Revell has cancelled the 1/32 Meteor F3 and will release a Meteor F. MK8/FR9 in 2025

[Branky]

Revell released the following message to the Revell reps today at 15:00

 

Dear partner,

 

Concerning: 03860 Gloster Meteor F.3 - First Edition

 

Version has been switched from “Gloster Meteor F.3” to the new “Gloster Meteor F.8/FR.9 F”.

(For the enthusiasts this is a significant change)

 

As a result we decided to cancel the current backorder for 03860 and introduce the new version under a new item number in early 2025.

Your current backorders for 03860 will be automatically removed from our system. Please make this correction in your system.

 

With the announcement of the new collection 2025, we’ll be able to provide more information on this new item.

The current 03860 orders will NOT be automatically switched to the new, future reference. Please re-order them when we have the new item number and all needed new information.

 

[tony.t]

Excellent news! I'm in for two kits.

 

Tony 

[viscount806x]

Very sensible of them.

[sniperUK]

That's why Luke was at the Ulster Aviation Society with his tape measure a couple of months ago 

Edited August 30, 2024 by sniperUK

[komoras]

They also managed to mess up the item number, that one is for the 1:32 F-16.

The correct item number is 03830. 

[Branky]

True, partly, 03860 was for a 1/72 F16A MLU. The 1/32 F16 currently around is an even bigger mess and has no 03802...  

[hopkp]

Hallelujah - thank the modelling gods, someone at Revell has seen the light and common sense has prevailed at last! The most widely-used version (and also the one most easily converted in terms of the two-seaters) will now actually be kitted rather than the most obscure one.....

Edited August 30, 2024 by hopkp

[Britman]

Could it be the force Luke?

 

Keith 

[Admiral Puff]

Halle - bloody - lujah! Given that HKM already had an F.3 out there there was no need for another, whether a new mould or a repop of the HKM one. They'll sell a lot more F.8s, particularly given that it was the only variant to see actual combat.

[KLP Publishing]

10 minutes ago, Admiral Puff said:

Halle - bloody - lujah! Given that HKM already had an F.3 out there there was no need for another, whether a new mould or a repop of the HKM one. They'll sell a lot more F.8s, particularly given that it was the only variant to see actual combat.

 

HK's kit is an F.4.

 

 

Kev

[Rabbit Leader]

Now this is very interesting. I wonder how far down the development path Revell was with the F.3. Clearly the moulds were not cut, so it was never going to make a 2024 release. Luke must have convinced Revell that Airfix’s 1/48 and 1/72 F.8’s / 9’s are selling well so let’s just upscale it again to cash in on all the enthusiasm. With multiple F.8’s in the smaller scales, I’ll probably let this one slide, however it’s good to see this version finally getting the love it deserves. Kinda reminds me of the Shackleton, we slaved for years over the old Frog kit, now we’ve got great square finned Meteor kits in all the popular scales.
 

Is there any love out there for the DH Venom family? 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

[Admiral Puff]

1 hour ago, KLP Publishing said:

 

HK's kit is an F.4.

 

 

Kev

My bad! Relying on a memory that isn't what it used to be (it used to be my digestive system ...).

[Danish Kenneth]

With a modularly constructed fuselage, not much effort is needed to launch an NF.11/14 subsequently 👍 

[stevehnz]

9 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said:

Is there any love out there for the DH Venom family

Hell yes, but only in the one true scale.  

Steve.

[viscount806x]

1 hour ago, Danish Kenneth said:

With a modularly constructed fuselage, not much effort is needed to launch an NF.11/14 subsequently 👍 

Strictly speaking, the NF variants were based on the T.7 airframe which itself came from the F.4. In 1/32 that could give a few noticeable inaccuracies but basically I can see where you are coming from with that.

[Plastic Bonsai]

Lifted from the Revell 2024 thread.

 

https://blog.revell.de/2024/modellbau/gloster-meteor-132-sneak-peak-de-en/

 

English section at the bottom. Note the e-mail address inviting useful input.

 

An Airfix-like blog which is no bad thing and with this sort of detail and knowledge in this scale we should be in for an outstanding kit.

[71chally]

They've taken a lot into account judging by the scanning of various parts from different era airframes at different locations, it looks like it could be a thoroughly thought out release.

 

They obviously scanned WK935 the prone-pilot Meteor at the RAFM, it would be fantastic to see that offered as an add on kit!!

[Col.]

Perhaps clever segmentation of the airframe will allow Revell to get multiple versions from a core mold. All they'd need to change is the nose section, tail unit, engine pods, and outer wing panels

Ahem, jokes aside, those who know the subject better will be able to say where the opportunities lie for potential conversations such as the prone pilot and ejection seat test aircraft.

[Adam Poultney]

To be honest, I'd be more likely to buy the F3 than the F8 in 1/32, though I'm far more likely to buy neither. I'm sure plenty of modelers will be pleased by the change though

[Sprue Picker]

Yes-I'm one of them!

[Rabbit Leader]

Having built a Tamiya F.3 and pondered over the limited colour options, it’s no surprise that an F.8 would offer Revell many more choices of different schemes to both British and worldwide modellers. I’m just very surprised it’s taken so long for the F.8 version to finally be given the credit it deserves in all the major scales. 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

[hopkp]

56 minutes ago, Rabbit Leader said:

I’m just very surprised it’s taken so long for the F.8 version to finally be given the credit it deserves in all the major scales.

Just more of that whole 'everyone's in love with WWII thing' I guess.....never understood it myself, delighted Revell has dropped the F.3 and decided to go with the F.8/PR.9 instead. In practical terms that means instead of buying none I'll be buying two.....

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

1 hour ago, hopkp said:

Just more of that whole 'everyone's in love with WWII thing' I guess.....never understood it myself

In the end each to his own and no worries with your choices. However it’s not so much that modeler’s are in love with WW2. More like the amount of subjects, variation's of subtypes, and different unique camouflages (mottling for example). This gives many modelers years worth of things to build.
        Post war there is an ever decreasing number of aircraft and vehicle types and camouflage variations so people get disinterested quicker than they do with variation. Some examples to point to. USAF - NMF/Silver, SEA camo which change one color from tan to grey gets you Euro-1. USN/USMC - with a brief stint at NMF were Gloss sea blue, Grey over white, grey/grey, and more grey.        
         Europe for the most part decided to stick with Day fighter scheme in various patterns from the 1950’s through the early 80’s. Some exceptions being RAF high speed silver, NMF for some air forces, and overall NATO green for some. Then switch to grey after the late 1970’s early 80’s.

       Asia, Africa, and South America have a more varied option list as far as colors and markings go but a slightly more limited field of types due to smaller air force sizes. So thats why I and I think a number of builders prefer WW2 over modern subjects.

        I build modern subjects but get bored with them quicker than I do the WW2 era. I also think they dropped the F.3 as there already exists an F.4 so not much different. Plus all that has been said about the increased opportunities with the later fuselage. 

Edited September 9, 2024 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[Giorgio N]

6 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

In the end each to his own and no worries with your choices. However it’s not so much that modeler’s are in love with WW2. More like the amount of subjects, variation's of subtypes, and different unique camouflages (mottling for example). This gives many modelers years worth of things to build.
        Post war there is an ever decreasing number of aircraft and vehicle types and camouflage variations so people get disinterested quicker than they do with variation. Some examples to point to. USAF - NMF/Silver, SEA camo which change one color from tan to grey gets you Euro-1. USN/USMC - with a brief stint at NMF were Gloss sea blue, Grey over white, grey/grey, and more grey.        
         Europe for the most part decided to stick with Day fighter scheme in various patterns from the 1950’s through the early 80’s. Some exceptions being RAF high speed silver, NMF for some air forces, and overall NATO green for some. Then switch to grey after the late 1970’s early 80’s.

       Asia, Africa, and South America have a more varied option list as far as colors and markings go but a slightly more limited field of types due to smaller air force sizes. So thats why I and I think a number of builders prefer WW2 over modern subjects.

        I build modern subjects but get bored with them quicker than I do the WW2 era. I also think they dropped the F.3 as there already exists an F.4 so not much different. Plus all that has been said about the increased opportunities with the later fuselage. 

 

So you're saying that the USAF had only a small number of camo schemes postwar... how many did they use during the war ? Olive Drab over Neutral grey (sometime with Medium Green splotches) and natural metal. 2 schemes ! Ok, I can add the sand over grey scheme used in the MTO on some aircraft and the black night fighter scheme, that makes 4 used on combat types. Then there were aircraft wearing "foreign" schemes, like those aircraft originally built for the RAF but impressed in USAAF service, that actually means one more scheme (RAF's TLS). And then there were a small number of locally applied and experimental schemes.

Postwar the now USAF have "only" used natural metal/silver, NM over white, SEA, 4 variants of the Europe 1 scheme, SIOP, overall black, air superiority blue, overall ADC/Coin/Aircraft grey.. and then the various grey camouflage schemes. And I know, some may say they are all greys but there's quite a difference between the Compass Ghost scheme of the F-15 and the original F-16 scheme or the later Have Glass scheme or the ones used on the bombers.

Ah but they are all just different shades and combinations of greys... so what ? Everybody talk about the huge variations in Luftwaffe late war 81/82/8x schemes but aren't these just differents shades and combinations of greens ?

And mind, I've only limited myself to schemes used on frontline combat aircraft, if I had to include all other schemes used in any quantity by the USAF in the last 76 years I'd have to fill several pages... just look at the aggressor schemes, initially there were 4, then there started to be variations, then other schemes were added for specific theatres or to simulate specific enemy aircraft... how many have they been ? 10? 15? 20? And let's leave the experimental schemes alone, don't know how many have existed.

The same could be said for every other air force. Just an example, the experimental schemes used on the Luftwaffe Phantoms alone would keep a modeller busy for

quite some time... and yes, some may say that each scheme was only applied to one single aircraft but isn't it the same with WW2 Luftwaffe fighters ? A lot of modellers try to pin down the exact scheme of that single Bf.109 because of an unusual paint scheme, so it's the same for that single Phantom.

 

So yes, people build more WW2 types and WW2 is overall more popular but this is not due to any real or perceived lack of options for post war interesting camo schemes and markings or even types (USN types of fighters in WW2: 4. USN types of fighters between 1945 and 1960: 15!). WW2 is more popular because over the last couple of decades WW2 has re-emerged as a cultural phenomenon at every level in our societies, with countless movies and books issued about this or that event. For a number of reasons WW2 has become in most of our countries a defining point in History. Whatever happened after is not considered today at the same level of importance. We are constantly reminded of WW2 in the news, head of states gather to remember D-Day and parades are held in most European capitals to celebrate VE-Day.

 

Back to the Meteor, personally I feel that Revell could have chosen many other subjects over a Meteor and I was quite puzzled by this choice. They choose the Meteor so fine, this will sure make several people happy (and who am I to want to take the happiness out of them?). I was even more puzzled by the original choice of variant. Now that they have moved to the F.8 I would agree it's a better choice. Afterall this is a variant that can be built in a decent number of markings, more than the F.3. It's also a variant that saw some combat and this always adds interest (although the combat record of the Meteor F.8 is not really stellar).

Edited September 9, 2024 by Giorgio N

[Homebee]

Original thread is here

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235118806-revell-gloster-meteor-132/

 

And of course the good news: Gloster Meteor F.8/FR.9 - Sources:

https://blog.revell.de/2024/modellbau/gloster-meteor-132-sneak-peak-de-en/

https://www.facebook.com/Revell/posts/pfbid0zZYF7j5xL8Zaz8u37DzMxqjAoz9KxRe6FaQUi9CbHGGFRR84wjkezBSfnpkGWUuZl

 

 

Quote

English Language Version

 

Hello and welcome to our first blog post regarding the 1:32 Gloster Meteor, we hope to keep you updated with all the goings on here at Revell over a series of posts.

Firstly, let me introduce myself, I’m Luke Slaney-Hewitt and I am the new Product Manager here at Revell, I’m primarily responsible for aircraft kits but I will also be covering space subjects as well (real life, not sci-fi!). I’ve been building models since I was a kid, in fact one of the kits I remember most is in fact the Revell boxing of the FROG Gannet. I count myself incredibly lucky to be working for Revell, a brand that so many hold dear. I look forward to seeing a few of you at shows in the coming months and years!

 

Development Process of the Gloster Meteor Modelkit

 

Straight off the bat, let’s discuss the Elephant in the room! In 2022 we announced that we would be producing a large-scale Meteor, originally electing to proceed with the F.3 for the initial release. Unfortunately, the design and development of the kit stalled very soon after being announced and has not progressed for a while whilst the team have been working to resolve a number of issues.

It became obvious to us that the market actually wanted a different version, the F.8 appeared to be the preferred option. We’ve listened and can confirm that the 1:32 Gloster Meteor will in fact be released as a Gloster Meteor F.8/FR.9.

 

Gloster Meteor Researching-Tour

 

Aside from changing the version to be released we have also been busy researching and 3D scanning to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible. A few months ago we left the comfort of the office for the open road, visiting multiple museums and 3D scanning many airframes.  The 3D scans will be used as a template by our design team and ensure that we accurately capture the shapes of the airframe.

 

First stop on our 3D scanning tour was the fantastic Newark Air Museum, whilst there we scanned Gloster Meteor FR.9 VZ608. Before the comments roll in, we are aware the airframe is not representative of a standard FR.9 and we are only using this scan for the basis of the camera nose fitted to this variant of the Meteor. A partial scan of the airframe was captured but other items of use to us are the air brakes and port drop tank. Whilst scanning, we also went around photographing the airframe to ensure no rivet went uncounted!

 

The very same day as our Newark visit we headed towards the RAF Museum to scan a unique airframe, the F.8 Prone Meteor! Before you get too excited, we do not plan to release a prone meteor version of the kit as much as some would like us to. When we arrived, the airframe was resting in sections in the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre ahead of its planned move to another museum. You may be scratching your head as to why we are scanning another ‘non-standard’ airframe, surely that’s a surefire way for a mistake to creep in? You’d be right to question it! In fact, we were using this airframe as it has the ‘early style’ canopy, ‘early’ ailerons and also the wider diameter air intakes that the other airframes scanned did not.

 

The aircraft being split into sections gave the team a real appreciation for how the aircraft is broken down, something we hope to replicate in the final kit where possible. The central wing section even gave us the chance to look at areas normally hidden away such as the engines, fuel tank and exposed leading edges.

 

Finally on our nationwide 3D scanning jaunt we paid a visit to the magnificent Jet Age Museum, a must see for any early jet fans! Our model for this rather different photoshoot was WH364, this F.8 will in fact form the basis for the design with the other airframes visited contributing various elements. During our visit we were also able to scan a Derwent engine, we plan to include engines as part of the kit, these can either be shown fitted to the airframe with panels removed or displayed on a stand.

 

We’re sorry to those of you that were really looking forward to the F.3 and hope you are equally as excited for the F.8. I do hope you have enjoyed this packed update; we plan on doing this for more of the new tool projects so please do let us know if you enjoyed.

 

More information on the kit development, specifically the aircraft markings, will follow in due course. If you would like to pass on any knowledge on the Meteor or point out any common pitfalls then please email [email protected] with the subject ‘Gloster Meteor Update’, I will endeavour to read them all and respond where possible!

 

V.P.

 

Edited September 9, 2024 by Homebee