Hawker Tempest Mk.V

THE FROG TEMPEST
Model talks

Like the curate's egg. Frog's 1/72nd scale kit of the Hawker Tempest is good in parts. It is accurate: it is neatly pressed, and it is simple to assemble. On the other hand, the surface detail, which is of the straight line type, is too heavy, and the red and blue used in printing the transfer sheet are too light.

A very interesting feature of this kit is its instructional sheet. This relies entirely on symbols rather than written instructions. At first sight our reaction was adverse. But a more thorough investigation showed that the sheet is easy to understand and, what is more, the symbols are explained in six languages. So much for the insularity of the British. We heartily congratulate Frog on an ingenious idea and one that we hope will be widely plagiarised by other kit manufacturers. The three-view colour drawings on the Tempest box are very good indeed, and at 2s 7d in the UK the kit is good value for money"
W.R.Matthews

Flying Review 1967-06

NEW AND IN VIEW (Aircraft Kits)
FROG. Hawker Tempest V. l/72 scale. Price c(UK) 2|7d.

The general shape of this model is accurate, "but the very heavy panel joint lines require sanding down to obtain the flush-riveted appearance of the full-sized aircraft.

The parts fit well on the whole, but the tail plane/fuselage joint requires a good deal of filling and filing to obtain a smooth fit, the fairing moulded into the fuselage being considerably deeper than the rest of each tail plane half. In fact, it would have been far better if the tail plane assembly has been the same as that on their earlier Typhoon kit, where a one-piece unit slides through slots in the fuselage halves; it is certainly simpler to fill the small gaps that this method leaves rather than to have to make the Tempest components fit properly. The cockpit canopy is very good indeed, being of the, correct shape and an excellent fit, though the armour plate behind the pilot's seat, which is included in the fuselage mouldings, needs thinning down.

One rather odd omission is that of the four cannon barrels. The holes for these are included in, the wing mouldings, however, and they can be made from scrap sprue suitably trimmed.

Included in the kit is a one-piece clear spinner with solid circular propeller disc, on which are scribed lines supposed to represent a whirling propeller. This thirty-year-old gimmick is obviously aimed at the younger modeller, and this particular piece of the kit is wasted as far as most of us are concerned. Happily, the alternative solid spinner with its individual propeller blades is excellent.

The instruction sheet is an entirely new departure. It consists of several exploded views, each covering various stages of assembly, but instead of written instructions to accompany these, symbols with meanings such as "cement here" are placed against the parts shown in the drawings. The meanings of the symbols are explained in six languages at the head of the sheet. Though odd at first sight, the sheet is easy, to follow, and overcomes language difficulties neatly. On the back of the instruction sheet appears a text, also in six languages, covering general assembly and hints and tips for improving or simplifying modelling methods.

The box art features an attractive drawing of a Tempest V of 274 Squadron RAF dealing with a V-1, and the back of the boxj has side and plan elevations of both this aircraft and also that of Pierre Clostermann when he was with No. 3 Squadron R.A.F.; decals are included for Clostermann's aircraft but not for the 274 Squadron machine. The decals are flat matt and of better than average quality; it is, however, necessary to repaint the code letters as these are shown as being white when in fact they should be a very light grey or Sky type 'S' colour. The blue used in the roundels is also too light.

The kit includes two bombs, two drop tanks, eight rockets and the rails for these. The rockets themselves are fairly near scale, but the rails are far too thick. In fact, both, aircraft illustrated on the box were used strictly in the fighter role, therefore strictly speaking only the drop tanks are correct. Bombs could, however, be fitted without looking too much out of place and like the tanks they are most attractively moulded."

The IPMS Magazine, March 1967

The IPMS magazine, February 1969
NEW AND IN VIEW NEW AIRCRAFT KITS

FROG. For some little time now rumour has had it that Frog were revising and updating many of their older kits, and at the Brighton Toy Fair rumour became fact with the release of those described below. Retailing at 3/- each in a new clear plastic pack, complete with coloured dramatic art on the front and the now very popular Profile style drawings on the back of the display card, these will certainly catch the eye in any model shop display.

Each kit has had all traces of the original surface detail removed and replaced by fine and accurate new detail. Unfortunately, costs have prevented full corrections, and such refinements as cut-out wheel wells are still omitted. Cockpit canopies have received attention where necessary and are far better than in the original kits, while completely new markings and insignia are given, two alternatives being provided for each type as follows :-
Tempest V F189F
Tempest V
- W/Cdr. Pierre Clostermann's aircraft, 3 Sqdn. R.A.F.
- 274 Sqdn. R.A.F.

The very high standard of decals common to all Frog kits of recent months is maintained in these 'packaged' kits. All are matt or semi-gloss with excellent register, and the minute detailing, such as that on 'kill' markings or the MC 202 insignia, is clearly readable if one uses a magnifying glass.

It is to be hoped that other kits from the Frog range will be upgraded similarly as time goes by, and we look forward to these in due course.

The IPMS magazine, February 1969

New Kits and models.
NEW LAMPS FOR OLD.

COMMENDABLE venture by Frog is the revision of many of their older kits of 1:72 scale aircraft models, which have just been re-issued in a new scries in polythene bags. All the moulds have been 're-worked' very deftly to eliminate such features as etched marking positions, which marred some of the older items, and add accurate new panel detail and other surface improvements. We reviewed the old Fw 190 which had been so treated a few months back. Now this kit also appears in the 'bagged' series together with all the following: Hurricane, Tempest V, Me 109F, Typhoon, P-47, Zero, Spitfire, Sea Fury, Fokker D21, MS 406, and Macchi MC 202. Big new feature is the provision of completely new, splendidly accurate and imaginative transfer sheets, each of which gives a choice of two sets of markings. We had two samples from the range, the Spitfire and the MC 202. The Spitfire has transfers for cither a Mk I of No 19 Sqn in September, 1940, or Bader's Mk Va of 1941, the quality of the new markings being excellent. Fine details include walkway markings and stencilled maintenance instructions and the modest price of the kit, 3s, would not be unreasonable for the transfer sheet alone! Whichever markings the modeller uses, he gets a spare set of value for other models. The MC 202 has a similar choice of two colourful marking schemes, probably the most accurate yet for a model of an Italian aircraft. The only improvement not possible, it seems, on the older Frog kits is the etching out of the 'solid' wheel wells, though the average modeller can do this himself, or use solid black transfer sheet which is surprisingly effective.

This improved Frog Spitfire is certainly a 'good buy' (even with the 'solid' wheel wells), which captures the graceful character of the early Spits absolutely perfectly. Added feature of all the kits is a colour plan on the card backing sheet which acts as a painting guide for the model. On our Spitfire, however, the printing was poor and the colour guide would confuse a novice who knew nothing about camouflage of 1940! This 'new lamps for old' policy by Frog is most refreshing and should be welcomed by 1:72 scale aircraft builders. Our samples, at 3s each, came from Jones Bros of Chiswick who can supply the whole range by post.

C.O.E.

Airfix Magazine, June 1969, Vol.10 No.10