Clostermann’s Tempest in 1/48
Eduard's excellent but slightly tricky-to-build quarter scale Hawker Tempest Mk.V finished as Pierre Clostermann's mount at the end of the Second World War.
The kit is a bit fiddly by Eduard standards but fit is generally good. The only real disappointment was the canopy which was cracked and badly stained when masks were removed at the end. I did my best to restore it but the crack is still visible. Other than that, pleased with the finish.
Video build here for any interested in the process:
https://youtu.be/sc1jRJX9_wM
Excellent Tempest! Loved the slide show music.
Thanks Robert 🙂
Somehow 'Echos of France' seemed to fit well for a Free French RAF bird!
Excellent work, Justin; I've broken quite a few canopies in the past and know the feeling. But your Tempest looks perfect; the video, too, very enjoyable.
Clostermann was a fine aviator.
All the best, my friend!
I was pretty gutted when I lifted the mask!
Delighted you like the result nonetheless - and yes Clostermann was an extraordinary (and extraordinarily lucky) combat pilot... finished reading his memoir The Big Show about a month before building this. It's really an incredible book.
All the best to you as well!
Justin
Justin, This is really nice, or should I say "Exquisitely Splendid" (to use properly British terms).
I really like your finish work, it has a very realistic look to it. Well done !
Thanks awfully old chap! 😉
Great presentation and terrific modeling. I wonder if the Mk V and the P-47 bubble top are siblings?
There is a certain familial similarity to the two heavy fighters isn't there!
Seeing the photos where you pose your Tempest with some other WW2 thoroughbred fighters was an eye opening moment for me, I never thought the Tempest was that big! It looks the size of the P-47, am I right?
Funny also because I’ve seen very, very few models based on Eduard’s latest box of the Hawker Tempest, yours is an outstanding model for sure. Have you tried emailing Eduard customer service? There’s a very nice and most efficient lady who has helped me twice getting replacement parts, the last being a canopy also. Give it try 😉
Right? I had exactly the same feeling when putting it alongside the P-47; surprise about the degree to which it almost matches the size of the Jug. The Spit Mk.IX prop also looks almost silly next to the gigantic four blader on the Tempest.
Thanks also for the kind words on the finish and advice on the replacement part service. Might look into it but I'm not sure I'd be able to mix the correct paint shades to match the rest of the model as I'm colourblind and have cleaned out my mixing pots now to move onto the next project...
I like that a lot! Beautiful work. And yes indeed, it's even more fiddly than the Standard Eduard Fiddly Kit.
Pedro: the Tempest was the biggest Brit fighter to see combat in WW2.
No doubt after seeing that photo head to head with the P-47, thanks for confirming Tom!
Thanks very much Tom! I don't know if you are into flight sims but if you haven't tried it already, the Tempest in Il2 Battle of Bodenplatte is an absolute beast to fly especially in virtual reality - it feels like driving the unholy offspring of a semi-truck and a formula one car around the sky!
She's a real beauty! Well done.
There are many discussions there and there in France concerning this version with the red cone. Even Pierre Clostermann does not have the same speech from one interview to the other. Interesting. My guess is that version existed really.
Nevertheless, your job is fantastic! Bravo!