Meteor over Belgium - FINISHED

[Jari Lehtonen]

Hi All,

 

for my full build in this Group Build I'm offering a Tamiya release from 2002, the Gloster Meteor F.3 (61083). I'm planning on building it as EE239 from 616th Squadron RAF, stationed in Melsbroek, Belgium in early 1945. This is the box:

 

 

I bought this from Ebay a year ago thinking that if the "Dawn of the Jet Age" GB gets through, I'll build this and probably a Me262; that plan fell through but this model fits in here as well. All the plastic is still in bags:

 

 

I hope I can make a start on this tomorrow 

 

/Jari

 

Edited October 7 by Jari Lehtonen
Marked finished.

[Alex Gordon]

Rod The Fixer made a super job of one in the 2022 Meteor GB https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235118832-gloster-meteor-f3-white-tamiya-148/ and I had a crack at one too https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235116420-tamiya-meteor-iii-in-148th-scalefinished/ .

There are a few little trip ups to watch out for and the noseweight nearly does it if you don't put the pilot in but otherwise it's a pleasing build.I look forward to seeing your progress.

 

[Col.]

Cool subject choice Jari

 

Some useful tips in those threads @Alex Gordon Thanks for sharing the links

[Jari Lehtonen]

@Alex Gordon, thanks for pointing out the linked build threads! They will be excellent guides for me I think.

 

Today I've mostly been immersing myself in reading about Meteors in general and white Meteors in particular. I managed to do some priming and painting on engine nacelles and cockpit parts as well. Picture time will come later. 

 

I have one question: I read somewhere that F.3 did not have air brakes, and in some pictures there seems to be a smooth panel where air brakes are supposed to be. What is the correct way, should I try and putty the brakes away? (I was planning on building the brakes open originally.)

 

Thanks,

/Jari

[Col.]

11 hours ago, Jari Lehtonen said:

I have one question: I read somewhere that F.3 did not have air brakes, and in some pictures there seems to be a smooth panel where air brakes are supposed to be. What is the correct way, should I try and putty the brakes away? (I was planning on building the brakes open originally.)

If my memory is actually working correctly the F.3 did have the wing mounted airbrakes whereas the F.1 did not. Some confusion arose from the fact the preserved example of the F.1 prototype that Tamiya used for reference had received an F.3 specification wing with airbrakes at some point in its life.

[2996 Victor]

Great subject - looking forward to seeing the scheme you choose!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Colin W]

Great to see one of these in the group. 

A lovely kit which will look good in a Belgian scheme. 

[Jari Lehtonen]

Some progress during the week on the airframe and cockpit, and now I have a Meteor-shaped thing on the cutting mat:

 

 

The cockpit needs some weathering, and I'm thinking of painting the seat leather brown, think that might look nicer and maybe (?) even be more correct. Tamiya instructions say it should be semi-gloss black.

 

@Col., thanks for the comment on air brakes. I think I'll leave them in, like @Rod The Fixer and @Alex Gordon did on their builds, visible but closed.

 

/Jari

[Col.]

It all looks to have gone together well Jari. Nice progress.

For the seat I think black or green are the most likely options and I've seen photos of the control column in green as well. Probably worth a search for images but taking care that it's a Mk.III you're viewing rather than the more common later marks.

[dnl42]

Nice! 

[jean]

Excellent work.

Keep enjoying your build.

 

JR

[Jari Lehtonen]

A little over a week has passed, and I've been mostly fixing small assemblies, engines and landing gear. These are now ready and will be put aside while I paint the model. Primer has already been done, and the first white layer will probably happen today. I decided to leave the seat like it was, black, and just weathered the cockpit lightly, and gave it a matt coat. No pictures of that right now.

 

 

The engines are have just been put in place, not glued in yet.

 

 

/Jari

[Col.]

Nice progress again Jari

[Jari Lehtonen]

Been throwing some paint around. So much, that I ran out of Vallejo white. Good that there still is a local model shop to stock up from 

 

 

I think that's white enough?

 

/Jari

[Col.]

32 minutes ago, Jari Lehtonen said:

..I ran out of Vallejo white. Good that there still is a local model shop to stock up from 

It really is great to have a local model shop for those small things

 

33 minutes ago, Jari Lehtonen said:

I think that's white enough?

That looks white enough to me (I'm now chuckling to myself while reading my reply in an Invernessian accent where the stereotype is to end every sentence with the catchphrase  "right enough")

[modelling minion]

Very nice work Jari, you have made short work of this one.

[Jari Lehtonen]

Onwards: decals have been placed. Thankfully not that many, since they were quite brittle and tended to break. 

 

 

Looking pretty good in its white, I think. Building this model I've come to really like the way Meteor looks. Clean lines, not many sharp edges or bulges. Not as brutal looking as the Me232 Me262.

 

/Jari

Edited October 6 by Jari Lehtonen
Corrected Me232 to Me262.

[modelling minion]

Well done for persevering with the decals Jari.

[Col.]

You've done good work with those decals Jari. Did you use any particular technique on them?

[Jari Lehtonen]

On 02/10/2025 at 09:11, Col. said:

Did you use any particular technique on them?

Just very hot water (warmed with a tea candle) and some Tamiya Decal Adhesive. Oh, and the surface had been sprayed with Vallejo Gloss varnish beforehand. I read somewhere that Micro Sol and Micro Set don't really work on Tamiya decals so I went with Tamiya liquid.

 

Today I had some time and gave the plane a wash with Flory Grime. What can I say, it's really dirty now:

 

I may have to do some more cleanup tomorrow. I finally glued the engines and exhaust pipes in, too, and painted the wingtip lights. What is still missing is the pitot tube, landing gear and landing gear doors. I might be able to finish this during the weekend, depending on how much I want to still clean the grime off it...

 

/Jari

[Col.]

It all looks good to me Jari. Used but not abused.

[Jari Lehtonen]

Hi all,

 

during the weekend I gave the Meteor a satin coat to get a nice finish, and today I fixed the landing gear and bay doors in place. The fit, as previously in this kit, was excellent and the landing gear attachment points well designed, things basically clicked in place. With that, I'm calling this done.

 

 

The engine covers are not glued in, I still might decide to use the clear parts instead. Like @Alex Gordon mentioned, the supplied noseweight is not enough and this plane was a tail-sitter when first set on its wheels. I had to glue some lead pellets into front wheel bay to fix this but with the nose wheel being not retractable in this model it hardly matters.

 

Much thanks to our hosts @Colin W, @Mjwomack and @Col., as well as to all who took an interest in the build! Final pictures will be in the gallery tomorrow latest.

 

/Jari

[Mjwomack]

The finish on this is wonderful- just the right level of grime to my eye.

[Colin W]

Excellent model. I had forgotten how good these kits were as it's been years since I finished my last one. Still one more in the stash though.......

[Col.]

Lovely result Jari