Tempest - with a difference! Part 1

[The Wooksta!]

The Tempest was one of Hawker's best designs.  Essentially a lengthened Typhoon with a new rakish wing, it looked fast and elegant, especially with the leading edge radiators.  However, this didn't cut it with the Air Ministry who claimed that they were "prone to battle damage"- a nonsense when you consider that it hadn't hurt the Whirlwind and was a positive benefit to the superlative Mosquito.  So, they stuck a beard radiator on it, turning a thing of beauty into a pig.

What if they didn't?  What if Hawker had gone for something else?  One of the early Tornado prototypes had a ventral radiator but the aircraft was prone to flutter and it was abandoned.  However, the Tempest had a larger tail so that may not have been a problem.  The Eagle engined Tempest was to have had a ventral radiator scoop.  So, what if Hawker had gone for that?

Home cast resin bits and a Heller/Smer Tempest.  The engine cowling is from a Tempest I conversion, the scoop from the Eagle Tempest conversion.

Current status: On hold.  It'll end up as a prototype rather than an in service machine, mainly because it doesn't fit in with what I want to do.

[pyro-manic]

I must say, I quite like the Tempest's chin radiator. Distinctive. This looks rather good, though - camouflaged or natural metal?

[The Wooksta!]

Camo.  To much hacking about to get a good NMF, plus all wartime prototimes were camouflaged.

[PR19_Kit]

Reminds me of a larger Napier Heston Racer somehow. Sure looks the business, best looking one of the three I reckon.

[NARSES2]

Like the look of that Lee

[kitbasher]

Yeah baby!