Xtrakit 1/72 Gloster Meteor Reaper - COMPLETED

[theplasticsurgeon]

A Meteor intended for ground attack only.

This kit,  from Jet Age historian - thanks.

To build something like this:

Kit parts, and spares that I've collected.  The kit has minor cockpit work, and dryfitting - but well short of 25%.

Decals, and leftovers.  Markings for G-7-1 are red.  It might not be finished perfectly. 

 

Story is that by time of the Korean War, even Gloster were admitting that the Meteor was outclassed for air-air confrontations.

In order to maintain sales, a Meteor F8, was optimised as a ground attack fighter.

The single aircraft was armed with bombs, or double row rockets, and wingtip fuel-tanks, for demonstration purposes.  

No further sales were forthcoming, and just the single prototype aircraft was built.

Did I ever mention that I'm a volunteer at Jet Age?  where there's an interest in the history of Gloster Aircraft . . .

This aircraft was later fitted with the tandem cockpit of a T7, and called a T7 and 1/2, and used for company business, including photography.

 

Later sold to the Swedish Air Force, by then it had a proper T7 tail fitted, and the fuel tanks were gone.

[theplasticsurgeon]

The cockpit was already assembled into the fuselage half - here with the seat.

Ballasted, then sealed in,, and the wing being assembled.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Wings and tailplanes fitted.

[81-er]

You really don't hang about, Tim!

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Wingtip tanks fitted, along with the engine intakes.  Photos of this aircraft show the smaller intakes.

Today is the day to treat all the seams.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Small fences scratched alongside the underside flaps.

Seams all smoothed,

and canopy fitted.

Airbrushing tomorrow.

[Col.]

Nice rapid work on a cool subject Tim

[theplasticsurgeon]

Airbrushed, in this case Revell 90 silver enamel, and canopy demasked.

Pleased with that.

[theplasticsurgeon]

And decals.  Or make your own characters from bits of red decals.

And Revell enamel is not as durable as Humbrol.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Undercarriage.

 

An inventory of my spares has revealed more than enough AP rockets - they will have to do.

[Col.]

That's looking rather smart Tim

[theplasticsurgeon]

Rockets and bombs fitted,  ground attack Meteor.

Pylons and fittings are speculative, but the effect is very effective.

Ground targets watch out!
 

[theplasticsurgeon]

And the completed model. 

 

 

[Col.]

Nice work Tim. Everything certainly looks as it should and matches your reference photos.

[stevehnz]

That looks brilliant Tim, I could well be tempted after seeing this,

Steve.