Hawker Tempest

STRONG WIND WARNING IN NORFOLK INSPIRATION POINT.
As some of you who know me will verify, I do not like to conform, and this is seen in my choice of models. Having seen some beautiful 1/6 scale models demonstrated by the “USAAF Display Team”, I decided that was the scale I would use for any scale “War Bird” project. Talking to Phil after the “Battle of Britain” event, we talked about what we would each like to build and I said that I wouldn’t build a “Spit” or “Hurry” but would prefer something less popular like a “Tempest Mk5”. It is amazing what happens if you open your mouth near Phil. Before you have put the full stop on the end of the sentence he has written the next three paragraphs and you’r persuaded (Not that I took a lot of persuasion).
CHECKING THE MET
Before I start any modelling project I like to gather info, and not until I’m happy that I have the money, time, skills and detail do I make any move. Phil sent me details of the “Unitracts” Web site and Ian Turner (Turkey) gave me details of a Tempest site, which had several photos of model at various scales including pictures of the 1/6 scale model built from the plans distributed by “Unitracts”. I decided that I would start to really go forward with the project and suddenly everyone I spoke to appeared to have info on the Tempest. I now have a file a good inch thick with documentation for both the Tempest and its older brother the Typhoon.
MAKING THE MOVE.
So back in late October I made the plunge and ordered the plan, cowl, canopy and spinner from “Unitracts”. Just before the November meeting, a week after placing the order, I had a big box arrive at work; in it was a cup from one of Madonna’s bras (Possibly a spinner?), a new style crash helmet (Possible a cowl?), a canopy and three sheets of well drawn dye line plans.
WIND CHECK.
So how far have I got? Well one month into the build and things are progressing according to my plan (Aaah yes best tell you where that is!), I now have sitting in my workshop the following: 1 Fin (Ready for glassing), 1 Rudder and trim tab (Ready for covering), 1 Tail plane (Ready for glassing), the majority of components required to build the elevators, a fuselage jig, some “Litho Plate” scale components for the cockpit structure and a second hand MVVS 2.15 petrol engine.
WEATHER FORECAST.
Some smooth sailing with the odd storm. With Christmas coming thing will slow down a bit but we will see, the plan is to have the model flying for the “Battle of Britain” meeting 2004. So far the plans have proven to be accurate and well set out and things are going well, we will no doubt come across problems, lets hope they’re small.