Gloster Meteor FR9 - Daylight shots.

Thanks to all for the comments, pleased you like it.

Been forced into isolation with the big "C". Fortunately for me it is no worse than a mild cold, but "SWMBO" is feeling it a little more, bless.

More bench time as a result and this is where I am having completed the main construction. All in sections and ready for the primer.

Then a quick snap together,

Really pleased with the general fit of this and looking forward to applying some colour in the near future.

More as and when.

Tim

Feel like I am on the mend but the "Boss" might be a bit slower.

Moving on, today I decided to fix the wings and prepare for primer. All went reasonably smoothly and apart from some minor putty application I was happy with the fit. Once the primer is on I will get a better idea, but as I said, happy so far.

Then I decided to check for tail sitting. Despite putting some scrap metal inside................ I had a tail sitter! Wings on and no way back to the load out area. Note to self, "if you think that should be enough, go the extra mile and add more" I then decided to put the nose section together and put the front end engine intakes on each wing and check again. Relief! marginal, but it stayed on it's legs. So glazed the nose and glued the halves together. Slipped back on the front and, BUGGER! Does not fit. This is the front end before trying to fit the nose.

This is the front undercarriage and the platform for the 3 nose mounted cameras. With the platform in place the internal dimensions of the nose mean it wont fit as intended. So I removed the platform and scratched my head. Using spaces in the undercarriage frame work I glued some paint aggitator balls in place and put a new nose floor in place and mounted the cameras so that they can be seen through the glazed bits. All very Heath Robinson but it works for me.

Nose section dry fitted.

Cameras visible and, with a little more work problem solved. However, the eagle eyed amongst you will note that the nose does not match up fit wise with the rest of the kit. This may well be due to the fact that the FR9 nose was a later addition and not part of the original release Meteor F Mk8. So a little more work to do but hopefully it will all work out fine in the end.

Lessons learnt,

1. Never under do the weight, if in doubt add more and certainly check for tail sitting before closing everything off.

2. Check all fits. In this case the fact that the nose did not want to play ball gave me a way out from the initial problem. Lucky, because if it had been a good fit who knows?

Final picture....

Standing on it's legs as intended.

Tim

Thanks for looking in and the comments.

Got the nose on and, whilst not perfick... it's on. Ready now for primer so out with "Halford's" best.

Once that had dried a couple of hours of masking and on with the RAF Pru Blue for the underside. Couple of small glitches, but pleased overall.

Might have another day to play with this as covid not quite gone. Possibly get the dark grey on the topside, who knows?

Tim

Yes the armament was retained, but some thought must have gone into it. The upper and lower fairings line up pretty much with the top and bottom of the camera windows so with the camera centrally placed the theory is that all will be fine. She has 3 cameras port and starboard plus forward facing. I believe the "FR" relates to fighter reconissance, hence retaining the armament.

Tim

Good evening all,

As per the title, update time. 99% of the RAF Dark Green on and both wings sporting "Suez" ID stripes. Fuselage stripes started, black stripes to go.

Hope you like, more soon.

Tim