SleeperService

One person's guess is another's wish I suppose. That there is no 1/48 Battle is almost as shocking as the note on the Hendon aircraft where the front and rear guys got VCs while the non-officer in the middle got nowt. Several have mentioned the Vampire T.11 in 1/48 being responded to positively by the Airfix team but I think they're fibbing. While I hope for more 1/48 vehicles Airfix need to get somebody on the case who cares about the product as they haven't really been close to the standards of their aircraft. A WWI rhomboid would be an easy re-entry and Bovvie alone would sell quite a few to eager young folks.

I've been using Tumblr to host photos for several years without issues. I agree with the others - using it in a recovery/rediscovery diorama seems like a good idea. Check screwfix or similar for paint remover intended for use on plastic pipe and similar. The vinyl tracks may not survive but it works well on styrene but needs testing regularly as it starts weakening the plastic when it's eaten the paint. Scrub it clean with a stiff brush and water, neutralise with vinegar or similar, then wash.

There are two cockpits surviving which are the skeletons that got me thinking, Having been to Cosford the day before I became convinced that they were very different. Which led to this model attempt. Thanks I have enquiries out in several places already as I feel that this will be the difficult part. I'll leave John in peace for now but he helped me a couple of times previously so I wish him well. I've learned to be wary of 'common knowledge' predating the Interweb as, TBH, it was quite easy for honesty to take second seat to reality. That didn't only apply to model kits but at least the word gets out more easily despite some who are trying to hold back the tide. You offer a perfect example with the NF nose which caught Matchbox out as well, somebody's suggestion becomes fact, then Holy Scripture that is unchallengeable. That is the point at which determined amateurs with no reputation can make a mark. The way I'll approach it is the test a theory and see where the evidence takes me experience shows that a careful approach always turns up something of value.

I should imagine that is like herding cats where 9/10 is seen as a huge victory. I had one in my basket and went back to add the Skyshark and it was OOS as I hit the button - I may have muttered. I wonder how it will compare to the Matchbox 1/48 Fury I'm waiting on Caracal decals for.... To prove how fickle model-makers are I've read a thread where the newly announced Boeing F4B-3/F4B-4 seems of more interest. Weird.

Without a surviving Mk.I it's difficult to be certain but essentially yes that is what I suspect. I think the Mk.II would answer the question but I haven't investigated that yet. I'd also like to find what, if anything, has survived of the Gloster archives from this period. I've never seen the AMT kit but that may feature in my future. I haven't got the CA F.4 to hand but I have got my own Airfix F.8 which seems to be a pretty good representation even down to the oil canning behind the gun muzzles. I seem to have developed an obsession on this aircraft much like your relationship with the Hurricane. As a first step I've started purchasing Meteor books to understand the present version of it's history, from there I can start to pick at gaps and unsubstantiated statements. This could turn into a re-run of my thesis studies...

Sorry peeps but SleeperService is letting the side down again. I've just put the kit away as the fuselage keeps splitting in new places every time I touch it. I'll be taking a break from the hobby until I'm ready to try again and have regained my enthusiasm which is severely depleted at the moment.

The beast has been fighting me but lesson learned - avoid the Mountain of Doom for a GB. I'm pretty close on construction but unlikely to get it paint and decalled by the 15th. However the weather here has calmed down a bit so I can now work during the day on this. So I may just make it.

What a beautiful result! Also good to learn about the real drying time of oils. I've been experimenting with them and wiping them clean after a month or so as they still looked glossy. Next attempt will be left much longer. It is sad to realise that creatures like this are in rapid decline and we choose to do nothing to help them. I was an HGV driver and many of my driver mates have skin conditions due to being in the sun a great deal, not unusual around retirement age but we're hearing more about drivers in their mid-40s affected already. Sun screen isn't just for holidays in Spain any more....

@RidgeRunner Just a small correction my Meteor F.4 is 1/48 rather than 1/72. As you've gone to the trouble of compiling the stats I thought you'd want them exact. I hope everybody is enjoying themselves as much as I am, even though there have been 'challenges' mostly self-inflicted it's an interesting experience.

I 'may' have a 'few' candidates for this so please count me in. Most likely something AFV based as I've not failed so many GBs with AFVs as things stand.

I share your pain about nose weight issues. You've got off to a good start and I hope you don't get sucked into a Sukhoi alternate reality.

Greetings again from the fringe of the GB universe. Well this has been frustrating partly because of my stupidity and part down to lots of false information on the Interweb. So two piccies to show where things are now The fuselage to wing join caused me issues so I tried to reinforce it while working on the cockpit. All it achieved was to cause the fuselage to split elsewhere, despite removing as much resin as I could those wings are still heavy. Deciding to disassemble the area and try a better solution I test fitted the cockpit which didn't fit!!!Rude words may have occurred. Once my meds kicked in I investigated and found it was an unavoidable error on my part the gap was 2.5mm too narrow and that number rang a bell. I looked at the rear fuselage and something was wrong. Checking my notes the top fuselage is 5mm too narrow so I'd prepared two 2.5 to 0.0mm wedges to spread each half BUT ONLY FITTED ONE OF THEM!!!! The guilty party after the other 2.5mm wedge had been added to the fuselage top, the cockpit now fits perfectly. Knowing the wings were also too narrow I split them and removed all the failed repair and strengthening work and rebuilt it as the first photo. It is now very strong and has lost the tendency to let the wingtips sag. I call that a result. I am now convinced that the F.9/40 and F.Mk.I were the same aircraft except for the guns and other service equipment such as IFF being fitted the engines being the RR W.2B/23 Welland with 1700lb thrust on the F.Mk.I. Tamiya offer this airframe with airbrakes fitted as the Cosford example. The airframe was then modified for the MK.III widening the fuselage (but not the wingspan) which explains the weird root fairing on the Cosford example. I offer the following as evidence: This is not my photo and is here for discussion purposes only. This is the Cosford aircraft note the light reflection making a straight line from the windscreen edge to just above the nose wheel. This shows a constant curve in this area which straightens past the cockpit access to the fuel tank area. This curve also means the upper gun cover is turned in at the top front exactly as the Tamiya kit. See the almost constant curve along the top of the nose. The next two are the Midland Air Museum's F.4 which I believe is the same as the MK.III as far as overall shape goes. Above the upper gun port the structure has been modified back to the fuel tank to carry the width at shoulder height to the rear edge of the windscreen, this is then blended to meet up with the original nose cone and the curve above the upper gun port is modified as well. This is the money shot I believe showing slight differences between the new upper plates and the original design below. The canopy is much wider than the Mk.I and now slides to the rear. The Tamiya Mk.III cockpit is far too small while the Mk.I version matches Cosford's example admirably. While I'm determined to complete this model as originally planned I would strongly suggest using the Airfix Mk.8 with the Alleycat F.4 conversion for a F.4. It may be possible to use the Tamiya Mk.III kit with the Alleycat parts but they will need widening to match the resin parts. But that's for another time. For now I feel I've got a good basis to get this built before the deadline and will be able to devote the necessary time to the job. Thanks for looking I hope the information is of use and will be fine to discuss Meteor minutiae in the meantime.

I'm sad to read this too as I have an allergy to acrylics and really like Sovereign's range. I wish I had the money to buy the business and keep it going but I don't. Thank You for all you've done and I hope you get a great deal of enjoyment from the time you gain - you've earned it.

Just sent a PM but it looks as though Buran should sit a little nearer the top of the An-225 fuselage

An ambitious project you seem to have a good handle on already. Pity that none have survived as it seems like a good design considering the limitations of local industry.