Review: Eduard 1/48 Hawker Tempest Mk. V Series 1 – In-box review
Let's have a look at the all-new 1/48 Hawker Tempest from Eduard.
What is it
Eduard 1/48 Hawker Tempest Mk. V Series 1, kit no. 82121
Injection-moulded kit
Self-adhesive masks for canopy
Color-printed photoetched details
Decal sheet with 5 marking options
Retail price approx. 45 EUR
The initial boxing of the kit is called Tempest Mk.V Series 1 and brings the markings of the early Tempests of the 1st production batch, which were distinguished by protruding cannon barrels in the wings. These planes entered the service in ADGB during early 1944 and were employed initially to combat the German V-1 menace and supporting the invasion forces in Normandy in Summer 1944.
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- 1. Eduard has been visibly working on simplifying the breakdown of their kits, and this one is no exception. There are no inserts or optional parts on any of the major airframe components which should facilitate easy assembly...
- 2. ...or at least one may think so. Complications lie ahead for this rear fuselage joint, but more on this later.
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- 1. Detail level is impressive throughout...
- 2. ...but even more so at the rear fuselage, which features a very subtle lapped-panel effect. Wow!
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- 1. Wing parts are split in a classic manner
- 2. Full-span lower wing featuring correct built-in dihedral
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- 1. Subtle rivet detail looks appropriate for the scale.
- 2. There's much to like about the crispness of these blisters.
- 3. The only insert part on the wings is the leading edge cannon ports section.
- 4. Note the screw head detail in this area...
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- 1. Screws..
- 2. Rivets...
- 3. ..and a very crisp moulding throughout
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- 1. Cannon ejection chutes are hollow. Nice!
- 2. Ailerons are supplied as separate parts, but flaps are moulded shut.
- 3. Wingtip lights are provided as clear parts
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- 1. The clear sprue comes in classic Eduard "starburst" layout
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- 1. The canopy is thin, beautifully clear and appears free of optical distortion.
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- 1. Two styles of propeller are provided...
- 2. Note a different tip shape
- 3. There's a tiny bit of flash at the propeller tips but smoothing it out is a very simple job.
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- 1. Horizontal tail is split into upper- and lower halves
- 2. The fuselage decking around the cockpit opening comes as a separate part, which will ensure crisp detail in this area.
- 3. Two styles of spinner
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- 1. All control surfaces are provided as separate parts
- 2. Nice fabric effect on the rudder
- 3. Ailerons
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- 1. Note the "DUNLOP" inscription
- 2. Late-style narrow tires (to be used in future boxings of this kit) come with four-spoke wheel hubs
- 3. Early Tempests featured Typhoon-style balloon tires suitable for grass airfields. These are provided together with five-spoke wheel hubs.
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- 1. Exhaust stacks
- 2. Undercarriage legs are moulded with some exquisite detail
- 3. Cockpit floor
- 4. An all-plastic instrument panel is provided for future weekend boxings, but also for those modelers who don't like working with PE.
- 5. This is the "smooth" instrument panel serving as a backing for the pre-printed color PE parts that are included in the kit.
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- 1. The kit features full complement of underwing rockets, even though these are more often associated with the Typhoon than the Tempest.
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- 1. The injection-moulded fuselage frame (or rather its cockpit section) looks fine but is fragile. These parts arrived pre-broken in my kit.
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- 1. A miscellany of small parts. The attention to detail and quality of moulding are so good as to make me think whether a resin cockpit (also offered by Eduard) would really improve that much.
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- 1. Like the Typhoon, the early Tempests had their real fuselages reinforced with fishplates. These are provided as 18 individual PE parts that have to be superglued on top of that lovely fuselage surface detail....
- 2. ...but I find this to be an outrageous proposition. This seems to be the weakest part of the kit.
- 3. Printed instrument panel
- 4. Pre-colored seat harness
There's a choice of five markings on the decal sheet that is printed by Cartograf. The usual Eduard-style masks and colored photoetched sheet are included, with the PE sheet in the latest fashion with the glassed dashboard´s instruments.
The Tempest Mk.V series 2 boxing, with the famous Pierre Closterman- n´s Le Grand Charles markings is going to be released in February 2019. Another Tempest release will follow in June, which is to be Royal Class edition Dual Combo kits, where the main bonus is going to be the book by Mr. Chris Thomas.
A nice 2-minute video demonstration of the kit sprues has also been posted on Youtube by DetailScaleView.
https://youtu.be/ZlOgmvthUiY
Reviewer's point of view
This is one of these kits that just beg to be built. It's a fantastic new release from Eduard, but for this edition I was disappointed by the awkward solution with the photoetched rear fuselage fishplates. I will be simply skipping them on my model, and prepare to thoroughly enjoy the rest. If you think this is a problem, you might want to wait for the forthcoming late-series boxing. In all other respects, this kit is worth buying.
Thanks for a very nice quick detailed view of the Tempest. Looks like a nice kit with the extra's offered. The video is a nice touch. I also appreciate your opinion in regard to the fish plates. Something a modeler may wish to consider when it comes down to that point in the build. Pretty much personal choice. The mouldings look nice and crisp throughout. Looks like a winner. Thanks for teasing us with a very nice Tempest kit that will look nice parked next to her RAF stable mates.
Thanks. Yes the mouldings on this one are really first-class.
An easy solution to the fish plates if you have to have them is to cut them out from Tamiya tape and apply them, then varnish over them, they'll be about the right thickness. I just looked at my 1/32 Tempest V series i from Special Hobby and it doesn't have them and I didn't miss them and no one who's looked at it has commented adversely on that fact. Sooo...
I think you're right with regard to the possible solution using tape, and in fact I wondered why Eduard didn't provide the fishplates as part of the self-adhesive canopy mask. The PE parts may look more "professional" but the prospect of applying and aligning these flat and stiff metal pieces over a tightly curved rear fuselage using superglue is calling for all kinds of trouble.
Don’t worry, guys. No doubt someone out there is addressing the issue with a/m etch.
Thanks, Martin. Generally speaking looks like a great kit and the Tempest is a fantastic airplane to build.
Hard to believe Eduard offers this level of surface detail on a 1/48 scale kit
Thanks for this review Martin
I have already get this kit and planning to start soon.
Indeed they're pushing the envelope.
So, how the heck did you add comments to your individual photos? The magic of running the site?
Looks like a great kit. They don’t make a P-51 do they?
Matt,
They've announced one (a P-51D), so it should be coming soon! https://www.scalemates.com/kits/eduard-82101-p-51d-5-mustang--1105183
Michael