486 Sqn RNZAF Tempest (and more?)

[Skyf24]

Hey everyone, been a minute. My reputation of pledging to GB's, starting 1 after mentioning 5+ builds, and then not posting anything for a year probably precedes me 😅

 

Hopefully however, this one will be different and I can knock a few builds out.

 

I've been itching to build the Airfix 1/72 Tempest, and was hoping to use Xtradecals 72-194 for SAoH/JN812. Light research showed that this plane served as JFoM with 3 Sqn was actually a series 2 Tempest (among the first), and was shot down Oct 1, 1944. Nothing on 486 Sqn RNZAF. Looking again at the kit (and it does look wonderful), I noticed the second marking option was 486 RNZAF, being SAoN/JN766. To top it off, the kit has D Day stripes as decals, so I can use the lower ones on the wings for a slightly different look. I also have an Academy P-40N, with RAAF markings included. These will be the two main ones I would like to do, although I also have: several Mustangs, a 1/48 Spitfire VIII, and an F-4 Lightning. In the spirit of (possibly) actually completing one, we'll keep it simple for now.

 

Some pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

Academy calls for Foliage Green over... blue? grey? I don't remember, but photos seem to suggest OD/NG, with a slightly different color (likely foliage green) where the US star used to be. Progress pics soon.

[LDSModeller]

1 hour ago, Skyf24 said:

was 486 RNZAF, being SAoN/JN766.

If his photo is of help, SA-N JN677, 486 (NZ) Squadron Tempest, likely at a RAF Station in Britain,

though it could also be a recently vacated German airfield in France

Note lower wing stripes

 

( RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)

 

Regards

 

Alan

Edited June 2 by LDSModeller

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

4 hours ago, Skyf24 said:

Hey everyone, been a minute. My reputation of pledging to GB's, starting 1 after mentioning 5+ builds, and then not posting anything for a year probably precedes me 😅

 

Hopefully however, this one will be different and I can knock a few builds out.

 

I've been itching to build the Airfix 1/72 Tempest, and was hoping to use Xtradecals 72-194 for SAoH/JN812. Light research showed that this plane served as JFoM with 3 Sqn was actually a series 2 Tempest (among the first), and was shot down Oct 1, 1944. Nothing on 486 Sqn RNZAF. Looking again at the kit (and it does look wonderful), I noticed the second marking option was 486 RNZAF, being SAoN/JN766. To top it off, the kit has D Day stripes as decals, so I can use the lower ones on the wings for a slightly different look. I also have an Academy P-40N, with RAAF markings included. These will be the two main ones I would like to do, although I also have: several Mustangs, a 1/48 Spitfire VIII, and an F-4 Lightning. In the spirit of (possibly) actually completing one, we'll keep it simple for now.

 

Some pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

Academy calls for Foliage Green over... blue? grey? I don't remember, but photos seem to suggest OD/NG, with a slightly different color (likely foliage green) where the US star used to be. Progress pics soon.

Welcome to the build, both make for good choices. 

[Skyf24]

20 hours ago, LDSModeller said:

If his photo is of help, SA-N JN677, 486 (NZ) Squadron Tempest, likely at a RAF Station in Britain,

though it could also be a recently vacated German airfield in France

Note lower wing stripes

 

( RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

Thanks Alan, that is indeed the photo I found. Wing only stripes is a bit different, should add a bit more variety to it for sure.

[Paul J]

That's a coincidence. I was about to join this GB with the same subject and markings. I can see in the photo above the underwing stripes that look more like the ID stripes as applied to early Typhoons. So I  would say the photo was taken in the UK . Also it looks pretty clean.

[stever219]

15 minutes ago, Paul J said:

That's a coincidence. I was about to join this GB with the same subject and markings. I can see in the photo above the underwing stripes that look more like the ID stripes as applied to early Typhoons. So I  would say the photo was taken in the UK . Also it looks pretty clean.

You're right, they are the earlier ID stripes applied to Typhoons and Tempests which were only applied below the wings.  They were replaced in June 1944 by the "invasion stripes" which were then progressively removed from mid-July 1944 onwards.

[theplasticsurgeon]

On 6/2/2025 at 6:27 AM, LDSModeller said:

If his photo is of help, SA-N JN677, 486 (NZ) Squadron Tempest, likely at a RAF Station in Britain,

though it could also be a recently vacated German airfield in France

Note lower wing stripes

 

( RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

Hi Alan,   That Tempest is a kit that I built earlier in this GB.

It's RNZAF.   Your photo shows it pre-invasion, with Typhoon stripes - slightly different to Invasion stripes.

There is a similar photo of her, more from the front, clearly showing those stripes.

 

[LDSModeller]

7 minutes ago, theplasticsurgeon said:

It's RNZAF. 

Actually it's RAF. 486 Squadron is an Article XV Squadron, where the squadron was RAF, as were 

the aircraft, and the personnel paid the in British coin, but the the squadron(s) were crewed by

Dominion (Commonwealth) members i.e. New Zealand/Australia/Canada. They all started with the Prefix 400.

Hence the reference nomenclature 486 (NZ) Squadron etc.

 

The only Squadron that was not an Article XV Squadron was 75 (NZ) Squadron

 

Here's some references to Article XV Squadrons

 

Article XV Squadrons - Wiki

 

Article XV Squadrons - Australian War Memorial Museum

 

Regards

 

Alan

[Antoine]

7 hours ago, stever219 said:

You're right, they are the earlier ID stripes applied to Typhoons and Tempests which were only applied below the wings.  They were replaced in June 1944 by the "invasion stripes" which were then progressively removed from mid-July 1944 onwards.

 

Indeed!

 

You can check on the landing gear doors the difference width between the white  stripes and the black ones.

 

Yet I believe that the D-Day stripes didn't exactly replaced the Typhoon/Tempest ID Stripes, in the strict sens of the sentence.

Can't remember exactly when, but there was a directive during late march or april to drop TTIDS. And the order about applying the DDS was given IIRC the night before D-Day.

 

So, there's at least a few days, or even a few  weeks, were both Typhoon and Tempest did flew without any kind of ID stripes under the wings.

 

So, as 486 began to receive its Typhoon in january 1944, but production delays meant that they were then directed to Nr..3. Sqn.

 

486 stayed on Typhoon for a while, and they were finally equiped during march at Castle Camp.

 

So the picture showing JN766 must have been taken somewhere between march and april 1944, anywhere in GB, but the French airfield option is ruled out.

[Skyf24]

Lot of good info in here, thanks everyone!

 

Just want to clarify - will the Tempest still fall within the guidelines for this GB? I've got a good handful of subjects available if it isn't an option.

[LDSModeller]

Just now, Skyf24 said:

Just want to clarify - will the Tempest still fall within the guidelines for this GB

Short Answer, Yes.

Though  (from a Kiwi perspective) 485/486/487/488/489/490 were all Article XV squadrons but were (for the most part)

essentially manned by Kiwis who were either serving with the RNZAF or Kiwi's in the RAF - same goes for our Australian Cousins.

 

It's also important to note that 488 Squadron was the only Article XV Squadron in the six squadrons

allocated those numbers I mentioned above, to be formed in New Zealand, serving first in the Battle for Singapore,

then re-formed in Britain later on.

 

Regards

 

Alan

[Rabbit Leader]

Nice subject choice and one fitting of inclusion within this GB.
Just adding my 20 cents to the conversation (and apologies if you are already aware), JN766 is an early Mk. V Series 1 Tempest with extended cannon stubs and ‘Typhoon’ style 5 spoke wheel hubs. The Xtradecal option is for a Series 2 machine without extended cannon stubs and larger hub ‘Tempest’ 4 spoke wheels. The kit includes both options so use whichever parts are applicable to your chosen scheme. If I recall correctly, the Series 1 aircraft were not plumbed to accept underwing fuel tanks either, but I might need to revisit my references again there. 
 

Cheers and all the best.. Dave. 

[Skyf24]

Thanks again guys! 

 

The airfix kit i have is the series 1 boxing, so I will roll with it. (For now) 

 

Still need to clear some bench space, but if I do it in time I'll hopefully have a few builds for this.

[Rabbit Leader]

52 minutes ago, Skyf24 said:

 

The airfix kit i have is the series 1 boxing, so I will roll with it. (For now)

All the parts are there for a Series 1 and Series 2 Tempest @Skyf24. Airfix were kind enough to include two sets of wheels and a set of fuel tanks. Just leave the extended cannon barrels as ‘holes’ and use the four spoke wheels. Your choices are still wide open. 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

[Antoine]

51 minutes ago, Skyf24 said:

Just want to clarify - will the Tempest still fall within the guidelines for this GB? I've got a good handful of subjects available if it isn't an option.

 

Hi.... (?)

 

I've a similar project about a certain Tempest attached to 486, and after re-reading the rules, in particular rule n°2:

 

Quote

Rule # 2 - This includes both Military and Civilian subjects, planes, cars, Tanks, and ships. If you want to do a figure of a Maori warrior or an indigenous Australian go for it. If you want to build an Ute go for it. It doesn’t need to be in Australia or New Zealand. Just connected so if they operated a ship in the Atlantic during the World Wars go for it. If they were driving a tank in North Africa go for it. If its a Bomber crew flying out of the U.K. go for it. 

 

I think your Tempest (and mine, too) is "connected" to ANZAC, if not by the unit, then by any New Zealander pilot that have flown it. 

I'll take care of my own latter, but for yours, Squadron Leader C.J. "Jimmy" Sheddan gives an indication on his autobiography "Tempest pilot" that JN766 was flown on 23 june 1944 by Flying Officer W.L. "Dusty" Miller RNZAF who shot down 2 Diver in Hasting/Pevensay area. 

He doesn't agree with Brian Cull in his book Diver! Diver! Diver! who gives us JN808, but then you can track the squadron ORB and check by yourself, as I believe its just a typing error.

Whatever, a close look at the ORB could be interesting to know a bit more about the aircraft career.