Tempest Mk.V
Cockpit Detail Set

Obscureco Aircraft

Reviewed by Brett Green

Chris Bucholtz and Roy Sutherland have collaborated to produce this lovely 1/72 scale cockpit for Academy's or Heller's Tempest Mk. V. 

Roy may already be known to many HyperScale visitors as the mastermind (and master maker) of Cooper Details. His resin cockpits set the standard when Cooper Details was starting out over a decade ago, and they stand the test of time today. It is great to report that Obscureco's latest release continues Cooper's great tradition.

Obscureco's 1/72 scale Tempest cockpit comprises nine parts in dark grey resin. Major parts are each sidewall; a main cockpit section with floor, rear bulkhead and forward bulkhead cast as one part; the pilot's seat complete with harness and quilted backrest; and a well-detailed instrument panel. A gunsight, compass, rudder bar (with rudder pedals) and control column complete the compact package. 

The floor detail of the main cockpit part looks terrific. This part has a fairly chunky casting block behind the rear bulkhead, but it should not interfere with the fit of the fuselage halves. The minor parts are cast onto a single casting block and display some translucent flash. Careful cleanup with a hobby knife will easily remove this. The sidewalls are probably the highlight of the set. All structural detail, plus trim wheel, throttles, switches are cast directly onto each part. 

Installing this cockpit will require some preparation of kit parts. Sidewall detail on the kit's interior fuselage will have to be scraped off. The thin resin sidewalls also require further thinning for a really authentic look. 

Instructions are a single letter-size sheet, printed on both sides. There are no assembly diagrams, but comprehensive notes guide construction through ten steps. There is also an impressive list of painting suggestions, a summary of Tempest V serial numbers by production batch and some suggested accessories for your 1/72 scale Tempest.

This is an impressive offering in a tiny package. The photos in this review do not do the parts justice - they really do look terrific. A coat of paint and a careful oil wash will really bring Obscureco's 1/72 scale Tempest V cockpit to life. It is a shame that most Tempests featured a black finish!

Recommended.

Obscureco
957 Curtner Ave
Militas, CA 95125