Tempest F1

[The Wooksta]

What if the early Tempest with the leading edge radiators had entered service?

This is the Academy kit with resin leading edge radiators and new underside engine cowling.  The actual Tempest I had a a carb intake but I extrapolated foreward and went with the later style of ram scoop adopted by the solitary Sabre engined Fury.  Post war markings for an aircraft in the Middle East.

[Captain Canada]

With those mods and in that colour, it definately changes the look ! Much like a Spitfire from some angles. Cool.

[kitbasher]

Another nice Tempest, Lee.  Well done.   

[Mossie]

Looks different in dk green/dk earth, another good job!

[NARSES2]

I think it's the first time I've seen a model in that scheme Lee - used in Palestine I think

[Mossie]

It's slate grey!  I went for the post war desert scheme alleged tohave been worn by some Tempest F6s in Africa in the post war period.

The wonders of digital images, I wasn't sure it was dark green, but I wouldn't have guessed at slate grey either from the pic!

[The Wooksta!]

Time to bump this one too.

[Old Wombat]

Good idea, I hadn't seen this build before!

To me it looks like something the RN might have been interested in as a more stable alternative to the Seafire.



Guy

[The Wooksta!]

They got it - the Sea Fury.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again.  The Sabre would have been the wrong engine for carrier use, given it's complexity and tight tolerances.

[PR19_Kit]

Navy aircraft tended toward the air cooled radial for purely practical purposes of course, even though the odd in-line engined type was used, eg Seafires, Fireflies, Barracudas etc.

But now and then an odd-ball does look good in our world. 

[kitnut617]

They got it - the Sea Fury.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again.  The Sabre would have been the wrong engine for carrier use, given it's complexity and tight tolerances.

I'd have to disagree there Lee, apart form the Sabre being liguid cooled, the workings of it were just the same as a Centaurus, both engines being sleeve valve with the same type of operating mechanisms to move the sleeves.  The Navy went with the air cooled version of the theme but the original Firebrands were Sabre powered

[Old Wombat]

They got it - the Sea Fury.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again.  The Sabre would have been the wrong engine for carrier use, given it's complexity and tight tolerances.

I guess my point was that if a Sea Tempest had been developed in conjunction with the Tempest (as the Sea Fury was with the Fury) then it would have been available for service during from 1944, as opposed to being too late to see service in WW2, as was the Sea Fury. Especially bearing in mind that the Tempest II, operating in 1945, had a radial engine & a Sea Tempest II would have been a direct lead-in to the Sea Fury.

Cheers!

Guy

[kitnut617]

I guess my point was that if a Sea Tempest had been developed in conjunction with the Tempest (as the Sea Fury was with the Fury) then it would have been available for service during from 1944, as opposed to being too late to see service in WW2, as was the Sea Fury. Especially bearing in mind that the Tempest II, operating in 1945, had a radial engine & a Sea Tempest II would have been a direct lead-in to the Sea Fury.

Cheers!

Guy

A Tempest was tested for carrier suitability Guy, but I think you'll find that one of the the main gripes the RN had was the view over the cowling, especially when landing on the carrier (where the pilot lost complete view of the deck right at the crucial moment).  A spec was issued which included an aircraft to have a better view (this was mainly for the landing) and the results were the Fury/Sea Fury and Spiteful/Seafang, both aircraft having a raised cockpit area.  The Firefly's cockpit was much further forward than the Seafire, Tempests etc, so didn't have the same problems.  Another problem was the weight of the Tempest and Hawker did a very concise study of reducing the weight, and this resulted in the "light-weight" Tempest which in turn led directly to the Fury (see Tempest/Fury LA610)

[The Wooksta!]

I did a Tempest II in RN colours as a lead in trainer to the Sea Fury - do I win £5?

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,30661.0

[pyro-manic]

Very nice - I did a Typhoon in that Slate Grey/Earth scheme a year or so ago, as a tank-buster in Egypt. It's quite an odd look.