**** DONE: 1/48 METEOR F.1 - The Jet Age.

[fubar57]

User Name: fubar57
Name: George
Category: Advanced
Kit: Tamiya
Accessories: None

My subject of choice is the Meteor F.1 piloted by Canadian Flt. Off. J.R. Ritch, 616 Sqn., who, on 17 Aug. 1944, shot down a V-1.

Geo

 

[fubar57]

While waiting for things to dry over there on GB25 I thought I would get this started. Hopefully being a Tamiya kit it will be quick.

Notice that Tamiya has thoughtfully included a nose weight.
Geo

 

[Donivanp]

Cool. I love that jet. I have that kit with the V-1 in it. Good luck but you always do a great job.

 

[rochie]

Nice Geo, have done that one, almost falls together itself

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

Thanks guys. While I do have a few Meteor books I have no F.1 interior shots. Tamiya would have one paint the cockpit semi-gloss black, X-18, circled...

Also, I have seen one small photo claiming to be of the F.1 control column, showing just the central tube(?), the outer two omitted.

Any thoughts here would be appreciated before I commit to paint.

Geo

 

[rochie]

I think black is correct Geo.

 

[Wurger]

A such control column for Meteor I have seen in a sketch of F.4. All later ones had a different grip . However the Osprey book "Meteor I vs V-1 flying bomb, 1944" shows a cockpit diagram of Meteor I with a similar column but there is the central tube and one ( on left side ) tappet only. But it seems that there should be two tappets as well.

Meteor F4 control column

 

[Airframes]

Yep, cockpits were changing to black at this period, although the upper 'head rest' section of the seat/top decking frame was, I believe, still Cockpit Grey/Green (no ejection seat in the earlier Meteors).
The pic below shows a Meteor F8 cockpit, which was similar overall to the earlier versions, although the 'spade grip' on the control column was now replaced by a conventional hand grip. Note, however, that the main section of the column still has the outer frame on each side of the column, represented by the 'tubes' on the Tamiya kit part.

 

[Donivanp]

Cool stuff here.

 

[fubar57]

Thanks for that guys, will leave the control column as is. Terry, Tamiya calls for the upper part to be in German Grey, XF-63, which I believe is their equivalent to RLM66. I'll also go with semi-gloss black for the innards.
In the meantime, here is a scoreboard for V-1 kills...

Geo

 

[JKim]

I'm sure this will be a fast build since there are relatively few parts and... it's a Tamiya kit!

 

[fubar57]

Hopefully John...step 1, join fuselage halves together.

What looks like a step in the seam is actually melted plastic. No matter how much I heated up the plastic, I couldn't force the warped cone halves to cooperate.

Geo

 

[rochie]

Terry is correct Geo.

The upper part of the seat back armour plate and the deck behind the cockpit should be cockpit grey/green, along with the control column.

 

[Jeff Hunt]

I have a Meteor in the stash and was considering it for this build but now that she is represented and if the MiG is done on time I will select something else. Great choice George.

Jeff

 

[Wayne Little]

Nice one George

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

Thanks gents. Getting ahead of myself here but is the aircraft letter "J" round at the bottom or squared? The photo on the first page kinda, sorta looks squared. Either way, it's covered...

...I'll get some innards photos shortly. If Karl pops in; did you have any fit issues with the wing fillets? A test fit as per instructions show what could be a problem with the rear. Did you follow the instructions here or did you add the wings to the fuselage first and then the fillets?

Geo

 

[rochie]

J Looks squared to me Geo.

I think I put the upper surfaces on the lower wing surfaces then attached that to the fuselage, then added the engines, the front of the nacelles the jet pipes and the engine covers.

Hope that helps mate

 

[rochie]

Will look through my books on Sunday and see what I can find