Special Hobby Gloster Meteor F.8 / FR.9 "Middle East Meteors" (72463) 1:72 Special Hobby

[Julien]

 

Gloster Meteor F.8 / FR.9 "Middle East Meteors" (72463)

1:72 Special Hobby

 

 

 

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet aircraft during the Second World War. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, pioneered by Sir Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. Development of the aircraft itself began in 1940, although work on the engines had been underway since 1936. The Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with No. 616 Squadron RAF. Nicknamed the "Meatbox", the Meteor was not a sophisticated aircraft in terms of its aerodynamics, but proved to be a successful combat fighter. Several major variants of the Meteor incorporated technological advances during the 1940s and 1950s. Thousands of Meteors were built to fly with the RAF and other air forces and remained in use for several decades. The Meteor saw limited action in the Second World War. Meteors of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) provided a significant contribution in the Korean War. Several other operators such as Argentina, Egypt and Israel flew Meteors in later regional conflicts. Specialised variants of the Meteor were developed for use in photo-reconnaissance and as night fighters. Israel and its main adversaries Egypt and Syria all flew these aircraft. 

 

The Kit

This is the the MPM kit re-issued by Special Hobby with parts for the F.8 and FR.9 in the box. The MPM kit is of the higher short run variety but builds into a nice kit with care. If modelling the FR.9 the F.8 nose will have to be removed. While the new nose is clear for the camera window, no interior for the nose is included. Having built one of these kits nose weight is a must. 

 

 

The underside of the main cockpit forms the front wheel well and the nose gear can then be built up and added in here. With the fuselage together the tail planes can now be fixed on. Moving to the main wings the wheel wells are attached to the lower wing. In each nacelle the engine front and airflow splitter over the main spar is added. Then the wings can be joined and added to the main fuselage. The main gear can be assembled and added to aircraft, along with the intake lips and exhausts. The instructions show drop tanks being added, though in all the pictures of WK935 I have seen it is flying without them. The last steps in construction are to add the canopies, a couple of aerials and the pitot tube. 

 

 

 

Decals

Markings are provided for 4 aircraft.  The decals are nicely printed and look quite thin and glossy.

 

• Meteor FR.9 No.36 - 111 Sqn IDF, Ramet David, Israel 1955. High Speed Silver Finish?
• Meteor F.8  No. 09 - 107 Sqn IDF, Ramat David, Israel 1962-64. Three colour camo with daygo stripes. 
• Meteor F.8 No. 1419 - Royal Egyptian Air Force 1955. High Speed Silver finish.
• Fetero F.8 No. 4141 Sqn Syrian Arab Air Force 1956, 3 Colour Camo. 

 

 

Conclusion

This is the only kit in 1.72 for this unusual aircraft, recommended if you like Meteors, or prototype/one off airframes. 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

[Hook]

3 hours ago, Julien said:

recommended if you like Meteors

Who doesn't!