Gloster Meteor F.8 (MPM/Airfix)

The original MPM kit in an Airfix box. 

Getting started on the cockpit. The resin seat is not exactly correct for the Meteor, so I'll have to use the kit seat... 

...but tart it up a bit!  

Eduard photoetch instrument panel. 

Eduard provided no film for the bottom six gauges, so I found an old decal that matched and glued it to the back. 

Adding photoetch details to the sidewalls of the gear bays. 

I added some greeblies to the front of the engine faces to make it look more like the real thing. 

Cockpit in place. 

MPM/Airfix recommend 3g of weight upfront, but my guesstimate is 5g. 

The fuselage and wing sub-assemblies ready to be joined. 

Fit is actually quite good - little filler required. 

I next gave her a coat of a light glossy grey to check the seams etc. and to act as a nice base coat for the aluminum lacquer.  

I wanted to have the canopy open, so out came the razor saw. Two canopies were provided - I took the windscreen from one and the sliding portion from the other. This was done to ensure that I had enough plastic on each piece when sanding to the final shape. 

Next up was the yellow for the tail. This needs to match the squadron markings which are supplied as a decal. 

I found an old bottle of Testors Flat Yellow which is a near perfect match. 

Next comes the Alclad Aluminum which I'm using to replicate High Speed Silver. 

I don't care for Alclad High Speed Silver as I think it's a bit too grainy. 

Airfix provide the red checks for the tail in a series of 12 decals. Oh boy!  

Most of the decals are oversize and have to be trimmed by quite a lot. 

Making flat decals conform to curved surfaces is always fun. 

I used Gunze H414 RLM Red to match up the decals at the leading and trailing edges. 

I really had to take my time with this, but at the end I think it looks pretty good.  

I think I won't do any more checkerboards for a while! (Ed. - he did yellow and red checkers on his very next kit!) 

The other stickers were a breeze!  

Even the ones that say "PRESS" in 0.01 point font. 

Gear legs and tyres - the mud guard brackets are made from solder. 

She's on her legs. 

Exhausts added. 

I didn't like the IFF antenna pole from the kit so I made my own (on left). 

No more parts so I guess she's finished!