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George Williams
94 articles

Tamiya 1/48 Gloster Meteor F.3

June 3, 2015 · in Aviation · · 27 · 1.4K

First, I'd like to say a big thank you to my good friend Craig for posting this for me. For some reason, despite Martin's determined efforts to solve the problem, I'm currently unable to post new articles. Anyway, as you can see, it's a plane! The first one I've built since I was in short trousers! I don't think I need to give you any more information regarding the , suffice to say the first F.3s entered combat on the Belgian front in January 1945 to intercept what was then thought of as the allies' only threat, the ME 262, but, in fact, they never engaged in combat. The first four Meteors were painted white over the standard camouflage scheme to prevent miss-identification with the ME 262.

I bought this kit two years ago shortly after joining iModeler, as I thought I should try to join the majority of the members of this great website. However, for one reason or another the build was halted, but mainly because I couldn't decide on which scheme to finish it in, eventually going for this white livery. There have two exquisite Meteor models posted recently which encouraged me to try again. I had a couple of goes on achieving a reasonable finish, finally airbrushing it in XF2, which was OK if a little plain. So, I thought I'd try to accentuate the panel lines using Tamiya's panel liner, however, when I came to clean off the excess, it didn't want to clean up, probably because I'd applied it to a matte finish. So, I hope the result looks like how the white would have appeared after a few months' service, but it's probably overdone...

The model was built out of the box except for an attempt at dropping the flaps, a rudimentary masking tape safety harness, and the addition of a whip antenna. The engine cover(s) and canopy are positionable. It was photographed at the top of the concrete steps at the back of our apartment building shortly after a heavy thunderstorm.

Thanks again to Craig, and thanks for looking. George Williams

Reader reactions:
8  Awesome

27 responses

  1. A nice job, George ...(and a "realistic" tarmac as well) - 🙂
    Posting this was as easy as pie, so if you don't get your problem resolved, just drop me a line and I'll be more than happy to put up your next build for ya.

    Ding Hao

  2. A great looking aircraft, George, and you've really caught it's character in the finishes.

  3. a beauty George...and not red...smile

  4. I like the scheme - not usual for a Meteor - and agree that although a tad heavy, the wash does help it stand out nicely. Well done!

  5. said on June 3, 2015

    Very nice work George, love the colour scheme.

    Danny

  6. Hmmmmm-3 wheels-George Williams? This could not have been hard after all those throttle cables and brake lines, eh? Very nice job. The paint scheme looks very Fleet Air Arm.

  7. @craigindaytona: I have taken the liberty of actually changing the article attribution to George. Hope OK. Thanks for posting.

  8. Nice one George, good to see you post.
    And on the damp concrete looks great.

  9. Profile Photo
    said on June 3, 2015

    Nice job George though one observation if I may. You mention that the flaps are dropped however it's actually the ailerons that you've modified. Ailerons work in opposition to each other to control roll ie one up and one down or vice versa. The flaps on the Meteor are further inboard. I like the scheme though.

    Cheers,
    Mick

  10. Well done, George.

  11. said on June 3, 2015

    George I,m a yank thats quickly becoming an anglophile and I love the Meteor a very important aircraft. I like the weathering because as you photograph the model the all white has to be broken up to give dimension.
    Again love it !

  12. Greetings :
    It has been sometime since I saw a METEOR, thank you.
    Wonderful work on that kit, and a very striking color scheme.
    The weathering job on it looks great.

  13. Its a ...plane ! I am impressed, George. Congratulations to this beautiful Meteor 🙂
    And thanks to Craig to make this possible !

  14. said on June 4, 2015

    George she looks like a very beautiful lady. I like the colour scheme. I did not know they were painted white. Would like to know how the Meteor would measure up against the Schwalbe in combat!

  15. Very very nice job. I love the paint scheme. Well done mate.

  16. George. I always find it tough to make an airplane model look good/interesting in a one color scheme. I've only seen a handful in white come out looking good, Here's another one, Nicely done !

  17. I`m not a fan of english planes(lets face it, 95% of them are dog ugly 🙂 ), but i do like your Meteor

  18. Nice plane George! You should build more of them!

  19. George, really looks the business! Dead white is tough, but you got it. I'm sure it wasn't white all that long.

  20. Looks good! Love the all over white scheme.

  21. Stellar work George - looks great to me, and i think the 'adjustments' to the white came out spot on. great build and a great finish - glad Craig was able to post it up and let us all see it!

    Paul

  22. Nice clean build, a great paint scheme, very different.

  23. Looks just great George. I'm usually a bit cautious with panel lines, but given the matt white finish they look most realistic on yours. Just how I would imagine after a few months in the open.

  24. Thanks for all your kind and generous comments, guys, much more than I, or the model, deserve.

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