Hawker Tempest External Detail Set

Resin Art, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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Resin Art is a new brand of resin detail sets to me from the Czech Republic. They produce detail sets in several of the popular scales. Resin Art’s web page can be found here.

This is for the exterior of Academy’s Hawker Tempest Mk V. It comes in a vac-form blister pack with generally self-evident instructions. However I’d recommend some careful study of these along with the resin and kits parts before any cutting or super-gluing is undertaken. Instructions are in English and Czech, and have colour call-outs for three paint brands.

The parts themselves are crisply cast in a green resin, although I see on one stockist’s website that they come in cream as well. Detail levels and finesse are to the highest standards of the best Czech brands. The only pinholes I could see were two tiny ones on the trailing edge of one aileron (easily fixed). The set is focused around the flying surfaces, wheel wells and engine.

Replacement ailerons, horizontal stabiliser, elevators and rudder all require their kit equivalents to be removed. One bonus of this is that a spare Tempest tailplane will become available to be used on a late 4-blade version Typhoon if you are building the Academy Typhoon, which only has the smaller early style. The flaps are very nicely done, with the interior surfaces as well as the four flaps being provided.

The main wheel wells are highly detailed, and each has two very fine pipes cast separately, plus the need for some scratch-building with wire according to the instructions. This is where the instructions could do with a bigger drawing to help clarify just what is required and where it should go. The main undercarriage is rounded out with two nicely done main wheels, tyres and undercarriage doors. The tail wheel has had a lot of attention paid to it for its size, with a full well of its own, new leg, anti-shimmy tyre and doors.

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A well cast and detailed replacement radiator matrix is provided, plus two excellent exhaust stacks. Some other small parts provide underwing lights and a rudder hinge.

A very well produced set that should both refine and bring to life the Academy Hawker Tempest. There is a degree of complexity that could be a bit better supported by the instructions, but anyone taking their time, or using good photos of the real aircraft’s wheel wells should cope. Highly recommended.  

Text and Images Copyright © 2010 by Mark Davies
Page Created 18 January, 2010
Last updated 18 January, 2010

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