50 FineScale Modeler September 2019T
he Hawker Tempest was an
update of the Typhoon that
incorporated a re-designed wing,
a fuel tank relocated to a
stretched forward fuselage, and tail fillet to
stabilize these changes.
Eduard’s all-new Tempest (this isn’t the
same Tempest kit Eduard first released 20
years ago) provides a great reproduction of
this beast. It includes clean moldings and
fine recessed surface details. There’s also a
full fret of photo-etched (PE) parts — and
you’ll use it all!
Unused plastic parts, including a second
prop and spinner, tires and hubs, and rock-
ets, point at other versions being released.
Ed: Since FSM received this review sample,
Eduard has offered the Series 2 variant.
Construction was absolutely straightfor-ward. In the cockpit, the seat with PE belts,
cockpit floor, rear bulkhead, and joystick go
together without problems. The kit includes
optional PE rudder pedals, but they are
fragile and fell apart; I installed the plastic
pedals instead. (Once the fuselage was
closed up they weren’t visible anyway.)
Eduard provides three options for the
instrument panel: all plastic with molded
dials, a blank panel with decal instruments,
and an all PE panel, which I used.
The tubular side frames for the cockpit,
parts D17 and D4, were extremely fragile.
One was broken when I got the kit, the
other broke during assembly.
There’s a lot of PE detail for the cockpit
side consoles, including panels and levers.
It’s time-consuming to add but looks great
when done.Be careful bringing the cockpit compo-
nents together. As I said, it’s fragile espe-
cially if you’re working with fractured
framing.
The radiator assembly went together
easily. It, the cockpit, and the tail wheel fit
perfectly into the fuselage halves.
The only hiccup in the otherwise trou-
ble-free wing assembly was the inner gear
door retraction struts (parts E79), which
are exposed and easily broken.
After joining the wing and fuselage, I
had to fill and re-scribe where the rear of
the wing meets the lower fuselage.
Landing gear and associated doors went
together without a hitch.
There’s a choice of plastic or PE anten-
nas, but I used the plastic. The PE was too
delicate — if it gets bent, it’s ruined.Eduard’s new-tool
Tempest a hit
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