Product Details

The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft used primarily by the RAF during World War II. Manufactured by Hawker Aircraft Limited and designed by Sidney Camm, the aircraft took its first flight in 1942 and entered service in 1944. Only around 1700 were produced during its short career but it proved extremely fast at low altitudes, was highly manoeuvrable and heavily armed. It performed particularly well against the German Messerschmitt Me 262 fighters.

Our 1:72 scale replica represents the Hawker Tempest Mk V JF-Z as based with No. 3 Sqn at Newchurch in June 1944, piloted by Flt Lt R van Lierde. Remy van Lierde was a Belgian pilot who served first with the Belgian Air Force and then with the Royal Air Force. He was transferred to No. 3 Squadron, Newchurch in April 1944. During his distinguished wartime career in which he earned the reputation as a leading WWII fighter ace, he rose to the rank of RAF Squadron Leader as well as being awarded the DFC and two bars. He returned to Belgium and the Belgian Air Force, retiring in 1968. He died in 1990 aged 74.

Our model aircraft is decorated in grey/green camouflage colours with a lighter grey underside and green cockpit interior. Note the white 'invasion bands' round the wings and the fuselage which ground crew painted on numerous Allied aircraft during the summer of 1944, while a wealth of paint colours have been applied to replicate the detailed components of its real-life original.