Gloster Meteor F.8 (MPM/Airfix)
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/9/6/2/1353962-10105-45-pristine.jpg)
The original MPM kit in an Airfix box.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/9/6/0/1353960-10105-43-720.jpg)
Getting started on the cockpit. The resin seat is not exactly correct for the Meteor, so I'll have to use the kit seat...
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/9/6/7/1353967-10105-79-720.jpg)
...but tart it up a bit!
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/9/6/3/1353963-10105-26-720.jpg)
Eduard photoetch instrument panel.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/9/6/4/1353964-10105-99-720.jpg)
Eduard provided no film for the bottom six gauges, so I found an old decal that matched and glued it to the back.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/9/6/1/1353961-10105-65-720.jpg)
Adding photoetch details to the sidewalls of the gear bays.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/9/6/5/1353965-10105-28-720.jpg)
I added some greeblies to the front of the engine faces to make it look more like the real thing.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/9/6/6/1353966-10105-80-720.jpg)
Cockpit in place.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/9/6/8/1353968-10105-90-720.jpg)
MPM/Airfix recommend 3g of weight upfront, but my guesstimate is 5g.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/9/6/9/1353969-10105-45-720.jpg)
The fuselage and wing sub-assemblies ready to be joined.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/9/7/0/1353970-10105-29-720.jpg)
Fit is actually quite good - little filler required.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/9/7/1/1353971-10105-25-720.jpg)
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/9/7/3/1353973-10105-69-720.jpg)
I next gave her a coat of a light glossy grey to check the seams etc. and to act as a nice base coat for the aluminum lacquer.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/7/2/1353972-10105-77-720.jpg)
I wanted to have the canopy open, so out came the razor saw. Two canopies were provided - I took the windscreen from one and the sliding portion from the other. This was done to ensure that I had enough plastic on each piece when sanding to the final shape.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/7/4/1353974-10105-83-720.jpg)
Next up was the yellow for the tail. This needs to match the squadron markings which are supplied as a decal.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/7/5/1353975-10105-17-720.jpg)
I found an old bottle of Testors Flat Yellow which is a near perfect match.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/9/7/6/1353976-10105-87-720.jpg)
Next comes the Alclad Aluminum which I'm using to replicate High Speed Silver.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/9/7/7/1353977-10105-81-720.jpg)
I don't care for Alclad High Speed Silver as I think it's a bit too grainy.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/9/7/8/1353978-10105-42-720.jpg)
Airfix provide the red checks for the tail in a series of 12 decals. Oh boy!
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/9/7/9/1353979-10105-89-720.jpg)
Most of the decals are oversize and have to be trimmed by quite a lot.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/9/8/0/1353980-10105-56-720.jpg)
Making flat decals conform to curved surfaces is always fun.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/9/8/1/1353981-10105-41-720.jpg)
I used Gunze H414 RLM Red to match up the decals at the leading and trailing edges.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/9/8/2/1353982-10105-67-720.jpg)
I really had to take my time with this, but at the end I think it looks pretty good.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/9/8/3/1353983-10105-60-720.jpg)
I think I won't do any more checkerboards for a while! (Ed. - he did yellow and red checkers on his very next kit!)
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/9/8/4/1353984-10105-58-720.jpg)
The other stickers were a breeze!
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/9/8/5/1353985-10105-30-720.jpg)
Even the ones that say "PRESS" in 0.01 point font.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/9/8/6/1353986-10105-28-720.jpg)
Gear legs and tyres - the mud guard brackets are made from solder.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/9/8/8/1353988-10105-57-720.jpg)
She's on her legs.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/9/8/7/1353987-10105-28-720.jpg)
Exhausts added.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/9/9/0/1353990-10105-95-720.jpg)
I didn't like the IFF antenna pole from the kit so I made my own (on left).
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/9/8/9/1353989-10105-53-720.jpg)
No more parts so I guess she's finished!
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/9/9/1/1353991-10105-34-720.jpg)
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/9/9/2/1353992-10105-68-720.jpg)
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/9/9/3/1353993-10105-99-720.jpg)
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/9/9/4/1353994-10105-93-720.jpg)
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/9/9/5/1353995-10105-83-720.jpg)
Commentaires
23 3 December 2022, 21:12
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
Thanks mates! The red checks on the tail easily required over half the time spent on this build - but it was worth it. I really like how she looks. Cheers, Bill
3 December 2022, 23:42
Album info
1:72 scale Airfix/MPM kit in the Airfix Club box. Scheme is WK799 used in the flyover for the Queen's Coronation Review in 1952.