Hawker Sea Tempest

[Taiidantomcat]

Perfect paint! 

[Gondor]

In the real world prop aircraft in that scheme had black propeller hub covers.

Gondor

[JayBee]

In the real world prop aircraft in that scheme had black propeller hub covers.

Gondor

Alisdar,

Remember, this is NOT the real world

Jim

[Gondor]

Alisdar,

Remember, this is NOT the real world

Jim

Jim,

I never said that it should be as I suggested, however if it was that would give extra "double take" to the build.

Gondor

[PR19_Kit]

Remember, this is NOT the real world

Thank goodness....... 

[The Wooksta!]

My two critiscisms:

1.  The top grey isn't dark enough.

2.  The scheme is simply too late for 1946.  Not sure quite when that high demarcation came in but 1947 seems about right.  The roundels are decidedly post war - too high viz for wartime.

What I would do from here - because it's nicely done - would be to finish it as a post war aircraft.  Black serials for the squadron code, black 'HF' on the tail for Hal Far on Malta (the Tempest VI, being tropicalised due to those wing root intakes, was intended for middle and far east operations. Fading due to strong sunlight would explain the lighter grey too!) and use the kit serial but with a small "Royal Navy" above it - that style did happen, check the late Seafires and the Seafangs.  And being in the Med, you'd get away with the sharkmouth. 

Change the backstory and make it later to fit the scheme - the Navy got a load of ex-RAF Tempest VIs for use from shore bases to free up the Seafires and Sea Furies for operations from the carriers in Korea.  Alternately, the Navy got the Tempests for use as high speed targets for ship-board gunners/radar ops to practise against. 

A quick flip through Ray Sturtivant's "The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm " reveals 728 squadron, a Fleet Requirements unit was based on Malta at Luqa and then Hal Far from late 46 until disbanded in '67.  They were used for radar callibration ops too.  There's a photo of a Sea Hornet with that unit sporting a nice yellow flash along the fin fillet so you'd get away with the sharkmouth.  Best squadron code - something in the 500-520 range. 504/HF was allocated to a Seafire F17.

Simples!

[The Wooksta!]

In the real world prop aircraft in that scheme had black propeller hub covers.

Gondor

Bollards!  Many had them in the same grey - certainly the Sea Furies did, as did the Firefly as the one in the Airfix one had a grey spinner.  Many Sea Furies had them in red or dark blue.

Regulations may have stated a black spinner as standard but aboard ship or far away from Whitehall, most units ignored them.

[RotorheadTX]

Another weekend gone, more work accomplished on the fence. 

Another couple of after-work evenings, and progress.
Thanks, gents, for your creative criticisms; I think she looks even better now. 




Now to go mix up another batch of Not Nearly Dark Enough Sea Grey and paint the canopy. 

[rickshaw]

Looking good! I like the shark's mouth.  Looks the business!   

[The Wooksta!]

I'm liking this enough to do something similar but not quite the same - I have a Tempest VI ready to prime.

[Captain Canada]

Yes....very nice indeed !

[RotorheadTX]

Well, the canopy is masked and attached, AND I actually got a near-perfect match on the paint shade. 
Main gear and all gear doors are attached and painted, and I've started in on the weathering - first a Payne's Grey wash on the dark grey....



Just realized I failed to add the wing walkway panels!     Oh, goody, more masking... 

[sotoolslinger]

Beautiful work

[RotorheadTX]

It's finished!!

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,31367.msg503532.html#msg503532

[Brian da Basher]

The shark's mouth is the cherry on top! Most excellent work!

Brian da Basher