Valiant Wings The Hawker Tempest Airframe & Miniature No. 4
By Matt Bittner
Author: Richard A Franks
Publisher: Valiant Wings Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9567198-3-6
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 144
Valiant Wings Airframe & Miniature books have become formulaic. Which is not a bad thing. In fact, it's because of their formula these books are such great bargains. If you're looking for references for your next modeling foray, and Valiant Wings has that specific subject you're modeling, then you're doing yourself a disservice if you do not pick up that book. It will contain everything you need to know about that subject.
The book is broken out thusly:
Airframe Chapters
1. Evolution – The Sabre Tempest
2. Evolution – The Centarus Tempest
3. Projects
4. Camouflage and Markings/Colour Profiles
5. Survivors
Miniature Chapters
6. Hawker Tempest Kits
7. Building a Selection
8. Building a Collection
9. In Detail: The Hawker Tempest
Appendices
I. Tempest Kit List
II. Tempest Accessory List
III. Tempest Decal List
IV. Bibliography
· Scale Plans Mk.IV
· Scale Plans Mk.II and V Fold-out
For the modeler, this Valiant title is the be-all, end-all. While there are other books dedicated to history, squadrons and specific profiles, etc., the Airframe & Miniature titles helps the modeler in everything dealing with building their kit, but wrapped in one package.
As I mentioned in my review of their Me 262 book, Valiant hopes to provide an updated list of aftermarket accessories on their site, given the volatile nature of that side of modeling.
Chapter eight of the book covers the major "players" in the modeling world, in two scales - 1/72 and 1/48. Chapter seven covers kits still in production in 1/144, 1/72 and 1/48 as well. My only complaint would be the layout of the Appendices, mainly the Kit, Accessory and Decal sections. In the Accessory section, the parts are broken out by scale, and then alphabetical by manufacturer. Unfortunately the Kit and Decal sections are broken out only by manufacturer. It would have been nice for some consistency, and in my opinion it would have been nice to have all three broken out by scale.
All in all this is an excellent addition to one's modeling reference library, especially if you're building the Tempest. Everything you could want in a modeling reference is provided for in this single title. Including drawings. In the back of the book are 1/48 scale fold-out drawings, so people building other scales will have to shrink or expand as necessary.
My thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for providing the review sample.