wooksta V2.0]

Possibly a daft question, but how solid are the u/c legs?  The ones in the Academy and Heller Tempests are nigh scale thickness and have a worrying tendency to collapse over time (especially if you're one of those daft people who add spurious resin RR Eagle engines driving an Aeroclub eight blade white metal Wyvern prop).  How suitable would these ones be to replace broken Heller or Academy undercarriages?  And could they be available as a separate set.

Edited January 23 by The wooksta V2.0
I wasn't expecting the Obsidian Order!