RAF 74 squadron - Horsham St Faith - Gloster Meteor F.8

Airfix 1/72 model build

This page is presently a work in progress.

Airfix have just released a 1/72 scale Meteor F.8 which has a special meaning for me as my father served them (as well as Hunters) during his national service. I sent an email to Airfix and let them know this, and they very kindly added decals for 74 squadron in the kit, which was dad's old squadron. Thank you Airfix! 

It is only slight, but it is enough, for example, to effect the fit of locating pins around the cockpit. You have to press the part home, and it pops out when released. Two options; clamp or get a file out. Knowing Airfix’s new found close tolerances, I think I m going to clamp where I can and carefully dry fit everything as I go along. I wonder how the parts would look if they used the old type of plastic. 

I am puzzled by the part that forms the top of the front wheel bay. It doesn't seem to want to sit flush with the base of the cockpit. Looking at the instructions there may be a gap between the two, but if so, why didn't they add a couple of spacer pips? I will have a proper look before I start slapping the glue around.

Another not so good point, there are a couple of small defects on the canopy glass that I need for the version I am building. Did try to photograph, but it didn't show. 

I removed the bottom bit of lead which worked, but I may need some more weight in there. Later on I will play around with it without fixing the wings to see if there is enough. A good plan B could be to leave off the belly fuel tank and only add it (weighted at front) after the event if needed. Perhaps a better plan would be to get plan A done right in the first place.

Fit was lovely and just needs a tiny amount of filling. I offered up the nose bulkhead and found that it fitted, but only under pressure. In addition, offering up the nose halves to this bulkhead would seem to indicate that also is a little bit too tight. I am going to take a file to it before fitting to allow some wriggle room. I have had a look at the wheels and I am having trouble making them fit. Part of the same problem I feel. I am sure that this is due to the plastic that Airfix has used for this batch, as it seems to be a common feature of this build so far. If it is the plastic, then it may be a non-consistent feature and the next batch of kits could be fine. 

Minor point, be careful with ejector marks within the main wings, ailerons and tailplane joins. A couple on my kit needed a bit of filing.

The wheels are slightly out, but I may be able to correct that by filing down one of the main wheels. What is not going to be so easy is correcting the wonky tailplane. Now I swear that when I lined it all up and applied the glue, it was dead level and the universe seemed fine and dandy. But the next morning, it wasn't. The two tailplanes are designed to fit together, with part of one sitting neatly over the other. Now this gives a nice relative fit. However, I think it must also exert a small amount of pressure which is enough to make it sqwiffy. If I were to do this kit again, I would line it up and wrap masking tape around the whole tail before applying any glue. Hindsight is great!

On a more positive note, the wings/fuselage fit is really very good, with just a tiny amount of filler being needed. One of the joys of modelling is that the plane sits on the desk for a long time (at the rate I work) and you have plenty of opportunity to familiarise yourself with it. The Meteor really is quite a good looking plane IMO.

A short while later...

This build sat on the shelf of shame for a while. Watching other builds on britmodeller.com  has pricked my conscience into moving ahead with my build and with so many good modellers on that site, it is difficult no to learn. Still not finished the build, but have progressed and have found soooo many things I am doing wrong. 

It is not only the tail that is wonky, but I think the main wings are very slightly out. Not really the kit’s fault, although more positive locating points may help noobs like me. You can see where I have messed up on the underside at the wing / fuselage joins.

Taking pictures shows up details that I cannot see normally. Oh dear. I have invested in a cheap LED lamp and an optical loupe to help. I am going to start taking more time getting a good surface (paint and joints) as far as my patience will allow. I am not going to worry too much about the Meteor, as it is going to sit on an open shelf at my Dad’s place. Which is why it is more glossy than it should be – easier to dust.

And yes, I have broken off the blo*dy pitot tube. I think I should start using brass tube or rod for these things as well as machine guns, aerials etc.

Oh, and the colours are too dark...

To be continued.