Been reading Barry Jones’ book on the Gloster Meteor, and have a few questions i’ve been wondering since reading it – first one is, the Gloster E.28/39 W4041/G (the second one hadn’t been completed yet) was repainted from dark earth/green camouflage into grey/green camouflage in August 1941 when the camouflage on all RAF fighters was changed to this – I was wondering then, why the F.9/40’s were painted in dark earth/green camouflage when that was more of a fighter than the E.28/39 was. Also, i’ve noticed that in pictures, some F.9/40’s and Meteor F.1’s had a rear view mirror in a little clear bubble on top of the canopy, whereas others didn’t? Last question is, when and why was the F.9/40 DG202/G (the one at Cosford) fitted with Meteor F.3 wings? Cheers for any help, much appreciated!
By: Rlangham - 30th June 2006 at 20:18
I was going to just build it as and then, as far as I know you just have to smooth the air brakes on the top wing and use the Aeroclub 1/72 canopy and it’s fine unless you look underneath – I’ve bought the 1/48 Tamiya kit instead though, it was too tempting!
By: Rogier - 30th June 2006 at 19:26
[QUOTE= hoping to convert an Airfix F.3 to an F.1[/QUOTE]
An article about improving this kit is in the July edition of Military In Scale.
When I was aeromodelling I wanted to convert the same but to the 616 squadron F1 that tipped a buzz bomb.
Will you write an article about your project in a similar manner?
By: Rlangham - 7th June 2006 at 11:24
Cheers, i’ve heard of the Tamiya mistake, hoping to convert an Airfix F.3 to an F.1. I’ve e-mailed the RAFM about the F.9/40 hopefully they’ll let me know, if it is incorrect I doubt they’ll repaint it though, i’ve got a colour profile of DG206/G, the F.9/40 that was written off, in grey/green with yellow undersides.
Still have no idea about the rear view mirror bubble though, of the photos i’ve seen of Meteor F.1’s and F.9/40’s, seems like a 50/50 split but still don’t know why
By: jeepman - 4th June 2006 at 22:59
Cosford F9/40
Don’t be fooled by the current colours – it was originally DG/OG when built rather than DG/DE – which was a restoration hiccup back in 65 when it was rescued from dereliction at Yatesbury and restored at Cosford
The port engine blew up in mid air in December 44 at which time it had 365 hours on the clock. It was rebuilt and flew to Abbotinch in August 45 where it was used for deck handling trials on the Pretoria Castle. This was presumably when the new wings were fitted as the spar splits to go around the engine
Incidentally nobody told the Tamiya designers of the later wings when they used the Cosford example as a pattern for their 1/48th F9/40 -Meteor F1. model. hence the early kit with the spurious airbrakes before the subsequent reissue without them. Worked right for the Meteor FIII they ultimately issued though
By: Scouse - 4th June 2006 at 19:10
I was at Cosford yesterday, and from memory DG202/G’s descriptive caption says that it had major repairs after an accident. Someone else will no doubt be able to quote chapter and verse, but maybe this was when the wings were swapped.
William
Sign In
June 3, 2006 at 10:22 am