Enzo the Magnificent Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 I have a project on the go for Meteor F8s. Seems only fair that I give the nightfighters a chance. I'm going to build an NF.11 and NF.14 from the respective Special Hobby kits. This sprue is specific to the NF.14 kit. The NF.11 and NF.12 have different sprues to provide the relevant nose and canopy options. The remainder are common to all the kits. The NF.11 box And the relevant fuselage sprue. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 I mentioned in my F8 thread that I was spoiled for choice with marking options. The situation is even worse for the nightfighter Meteors. The Alley Cat sheet is a work of art! The Modeldecal sheets provide options for 19 different units between them. I think I will probably build the NF.14 as a 72 Sqn aircraft with a black fin, but things could change. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 I have the same modeldecal sheets myself. I plan on doing a NF.11 in 151 Squadron machine someday as I do love the markings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 8 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: I have the same modeldecal sheets myself. I plan on doing a NF.11 in 151 Squadron machine someday as I do love the markings. Very appropriate for a jet based at Leuchars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 I'll be following along your builds with interest, Enzo. I've not tried a SH kit yet, but those sprues look nicely detailed. It'll be interesting to see your thoughts on these vs the new tool Airfix as well James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Hi Enzo Looks a lovely kit and perfectly complemented by the decals best of luck mate. Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 My goodness, he IS building them all. 😄 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 14, 2022 Share Posted October 14, 2022 14 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said: My goodness, he IS building them all. 😄 Enzo is a man that does what he says. He’s not an armchair general he gets right into the thick of the plastic war. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo1966 Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Can you do the NF11 first please Enzo? Want to get some tips for my build of it 🙂 George 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted November 21, 2022 Author Share Posted November 21, 2022 The two models are very similar in their build, for obvious reasons. However, the cockpits are somewhat different given the more sophisticated radar in the NF14. Parts for all three versions (11/13, 12 & 14) are in the box so it is important to note carefully the correct ones to use. The cockpit parts are nicely detailed but given that everything is black, I'm not sure how much will be visible. The cockpit assemblies build up nicely. And there is plenty of room for ballast. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franky boy Posted November 21, 2022 Share Posted November 21, 2022 Nice work Enzo. I’ve just started one these SH Meteors myself, an nf12. I haven’t built anything in 72nd scale for years and have been really impressed by the cockpit detail. As you say it’s a shame it’s all black but plenty of dry brushing……. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted November 22, 2022 Author Share Posted November 22, 2022 On to the wings. It is interesting how Airfix and Special Hobby have taken differen approaches to the forward nacelles. Special Hobby has moulded them in with the wings. There is also a part to represent the wing leading edge which is show fitted here but not in the photgraph above. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted November 22, 2022 Author Share Posted November 22, 2022 Back to the cockpit. I completed the rear panel and radar gear for the NF11. I have yet to complete the cockpit interior for the NF14. This is because I intend to show the NF14 with the canopy slid open. The NF11 will have the canopy closed. My experience with side-hinged canopies is that they should always be kept closed. Leaving them open puts a great deal of stress on the hinges. If they are left open on the line, a gust of wind can cause damage. I have seen Harrier T-birds placed Cat 4 because of the damage the wing can do to the hinges. SOP for Harriers was to keep the canopies closed unless they were undergoing maintenance and had a strut fitted. Failure to do so could lead to disciplinary action. I know that the same rule was in force for Hawks and Tucanos and I imagine it would also have applied to Meteors. The seatbelts were from an Eduard PE set, painted blue after fitment. The wings were then fitted. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 It's shaping up well, Enzo James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted November 22, 2022 Author Share Posted November 22, 2022 The canopy was then fitted to the NF11 and masked using a Peewit masking set. The NF14 was simply masked up with Tamiya tape on the windscreen with tissue tape and Copydex sealing the cockpit. Both were then primed with a coat of clear lacquer followed by grey plastic car primer from a rattle can. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted November 22, 2022 Author Share Posted November 22, 2022 The camouflage schemes worn by the Meteor nightfighters were interesting because they charted the transition from dedicated nightfighters to all weather fighters. The initial scheme was the same as that worn by wartime night fighter Beaufighters and Mosquitos: overall Medium Sea Grey and an uppersurface disruptive pattern of Dark Green with a mid fuselage demarcation line. The interim scheme had the uppersurface Medium Sea Grey replaced with Dark Sea Grey. There was still a mid fuselage demarcation lne. Next step was to move the demarcation line lower to match that of Meteor day fighters. The undersurfaces were still in Medium Sea Grey, although the aircraft of 60 Sqn had theirs in High Speed Silver, identical to the scheme worn by day fighters at the time. The NF11 will have the original scheme while the NF14 will wear the interim scheme. So the NF11 was sprayed overall with Xtracrylix XA1003 Medium Sea Grey while the NF14 was sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1004 Dark Sea Grey. The disruptive patterns were then masked. And sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1001 Dark Green. The undersurfaces of both models were then sprayed with XA1003. For the NF14 this would normally include the rear fuselage aft of the last green segment and the fin below the tailplane. However, the aircraft I intend to build has a black fin. The radomes of both aircraft were sprayed with a 50:50 mix of Tamiya XF-69 and Lifecolor UA-736 Burned Black. Ready for the decals, I think. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 Very good work! Those look like nice kits - I have the NF.12 kit, which of course is very similar to your NF.11. Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted November 22, 2022 Author Share Posted November 22, 2022 14 minutes ago, Learstang said: I have the NF.12 kit, which of course is very similar to your NF.11. The NF12 is an NF11 with the extended nose and tail of the NF14. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franky boy Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 Top work Enzo, and quick too. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Nice work on those, Enzo, and thank you for the history lesson on NF Meteor colours 👍 James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEMPESTMK5 Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 Very good job so far Enzo Best regards Patrice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted January 2, 2023 Author Share Posted January 2, 2023 Decals applied. The national insignia and stencils were taken from the kit sheets. The squadron markings came from Modeldecal sheet 92. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celestialsphere Posted January 3, 2023 Share Posted January 3, 2023 A model just springs to life the moment decals are applied. Looking good Enzo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted January 3, 2023 Author Share Posted January 3, 2023 10 hours ago, Celestialsphere said: A model just springs to life the moment decals are applied. Indeed! And then the greeblies add further visual interest. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted January 27, 2023 Author Share Posted January 27, 2023 Finished! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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