WTD Matchbox 1/72 Tempest - SORTED

[RotorheadTX]

Wanted, 1x Matchbox 1/72 Hawker Tempest or equivalent reboxing.

Stateside or Ka-na-da-stan preferably, cheap even better.  


Kit must be complete; decals, box, and/or instructions optional. Will buy or trade.

Thanks!  
Tony

EDIT: Thanks Jim!

[Jschmus]

Found one on Ebay:

http://bit.ly/gmyruI

[The Wooksta!]

Heritage in the UK do a pair of conversions for the Academy Tempest to convert it to either the II or VI.  The conversions may fit the Heller Tempest also. Both are very nice and will result in a nicer Tempest than the somewhat basic Hatchbox kit. 

And I say that as a massive fan of the Matchbox kit.  Not sure how many I've built over the years but it's in double figures.

[Captain Canada]

I might have one, or bits of one...but I won't be home for awhile. Why do you need the complete kit > Just what exactly are you planning on doing with it ?

[RotorheadTX]

Okay, I'll spill - so you and Lee are in the loop - Sea Tempest in edsg-over-sky.
BUT using the original Sabre engine so it can sport a big gnarly sharks-mouth!
It will look simply smashing next to my RCN Bearcat.

I also have another project in the WIP pile that will benefit from the Centaurus cowling. I know I could go with the Academy Tempest kit for the main idea, but it won't help me with the latter, so why not ask for what I want? 

[The Wooksta!]

You could always ask if people have a spare Matchbox Centaurus cowling...

Navalised Tempest.  None starter.  The Sabre was a temperamental engine with close tolerances. I wouldn't like to be working on that in a hangar on a pitching carrier.  The close tolerances also mean that you can't swap bits from a wrecked aircraft to patch up another. The big chin radiator, which will look so cool with a sharkmouth (and I have plans for 2 sharkmouth RAF ones), is a big handcap for a naval aircraft - on ditching, it's going to dig in, the aircraft flips over and the pilot drowns.  You could go for the leading edge radiators of the Tempest I but lose the dramatic chin.  Then there's the handicap of the Sabre being liquid cooled as opposed to the air cooled Centaurus. It's more prone to battle damage.

The view over the nose isn't any better than that of a Seafire, if anything worse with that big clunky engine.  The Sea Fury was designed with a heightened cockpit for a better view over the nose.

Naval use of a Sabre engined Tempest would most likely be shorebased.

[JayBee]

RHTX

If you are wanting the Sabre engined version I have the kit with the Centaurus bits missing/gone. As far as I can tell every thing else is there. I bought it in a stash sale.
If you want you are welcome. PM me your address

Jim

[RotorheadTX]

Jim,

I'll not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Thank you kindly, I'll take it!! 



Lee,

Yes, I understand it's all wrong, but isn't that the point?
I honestly mean you no disrespect, but I'm doing it because it will look cool, not because it makes sense.
Loosen up a little  - you're being too rational.   

[JayBee]

OK PM me your address and it will be on it's way.

Jim

[kitbasher]

The big chin radiator, which will look so cool with a sharkmouth (and I have plans for 2 sharkmouth RAF ones), is a big handcap for a naval aircraft - on ditching, it's going to dig in, the aircraft flips over and the pilot drowns. 

Clearly size is everything, sailor - so what about the Firefly I and II, not forgetting the altogether chunkier Barracuda and their Griffon chin radiators (granted, a little smaller than the Sabre radiator frontage)?

[The Wooksta!]

They're naval aircraft designed as such from the start, so there'd be provision for ditching, watertight compartments to make them float for a while, etc.  The Sabre's a pretty heavy engine to, so it's going to sink quick...

[Captain Canada]

Well that's that, then....

Sorry I forgot all about this when I got home, but in retrospect, I think I only have the Centaurus parts myself.

Looking forward to seeing this baby come to life.

[RotorheadTX]

CC, that's fine - I still have use for the Centaurus bits, if you can spare them, AND the old Airfix BF-110 fuselage you offered up a while back.
Believe it or not, those should end up on the same airframe.