A Pair of Tempest II's

[NARSES2]

I started on my KP Tempest Mk II's this morning and got a couple of sub-assemblies ready for painting.

Anyone who's building this kit needs to be a little bit wary of the instructions as one or two sections show the Tempest Mk VI parts and instructions (the props and spinner for instance). It's fairly obvious from the layout of the sprues and the parts they are calling out are crossed out on the sprue diagram, but be careful  It's not the first time I've had similar problems with AZ/KP instructions, especially where they offer you a few choices from the same sprues. As said it's not a serious problem, but could put some people off and shows a slight lack of professionalism.

The way they've tooled the kits allows them to produce Mk V/VI/II models from the same set of tools. Now the Mk V/VI noses were really good fits to the fuselage, but I think the MK II's is going to be a little more interesting. Still we shall see over the next few days.

I'll have a couple of Sabre engined noses if anyone wants them once I've finished the build.

[Gondor]

A word of warning Chris, the instructions for the Mk II and Mk IV carry over the wing construction for the Mk V Ser 1 in the fact that they would have you install the cannon barrels. As these are a separate item, the ones in the Airfix kit are the same, just leave them out if you want a Mk V Ser II, Simple! 
Another little point, inside the wing KP/AZ get the two lights correct in the Starboard wing, however I have no recollection of seeing paint instructions for them. It's Red for the forward light and Green for the rear light I have found out from looking at my references.

Gondor

[NARSES2]

Cheers Alistair 

I was planning on cutting the cannon barrels down so they're "buried" in  the wings rather than just have holes. I didn't realise the wing lights were coloured.. thanks 

[NARSES2]

I was planning on cutting the cannon barrels down so they're "buried" in  the wings rather than just have holes.

No need to. They do include individual barrels on the sprues, part 40 x 4, but it's another case of the instructions not being updated for the Mk II & VI

[Gondor]

Cheers Alistair 

I didn't realise the wing lights were coloured.. thanks 

Just the rectangular one, the round one is still silver. I only found out after I had glued the wings together  but seeing them as a rectangle with two circles did make me wonder.

Gondor

[Gondor]

With regard to the wing armament. As the Tempest was armed with 20mm cannon you can scale that down and actually bore out the barrels if you want. 20mm/72=0.2777777778mm which is as near to 0.3mm drill bit size as I would be happy with. I am fairly sure that someone like Albion Alloys would have some tubing of suitable size as I have smaller tubing that would fit inside a 0.3mm hole 

Gondor

[Scotaidh]

With regard to the wing armament. As the Tempest was armed with 20mm cannon you can scale that down and actually bore out the barrels if you want. 20mm/72=0.2777777778mm which is as near to 0.3mm drill bit size as I would be happy with. I am fairly sure that someone like Albion Alloys would have some tubing of suitable size as I have smaller tubing that would fit inside a 0.3mm hole 

Gondor

Or, you could dab a bit of black paint on the end ... Dunno about you, but my eyes can't really see anything that small!  Growing old sucks, but the alternative is worse ...

[Dizzyfugu]

Check your local pharmacy and ask for hollow steel needles (for syringes), they are pretty cheap. There are several diameters available, you just need a mini drill and a diamond cutter blade to trim the stuff. But they make excellent gun barrels at 1:72 scale!

[NARSES2]

I'm afraid that with my stigmatism, hand/eye co-ordination issues (Parkinson's) and cataracts, drilling holes in small diameter tubing is way, way beyond me. Getting to the point where I'm just glad to get the basics together.

[Wardukw]

Sorry to hear that Chris..its got to drive ya nuts knowing what ya can do but ya body not letting ya do it..im in the same boat with my knackered left hand and im sure arthritis is starting in my right as 2 of my knuckles are swelled and stiff ..fact entire body is pretty much poked now..doing well for a 53 yr old 
Least the cataracts can be sorted and aint there meds or something which can help with Parkinson's ? I know Micheal J Fox has it and what ever hes doing has made him heaps better as is was really bad.

[NARSES2]

Least the cataracts can be sorted and aint there meds or something which can help with Parkinson's ? I know Micheal J Fox has it and what ever hes doing has made him heaps better as is was really bad.

Thanks mate. Yup the cataracts can be sorted, although the procedure is not guaranteed to work and can be a tad risky. As for the Parkinson's ? Yup there is medication, but I don't need it yet according to the specialist and might not in future as my brain may learn to cope ? Apparently there are quite a few types of the disease and it all depends on which variant I have as it's only recently been confirmed. Mind you it always concerns me a tad when the Consultant reads your results and says "ah, this looks a really interesting case Mr Edwards" 

Meanwhile the interior of the Tempests is coming together, just a few dials and buttons to paint, even though I know most will never be seen again and then I can close the fuselage up. I was painting the wheels yesterday and they are very nice. The kit's sprues offer both 4 and 5 spoke options and unlike the  Airfix ones they are single piece, so no sanding of a seam line on the tyre  The detail on them looks far better than the Airfix ones as well. Mind you a couple of recent Airfix kits have disappointed when it comes to the wheels, especially when compared to the rest of the kit.

[Wardukw]

Bloody good to hear that the Parkinsons is not as bad as it could be..MJFoxs must one of the other types..a more nasty variant ...whats got me kinda confused is the cataracts mate..its ment to be a very simple op these days..hell the do on dog's and cats..some kiwi eye doc did in remote mountain villages with a huge success rate..could also be how much ya willing to spend tho..private or public health ..dont know really as i dont have it ..just the normal eye problems here ..age related ..oh and bang related 

Im the same with wheels be it on a model or a real car...they make the difference between good or bad..aircraft wheels especially...if you want the gear down then those wheels can make or break a build and for some damn reason the spoked wheels on Ww2 planes always looked so cool to me .
Still hanging for more pics matey boy 

[NARSES2]

The cockpits are just about done now, just need the seat belts, which KP supply as transfers. I want to try and get them closed up before I disappear off down to Bournemouth for a couple of days next week.

Cataract operations are relatively simple, however they can quite easily go wrong as well and leave you with a very severely damaged lens. That's what my optician told me anyway. It's something I need to look into a little more deeply and will chat to the specialists at Moorefield's Eye Hospital when I go for my annual review in July or so. If they do recommend it then it will be on the NHS 

[Rheged]

Mind you it always concerns me a tad when the Consultant reads your results and says "ah, this looks a really interesting case Mr Edwards" 

You may end up with a whole article about you in The Lancet or The British Medical Journal.    I was described as an "uncommon" case myself some years ago.   All the best,  however your case is assessed.

[Wardukw]

Funny you mentioned seat belts because ive been thinking about them myself.
My 35th scale AH1 Zulu dont have any at all..the cockpit is very open and ya wouldnt miss thr fact they aint there..hope i can find some 35th or 32nd seat buckles for a twin set figther  which are easy to get and dont cost a fortune.

Yeah man get those peepers sorted..and on the NHS its free 
Even tho we've all heard storys from the NHS ive heard some great things aswell but yeah i would research the snot out of this..this is a thing where one mistake is one to many.
Like yrs ago when i got poked in the spine for a advanced blood test and the doc hit the wrong nerve..my left leg kicked out and i broke the hospital bed by snapping of the handle at the end of it..tore the mount off the bed..their mistake  ..i didnt feel a bloody thing