1/48 Tempest Mk V - 486 Sqn JN588 SA-Y - F/Lt Jim McCaw
Oct 4, 2014 18:19:55 GMT 12
Dave Homewood, mumbles, and 1 more like this
Post by dewobz on Oct 4, 2014 18:19:55 GMT 12
The first of my next series of 5 commissions is Eduard's 1/48 Hawker Tempest Mk V Early Profipak - most fitting after recently meeting Jack Stafford - finished as 486 Sqn JN588 SA-Y in which F/Lt Jim 'Black Jack' McCaw (Ritchie's grandfather) shot down four V1 Flying Bombs on the evening of 8/9 July 1944
20-DSCN0875 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Since I get so much help & encouragement from the good folk here on WoNZ - and require some more on this one - I decided to post the whole build this time. Perhaps I'll ask my questions first -
1. Is there any rhyme or reason to the application of starboard side code letters to 486 Sqn Tempests? Eg -
24-DSCN0879 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
This is what I more-or-less expect on an RAF machine, the reverse (?) of SA-N on the port side. But -
29-DSCN0980 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Many drawings and some photographs show a consistent reflection (?) like this SA-K
Would such differences have had to do with 'batches' of aircraft identified by serial numbers?
Or perhaps with the application and subsequent alteration of invasion stripes, insignia & code letters?
Which leads to my second question -
2. Does anyone know what the status of 486's invasion stripes might have been on 8/9 July, just one month after D-Day? My research into other aircraft leads me to believe the stripes were reduced quite quickly, at least in some cases, and in others may have been only partial to begin with? There is a photograph of several 486 Sqn Tempests with full invasion stripes but clearly by October they were reduced, as in SA-K above and this drawing of SA-E
23-DSCN0878 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
On with the build. Eduard's aging Tempest kitset in Profipak form comes with decals for 3 aircraft including SA-N in April '44, a resin cockpit, PE detail fret, Film Instuments and Express masks. It also contained this canopy with a bad molding fault -
01-DSCN0881 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
I've requested a replacement from Eduard and also ordered a vacform one from Hannants.
The injected parts have many hallmarks of 'short run' about them, no locating pins etc. It's nicely molded though, with recessed panel lines and considerable detail. The only other alternative in 1/48 I know of is Monogram's even older Tempest with raised panel lines.
The resin cockpit went together quite nicely after hours spent affixing numerous tiny PE parts, although the seat is apparently quite fictitious. It's ridiculously shallow.
01-DSCN0952 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
10-DSCN0961 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
12-DSCN0963 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
There are some "fit issues" with installing the cockpit and the oil/turbo? cooler into the fuselage
14-DSCN0965 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Once adjusted though the fuselage went together very cleanly. I almost escaped using any filler on it!
17-DSCN0968 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
The wing and wheel well detail is pretty good and these went together nicely too -
22-DSCN0973 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
21-DSCN0972 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Although I have a sneaking suspicion there will be more "fit issues" assembling wings to fuselage. There are major ones with the horizontal stabilizers -
20-DSCN0971 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
All things considered though, for a short run kit I'm surprized how well and quickly it is coming together.
Any assistance with those questions above will be greatly appreciated.
More soon
Wally.
20-DSCN0875 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Since I get so much help & encouragement from the good folk here on WoNZ - and require some more on this one - I decided to post the whole build this time. Perhaps I'll ask my questions first -
1. Is there any rhyme or reason to the application of starboard side code letters to 486 Sqn Tempests? Eg -
24-DSCN0879 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
This is what I more-or-less expect on an RAF machine, the reverse (?) of SA-N on the port side. But -
29-DSCN0980 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Many drawings and some photographs show a consistent reflection (?) like this SA-K
Would such differences have had to do with 'batches' of aircraft identified by serial numbers?
Or perhaps with the application and subsequent alteration of invasion stripes, insignia & code letters?
Which leads to my second question -
2. Does anyone know what the status of 486's invasion stripes might have been on 8/9 July, just one month after D-Day? My research into other aircraft leads me to believe the stripes were reduced quite quickly, at least in some cases, and in others may have been only partial to begin with? There is a photograph of several 486 Sqn Tempests with full invasion stripes but clearly by October they were reduced, as in SA-K above and this drawing of SA-E
23-DSCN0878 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
On with the build. Eduard's aging Tempest kitset in Profipak form comes with decals for 3 aircraft including SA-N in April '44, a resin cockpit, PE detail fret, Film Instuments and Express masks. It also contained this canopy with a bad molding fault -
01-DSCN0881 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
I've requested a replacement from Eduard and also ordered a vacform one from Hannants.
The injected parts have many hallmarks of 'short run' about them, no locating pins etc. It's nicely molded though, with recessed panel lines and considerable detail. The only other alternative in 1/48 I know of is Monogram's even older Tempest with raised panel lines.
The resin cockpit went together quite nicely after hours spent affixing numerous tiny PE parts, although the seat is apparently quite fictitious. It's ridiculously shallow.
01-DSCN0952 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
10-DSCN0961 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
12-DSCN0963 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
There are some "fit issues" with installing the cockpit and the oil/turbo? cooler into the fuselage
14-DSCN0965 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Once adjusted though the fuselage went together very cleanly. I almost escaped using any filler on it!
17-DSCN0968 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
The wing and wheel well detail is pretty good and these went together nicely too -
22-DSCN0973 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
21-DSCN0972 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
Although I have a sneaking suspicion there will be more "fit issues" assembling wings to fuselage. There are major ones with the horizontal stabilizers -
20-DSCN0971 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr
All things considered though, for a short run kit I'm surprized how well and quickly it is coming together.
Any assistance with those questions above will be greatly appreciated.
More soon
Wally.