Meteor dimensions

Okay, here’s the deal, I just had to purchase the new Dragon kit of the Meteor Mk.3 because it’s a beautiful (if not hideously expensive) piece of engineering.

However, I’m really not interested in the Mk.3 and I’m inclined to alter the kit to make it into an F.4 or even a T.7. Thing is, how?

I assumed that the F4 would require the fuselage to be extended ahead of the wing but now I’m thinking that it should be stretched aft of the wing too? Obviously the engine fairings are drastically different but I have an old T7 kit which I can cannibalise for those. The wings need to be shortened too and the ailerons made a little shorter span-wise, but should they be the same in terms of chord?

As for the T7, I’m assuming that all of the above would apply but that I’d need to extend the cockpit opening accordingly. I have a canopy for the T7 which I could use.

Any ideas chaps? It’s the fuselage lengths and aileron chords that I’m not too sure about, despite checking my references!

In essence the fuselage of the F.3 & F.4 are the same, however the wings & nacelles are where things can become confusing.

For example, some of the later models of the F.3 had the extended nacelle like the F.4, but with full span F.3 outer wing. The short span was only introduced from the F.4 onwards.

Kit wise Airfix recently did a 1/72 scale F.8 (from the Xtrakit mould, I think ) which would offer a pair of donor wings, but if you do that ensure you use the smaller intakes.

However to whet the appetite a little, a Dutch company have just anounced an F.4 in 1/32 scale.

Chox, you sure the two airbrake panels don’t vary each side (upper/lower) of the wing?

Yes, they do. I agree with Webpilot’s comment, the spacing looks off.

Steve P is correct, though the spacing on the kit looks a bit out.

http://www.grubby-fingers-aircraft-illustration.com/images/Meteor_T7_74_med.jpg

Just shows what diffences there are in the various Mks, (didn’t Tamiya get fooled by this – wrong wing type on Cosford’s F.1?).
The airbrakes on a T.7 have eight slots, mainly of equal distance from each other, but each set of the two slots outboard of the hinges are slightly further away than the four inners.

Chox, you sure the two airbrake panels don’t vary each side (upper/lower) of the wing?

That is how they should be.

Well yes, I see what you mean, but not quite like this? :-

Meteor detail

If any of you Meteor modellers out there want pics of specific details of the full-size aircraft I can take them for you.

I have a Mk.8 and most of a T.7 and apart from some dimensions and outlines changing a bit many details are the same across most of the different Mk’s.

PM me with your requirements.

Anon.

but although the underside brakes feature the nine “cut-outs” but they’re divided unevenly into a block of two then four then three… all very odd…

That is how they should be.

Frustrating business… Dragon’s kit features recesses for the air brakes and etched brass brakes which look great, but although the underside brakes feature the nine “cut-outs” but they’re divided unevenly into a block of two then four then three… all very odd…

Hi Joe

I didn’t realise it was you until I saw your name in the last post. Fond memories of your late Dad.

Regards

John

no worries Tim, thanks for the clarification, iv passed some paperwork over to a colleague who will be in touch re that other matter we discussed too, i will make sure he gets your name correct. I used your previous name there as well as your current as a few of us older chaps have your previously published books !

thanks, Joe Cherrie

Now John, surely you can appreciate a challenge?!

Joe, I’d be inclined to sit-back and wait for later versions to be released but looking at the sprues, I don’t think it’s going to happen. It looks pretty-much like it’s a Mk.3 and that’s it, sadly. (PS Joe, re your comments on the “What If” site. My surname is “McLelland” and has been for years).

Oh well, if I lose my nerve I might go for the less-difficult option and try making an F.4!

The 30″ fuselage extension only comes along with the Mk.7 and 8. The rear fuselage of the 7 and 4 are the same. Some Mk.4’s were ordered with the extended fuselage but I would suggest that they were all delivered as 8’s with the E1/44 tail. It’s far too much work to modify a 3 into a 4, wing/engine.

John

It’s in 1:72nd? Ah take a knife to it and use some old bits of plastic:D
Oh, it’s £28.00!:o

i dont see the point trying to make any of the later marks from the Dragon F.3 kit heres hoping the manufacturer will bring out further variants saving us the trouble cross kitting with the old Frog/Novo F.4 or Matchbox later NF. kits!
For making an F.3 into an F.4, the main changes are the engines being of the long nacelle type and the wings being cropped, possibly the Frog kit may be a useful parts donor
later types T.7, F.8, FR.9 had a forward fuselage extension, as well as redesigned tail on the latter

Best thing to do with the model is to build from the kit and enjoy the extra detailing Dragon has crammed in, altho id go with something different re final finish, possibly a hooked RN. example or even one of the early radar testbeds

Might well do – I’ll keep you posted on that one and thanks!

I’ve been looking through references and I think the extension seems to be just the forward fuselage. Problem is, the available kits have all tried their best to capture the right proportions of the various versions but none of them seems to have got them quite right, and the references don’t seem too clear either.

If I was to take an educated guess, I would assume that the F4 is basically the F3 with a fuselage extension ahead of the wings, new engine fairings and “clipped” wings with ailerons that are shorter in span but the same chord-wise. The T7 is presumably the same F4 airframe but with a longer cockpit cut-out.

That might well be an over-simplification though?!:D

I can’t help with that request, but I do have photo access to a dismembered T.7 at the moment, do you want any detail pics in particular?