Hawker Typhoon, Tempest, and Sea Fury

[kitnut617]

I thought they were made by Kitbits but looking at the bag it doesn't really say except the stock number AK001 so I'm not sure as I've something else made by Kitbits which had a stock code starting with KB---.  I've written to Hannants to see if they can tell me who the manufacturer is but I don't think it's Final Touch.

[kitnut617]

The AK in the part number could be AirKit but I'm not sure, I'll wait to see if I get anything back from Hannants before I can definitely say.

Robert

[kitnut617]

I've just had a reply from Nigel at Hannants, the tanks are AirKit accessories, so considering Wooksta's compliments to Paul Lucas, maybe they have a little credence after all.  I would have to say they are ferry tanks too.

Robert

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Has anyone performed a check-fit of alternative engine cowlings to the Sea Fury?  Reason for asking is due to the excitement created by the Centarus powered Tigercat WHIF and what to do with the leftover parts from the HobbyCraft and now Trumpeter Sea Fury kits.  I recently disposed of an Accurate Miniatures B-25G conversion and before it was sent off I performed a check-fit of the engine cowlings on the HobbyCraft Sea Fury and was quite surpised to find that they fit with little interference.  Sure the were a bit shorter than the original cowling but that could have been addressed to increase the length to represent a longer engine of similar size and proportion to the Centaurus. 

Anyone else have a suggestion on what to use?

[Mossie]

Bit late I know Jeff, but I been looking at a few different engine installations over the last couple of days.

First is the Sabre VII, this was trialled & would have powered the Fury F.1 had it entered RAF serviced.  I've got a Typhoon that may provide the basics, but the scoop, underside & radiators would need scratching, as well as the exhaust stubs being a different type.


Second is the Griffon.  Again, this was trialled & you'd need to scratch most of it as the radiator set up is quite different to any other Griffon:


Last, I looked at putting the Wright R3350 from a Skyraider onto it.  The fit is near perfect, although the cowl shapes are very similar & the difference wouldn't be very apparent.  You could keep the cowl flaps for a slightly different look to the Centaurus.

[kitnut617]

I've used those photos and few others to start my Fury prototypes Simon,  I modified a Shackleton nacelle front for the Griffin powered version and modified a Tempest Mk.I nose (Ventura) to do the Sabre VII version (3000 hp  )

[kitnut617]

Here'a bit of trivia, the leading edge air intake/oil cooler on the Centaurus Fury are on the opposite wings to how the Sea Fury has it's intakes.  Just why they were swapped over I've not been able to find out but all the photos of the different Furys show it.

Forgot to add, the Venture Tempest Mk.I leading edge radiators also go on the Sabre VII Fury, just reduced in width to suit the different u/c location.

[kitnut617]

I think it was swapped for airflow reasons but I'm not sure.

Bob, those tanks are *definitely* ferry tanks,  the Fury could carry either 45 gal or 90 gal drop tanks, according to a Tony Buttler article in Air Enthusiast (don't recall the no.)  but the latter were very rarely used.

Good to know Lee,  I think they will go on my Sabre VII Fury what-if, going to need the fuel won't they.

[Mossie]

I've got the recent Airfix boxing of the PM Sea Fury.  The only thing I've got to donate the Sabre is a an old Airfix Typhoon.  It'll take a fair bit of putty, but should be doable?  I'm hoping to get it done for Telford so I don't have time to get any more bits.  Any tips?

Robert, those two Furies are looking good, will they get the prototypes markings or in-service paint jobs?

[kitnut617]

Robert, those two Furies are looking good, will they get the prototypes markings or in-service paint jobs?

I was going to do them as prototypes, as LA610 in a number of guises, but now they might just get the What-If treatment.  Mind you I could do another pair as the what-ifs because I'm building these two Griffon Tempests as well, a MK.III and Mk.IV, where one was LA610 too, the so called 'light weight' Tempest.  These I'm building from a description I was given by the Tempest Specialist at Air-Britain.  The light weight Tempest was the first to get the reduced wingspan by moving the wheel bays into the fuselage area but I'm assuming that it had the round radiator cowling.  The other one I'm building from a drawing I was given by the Specialist and I was going to use a modified Beaufighter cowling as you can see here, but more info that I recieved made me realise that the cowling on this version was very similar to the Firefly cowling, so it will eventually get the one I've spare from a Firefly Nightfighter conversion I'm doing too.  The five blade prop is just an idea I had.

[Mossie]

Nice little project you've got going there!  I always wondered what the Griffon Tempests would have looked like.  I'll probably put a five blade prop on my Sabre Fury too, although LA610 had four blades (although I might have seen a later pic with five ) I think it would have ended up with five.  There were plants to put a contraprop on it too but it wasn't needed, I'd add this if I had one!

[kitnut617]

With the increase in horsepower the Sabre VII had, 3000 as to 2400 of the earlier versions, I thought about a five blader too, but then I found Aeroclub have a replacement prop for a Beverly, these are not only bigger in diameter but have broader blades which to my mind would soak up the extra power. I'll eventually reprofile the blade tips to around 14 feet I think.

[Mossie]

Mossie, I've the relevant bits to hand (at least two or three gash Tempests, spare cowls plus leading edge intakes) so send me a PM with your address and I'll get them in the post sharpish.

Lee, your a star mate.  PM on it's way.

[Mossie]

Just a thought, has anyone got a three view of the Sabre Fury?  I've got a few pics & a side view of the front end, but no top or front view.

Another thought, at the same time I bought the Sea Fury I got hold of a Revell Twin Otter.  I found out that the two aircraft were very similar in weight, so if anyone wanted to built a Sea Fury Floatplane, use the floats from the Twotter & you can still build that with either the wheels or skis.  Bonus!

[GTX]

How about some Twin-Tiffies:




Regards,

Greg