Hawker Tempest Mk.V

This boxing of the popular Hawker Tempest Mk.V for 1/72 scale features new schemes and markings for two aircraft - one with a silver finish and one with a classic RAF green and grey colour profile.

The Hawker Tempest V was considered to be one of the finest aeroplanes of the Second World War, with its origins traced back to the Hawker Hurricane fighters of the Battle of Britain two years earlier.

The original fighter replacement for the Hawker Hurricane was the Typhoon, an aircraft which attempted to combine the most powerful piston engine available at the time with a small, yet strong and heavily armed airframe. Although intended as an interceptor fighter, it became apparent during development that the new aircraft would not be able to fulfil this role, as the thickness of the wing was not conducive to high performance at high altitude.

Aware that their Typhoon had great potential but was in need of improvement, the Hawker design team started work on a new fighter project, with a lighter airframe and a powerful 24 cylinder Napier Sabre engine. The first flight was on September 2 1942. During the prototype aircraft's maiden flight, it posted a top speed of 477 mph in level flight, impressing both the design team and the watching Air Ministry. 

The Hawker Tempest V entered Royal Air Force service in early 1944, with the first two squadrons to receive the type having both previously operated the Typhoon.

There is no doubt that the Hawker Tempest V was a real brute of an aeroplane, fast, heavily armed and possessing performance which could better any fighter the Luftwaffe had in service, perhaps with the exception of the Me262 at full speed.

Although appearing relatively late in WWII, the Tempest V still takes its place as one of the most effective piston engined fighters of the Second World War and was perhaps the 'Super Hurricane' designer Sydney Camm had always envisaged developing.

This Airfix kit contains all the parts required to build a fine 1/72 scale model of this aircraft. In total there are 72 parts in the kit plus two sets of markings to reflect different airframes from within the boxing.

Tools, paint and and glue are required to complete the model.