Hawker P.1035In RW apparently Sidney Camm was not impressed by early jet engines – “wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding” - so concentrated on developing his excellent Tempest and Fury piston powered fighters. This left Hawkers as late starters in the jet fighter stakes, their P.1040 missing RAF orders but eventually becoming the well-loved Sea Hawk.
In the whiffworld of 1943 Rolls Royce convince Camm that they really will have an engine in the 5,000 lb thrust class (the Nene) available by 1945. In these early days there is no established lay out for a jet fighter, but air intakes need to be close to the engine and exhaust pipes as short as possible to reduce thrust loss. After considering a “Jet Fury” (P.1031) with an engine in the nose, exhausting under the fuselage (like a Yak-15), then cockpit and cannons in the nose, wing root air intakes with a straight through exhaust (P.1035), Camm hit on the idea of short bifurcated exhausts. Nobody knew if this layout would work.
To try out the layout and especially the bifurcated exhausts, Camm accepted that the first prototype P.1035 would have a 2,400 lb thrust Rolls Royce Derwent, but the fuselage could accommodate the Nene when it became available. The Tempest cockpit and modified outer wings were used, and a tailwheel undercarriage for lightness (and acknowledging the Navy’s preference in the matter). The aircraft would be unarmed, with lead ballast representing the cannons.
Test Pilots’ Verdict“Not good enough Mr Camm – apart from more power, needs a new wing & a nosewheel. The tail unit vibrates. The exhaust system works, though”
The modelVintage Airfix – the lack of gun ports being an advantage in this case – Airfix Tempest canopy and the outer wings of a long-scrapped Revell Tempest V.
P1200995 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
P1200996 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
P1210003 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
Tail wheel bay cut out.
P1210004 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
P1210005 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
The Revell wings proved to be much thicker than the Sea Hawk’s – Miliput to the rescue!
P1210035 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
P1210017 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
P1210047 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
New undercarriage doors & exhaust plates from plastic card. Wheel hubs drilled for detail. Fin/tailplane acorn & arrestor hook removed. Markings from Airfix Typhoon, but serial adapted from Airfix Tempest to SN822, part of an un-issued block. Xtradecal prototype marks.
P.1350 Flight 2 P1070195 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
P.1035 flight by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
Over Langley
P1210044 by
Glenn Gilbertson, on Flickr
With a Tempest I which I made a long time ago
