This is not a WIP yet, but I’m hoping to start it this weekend. My first question here on the forums is… Is there a good place to get a more detailed cockpit for a 1/48 Tempest? The detail on the one that comes with the kit is atrocious. I’ve never bought anything like that before. While I do know that upgrades are available for a lot of models, I don’t even know where to begin looking for one. I know I can probably find something on google easily, but I’m hoping one of you will be able to point me in the direction of a good quality product.
I admittedly don’t know a lot about the Tempest, other than it looks a lot like the Typhoon. I know the kit that you are getting ready to build and can imagine what the kit cockpit looks like. I wonder if there are enough commonalities between the Typhoon and Tempest, could you get a pit set intended for a Typhoon and use that?
I am aware of the Monogram/Revell Typhoon, as well as the Hasagawa offering in 1/48. You may be able to modify such a set to fit into the Tempest.
i was not able to find any such sets through my usual online stores like Squadron or Sprue Brothers, but I did find this one on eBay:
I do know that the Tempest is a Typhoon with thinner wings. They are alike enough that the development team called the Tempest the Typhoon II during development and testing. That’s what I read at least. Thought never crossed my mind to see if Typhoon model parts would cross over to the Tempest. My main concern is where to get it. I’ll check out those sites you mentioned.
I built the Monogram Typhoon a few years ago and used the True Details PE set, but I think there was more in the pit to start with than what you have so some plastic bits and stuff might be in the offing.
Check out Mike Brindos’ Monogram Spitfire II WIP down the list a post or two for some great ideas.
I built an OLD issue of the AMT kit last year using resin from KMC for the Typhoon, a a lot of scratchbuilding. Was a bear of a project beuse I scrapped a lot of the kit parts and scatched the landing gear, gear bays, radiators, radiator exhaust door, wing / landing / formation lights. I replaced prop w/ resin from KMC, and canopy from Squadron. Scratchbuilt then cast wing drop tanks, ad re-scribed entire aircraft mor accurately. I pieced together decals from various sheets, as well as printed some of my own. Then, finally airbrushed on any markings I couldn’t readily find for my subject aircaft. Whole project was basically an exercise in “polishing a turd”. Was a lot of work but very satisfying when it took a 2nd at a contest last November. Luckily (cost wise) I had the kit and associated resin in the stash, as I had bought them years before. Still have enough aftermarket resin & PE to tackle the Monogram Typhoon
Just FYI Eduard is running a limited edition Typhoon with Hasegawa plastic in March, and has a new-tool Tempest planned for December (but who kows if that will come out on time).
I only mention that because Eduard’s pattern lately has been to offer Brassin resin cockpits, engines and other details for its kits as add-ons. I am not sure how much effort they’ll put into the Tiffie, since it’s limited and not their plastic, but I am sure the Tempest will have a whole lot of accessories, as their Spitfires and 109s do. So if you want to wait a year to build it, there will be lots of accessory sets available (though certainly not cheap). When they get to doing their “weekend edition” kits (the $20ish ones), they often make PE sets for the cockpit for those, which can behad for about $10 if you look. My guess is if you wait for that, you’re well into next year…or longer.
Anyway, as I’m sure you’re starting this before then, the above may be academic, but I am watching with interest, as I love the plane.
Also, if you haven’t read “The Big Show” by Pierre Closterman, I highly recommend it. He flew Tempests after flying Spitfires, and his book inspired me to get one in his markings.
Thanks for the info BrandonD. I’m already well past the cockpit though as I decided to go straight out of the box with this one and use it to practice weathering. I love the look of this plane though, and would love to build a higher quality one in the future. So, I’ll be keeping an eye out for those new kits.
Eduard has had a 1/48 Tempest kit around for a long time. I have one in my stash. I believe that it has been released in a weekend edition boxing as well.
Well for the longest time there was none. The AMT kit went away with Jimmy Carter, and the Eduard kit did not appear for many years afterwards. And Eduard really did not go “mainstream” until maybe early in this century. Before that they were mostly mixed media limited run kits.
Yeah. I’d buy that about Eduard. My dad and I had 1 or 2 models each going almost all the time when I was growing up and I didn’t see an Eduard kit until I was in my early 20’s, and they were not even in the realm of what I would consider affordable.
The Tempest in my stash is marked 1997, so it’s not too old a molding. But certainly older for Eduard. As far as affordability of their kits goes, I really like their weekend editions. I don’t need all the multi media.
I still need to try one of those Eduard kits. I keep hearing lots of good things about them and they always seem to look gorgeous when you guys finish them.
The last Tempest/Hurricane I built was 20 some years ago by Matchbox.
I want to find some retro kit to add to my ceiling hanger collection eventually lol.
I built the Eduard Tempest. The aft fuselage is a tad short and the wing is a bit thicker than it should be. Overall it’s a nice kit but is not as good as what they do now. I added some parts in the cockpit from a Barracuda interior set for the Typhoon.
