Dpgsbody55

That's a sad end to what was shaping up as a wonderful project. I bought this kit myself on Monday and was looking forward to seeing how it shaped up. I know how you feel. About 13 years ago, I started on my first Trumpy Messerschmitt 109. I had the engine built and detailed, then the dog chewed it all. I put the whole lot away, then many years later managed to build it with closed engine cowlings and lots of wierd sprue inside to support the prop. Then I used it as a practice model for my first attempts at airbrushing and it turned out well enough to hang from the ceiling. And the dog is still alive too Cheers, Michael

IwillbuythiskitIwillbuythiskitIwillbuythiskitIwillbuythiskitIwillbuythiskit Looks like a nice model, and it's one I've wanted to see on the market for some years, so thanks very much, ICM. Now the next thing is to see what pre-war non camo offerings the aftermarket will do. Cheers, Michael

Thank you all very much for your kind words. Your support is very much appreciated, as is the number of views this build has had. I love the LSP forum and you guys have provided me with much knowledge and inspiration. Which usually leads to perspiration . The kit was a pleasure to build and I'm very pleased with how it's turned out. Four colour options were provided in the conversion set, but disappointingly, all the airframe stencilling provided on the decal sheet was in black, so not usable in the colour option I chose. I tried to find some more suitable stencils but had nothing in my spares collection, nor could I find anything while trolling the interwebs. Oh well... I originally wanted to build the Meteor T7 as part of the Multi Engine group build, but family issues as mentioned at the start of this build delayed that. As it turns out, I should have started this in that group build forum, but I didn't think I could finish it in time. Another "oh well..." As promised, I've posted some more pics and a short history of the T7 in the R F I forum. Here's the link: https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/82886-hkm-gloster-meteor-t7-conversion/ It's pleasing to also find out that this plane still exists and is presently being restored in the UK by the Royal Navy at Cobham Hall. Cheers, Michael. PS. Not sure yet what's next, but I may have a crack at something for the Russian group build.

Here is my second HKM Gloster Meteor. This one I built as a two seater trainer, using the Fisher Models conversion set, and two Profimodeler Rolls Royce Derwent engines. The conversion kit, engines and HKM model went together very well, although the join between forward resin fuselage and plastic kit fuselage needed some filler and shaping as I suspect one side of the fuselage distorted a little after coming out of the resin mould. Four choices of colour schemes were catered for in the conversion kit, but the biggest disappointment for me was that all the aircraft stenciling was in black, which was not very good for the plane I wanted to model. Here are the two models together on the shelf, which I'll come back to a little later. I have to say that the surface detail on this kit is superb. It's neither over nor under done and the detail comes up well after painting. I used Mr Color dayglo red, airbrushed on, and Tamiya rattle can gloss black on the outside, and my own mixture of interior flat black on the cockpit. The inside of the wings were painted with Tamiya rattle can aluminium. The only part of the Fisher conversion set I didn't use was the larger diameter intakes, as I felt this would interfere too much with the Profimodeler intake ducting. Here's a link to a picture of the real thing, taken at RNAS Yeovilton in May of 1966. https://www.airliners.net/photo/UK-Navy/Gloster-Meteor-T7/2134192/L?qsp=eJwtjcEKwjAQRH%2Bl7NmDpaDQm/6AHvyBJRlqMTVhd6GG0n93Dd4eM4%2BZjUJ%2BGz72qAU0koIlPOlAhYUXpXGjF%2BqaJTrTlLIapFtgyNLZuVu1Pw6uaxa7VlciGy4hoBjiP79JhPwqaGjLkz/1DpB7YxpOnsdZS%2BK2AeM50b5/Ac1PNLA%3D And a more recent picture. It seems the plane is presently undergoing restoration, and I think it's nice to build a model of an old plane that still lives. https://www.airliners.net/photo/UK-Navy/Gloster-Meteor-T7/2541667/L?qsp=eJwtjcEKwjAQRH%2Bl7NmDpaDQm/6AHvyBJRlqMTVhd6GG0n93Dd4eM4%2BZjUJ%2BGz72qAU0koIlPOlAhYUXpXGjF%2BqaJTrTlLIapFtgyNLZuVu1Pw6uaxa7VlciGy4hoBjiP79JhPwqaGjLkz/1DpB7YxpOnsdZS%2BK2AeM50b5/Ac1PNLA%3D Back to the model. Here's some pictures taken at the end of the build. This is what the model looked like during construction. I built the resin conversion first, followed by the engines, then the HKM kit. If you want to see more, here's a link to the Works in Progress build. https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/81935-hkm-meteor-with-t7-conversion/ You'll notice that my earlier F4 build represents a plane in Argentinian markings. I didn't know this when I built my earlier F4; I just like the markings. But it seems that there's a connection of sorts to this T7 model. In 1947, the Argentinian Air Force purchased 100 F4's, and a dozen pilots were sent over to the Gloster works at Moreton Valence in the UK. In order to train the pilots, Gloster's test pilots had to give ground instructionby sitting astride the fuselage immediately behind the trainee pilot. The rear canopy had been removed, and instruction given by bellowing at the pupil. Almost no air force had 2 seat trainer versions of the new jets. Gloster's wanted to fill this gap, but with no support fortcoming from the British Air Ministry, it had to be a privately funded enterprise. Earlier that year, Gloster's own F4 demonstrator had been on a sales mission to Melsbroek, Belgium when it was crashed by a Belgian pilot, and the remains had been removed to Gloster's factory. To get the project up and running asquickly and economically as possible, the centre section, rear fuselage, tail and both outer wings were refurbished and the two seater T7 prototype took to the air in March 1948. Naturally, the Air Ministry took notice and a contract was issued soon after. Eventually, 662 T.Mk7's were built, all at Hucclecote in Gloucestershire. The last contract was for 34 aircraft for the Royal Navy, of which the subject of this model, WS103, was the first. Hope you enjoy, Michael

Wow indeed!! That is a great diorama, and I'm very jealous of your TA-152 build, one I dearly want to add to my collection of kits. Well done, Michael

I'll be watching this one. I think the Mig 3 is One of Trumpeter's best kits, and a very rare subject. Michael

After the final coat of gloss varnish was applied, I waited three days before removing the masking. I also removed the canopy masking. Like the cover over the cockpit, this was made with Tamiya masking tape and the results are mostly a success. A little scraping was needed, which I did with a small putty spatula as it is curved and has no sharp edges. Next, I added the central cross brace and rear cockpit headrest. The centre brace required a little adjustment to fit, but you have to be careful here or it will sit too high in the canopy, meaning you'll probably have to fabricate another. The canopy is clear resin, BTW. I had previously made up the undercarriage legs using the kit wheels and brass legs. Putting the two together made me a little nervous as the legs had to be pried apart then closed back up, and since brass is a brittle metal, I wasn't sure this would work OK, but it came out well. No further embellishment was done to the wheel wells, which were painted after the final coat of varnish. More masking, always my favourite task... I also added the two retractable steps into the nose, after painting those wells too. Next up I added the canopy opening mechanism was wiggled into place between the two cockpits. This was painted in cockpit black with a natural metal spring, which then had a black wash painted on to bring out the spring coils. This was touched up where paint had been scrapped away, then the canopy was added after adding the two handles to that part, as well as the exterior opening latch. Alas, that part is hard to see as it's gloss black on gloss black. You may notice some extra canopy bracing has been painted on, if you compare the shots above an below with my earlier picture of the canopy. Meteor T7's had two internal braces under the top glazings, so I once again masked the canopy, this time inside, and painted those two braces using my cockpit black. These become more apparent in the shots I'll post in mt RFI article. And it's done. I decided not to do any weathering as none of the pictures I've found of this plane indicate any. This was a peace time plane, so during most of it's service life, it would have been kept up to a high standard, as their Lordships of the Admiralty required and commanded. The model has been a fun build. Most of my time has been spent on the resin cockpit and engines, as the HKM kit is simplicity itself. The standard kit is a very easy build, and makes an impressive model. Adding the resin kits makes it something else again. This Fisher cockpit conversion goes together well, but chopping the nose off a model then adding a replacement section else is not something I've ever done before, in part because I've never found a conversion kit that I was so interested in, but I was also a little doubtful of my own abilities to do it. However, the inspiration I get from seeing other people's builds on this W I P forum has really caused me to lift my game, and I'm well pleased with the result. I have some more pictures of the finished model which I will post in the R F I forums probably tomorrow, together with a little history of this plane. Cheers, Michael

I like that a lot. Great work Cheers, Michael

Nice model. Well done Cheers, Michael

Nice build. I agree that this kit is a good way to introduce yourself to WNW kits, so like you, this will also be my first WNW build. I like your natural metal finish and gentle weathering Cheers, Michael

This is shaping up as a really impressive model. Cheers, Michael

I sure do hope so. The part I'm most sweating on is the canopy. It has parts to add inside, as well as more framing to paint inside. The worst bit is that with Paul Fisher out of business at the moment, my chances of getting another canopy if I stuff it up are just about zero. So I have lots of bits crossed, at the moment Cheers, Michael

Great build. Those engines are very well done. I've never built a ZM kit, and I think that will have to change!!! Cheers, Michael

Very nice . Thanks for posting. Cheers, Michael

Thank you, gentlemen, for your kind words. I'm pleased so far with the way this model is turning out. Alain, yes it is a nice conversion. It's also the first one I've ever done, too. Paul Fisher's conversion kits are certainly well engineered from what I've seen on this forum, and now from my own experience. I do hope he gets back up and running again. More progress, but it's been a trial. I now have the markings on. Firstly, I glossed the dayglo areas with airbrushed Tamiya enamel gloss. Next, I painted on the 3 prominent stripes that point to the hand and foot holds on the left side of the plane. Somehow or other here, I got into trouble as a cloth with thinner white paint contacted the right side of the cockpit and adjacent engine nacelle. I let it dry and then attempted to remove the marks with 5000 grit polishing sticks which got a lot of it off, but a repaint was needed. Half an hour to mask, then 10 seconds to paint with the Tamiya rattle can . Don't you hate that??? Here's a couple of pictures showing what it now looks like. The plane has now had a second coat of varnish, but I haven't yet taken any pictures as I'm going to let it dry thoroughly before going any further. And the second gloss coat gave me heaps of grief too. I realize now that I should have used acrylic gloss on the first coat but I didn't have any, hence the enamel gloss coat before I put the markings on. Since you can put enamel over acrylic, but not acrylic over enamel, I was committed to using enamel for the second coat. But I wasn't sure I had enough to do the entire plane, so I went out on Saturday while I was shopping and dropped in on a hobby store not too far away. They only had Revell enamel gloss, so I bought 2 tins of this. That night I airbrushed this on the underside, but no way could I get it even. On each part of the model that the airbrush had not been able to hit the model square on, the surface cloudy and dull. Had another go on Sunday thinning it differently and using different a pressure setting with even worse results. So today I went out to another shop (there's not many in Perth and only 2 that I know of on the north side of town where I live) and while they had plenty of Tamiya enamel paint, no gloss was in stock. I finished up with Humbrol which I haven't used in decades and had another go this afternoon. Success . So presently, the model is sitting on my bench drying which you wouldn't think would take long in the 40 degree C weather we're having now, but I've found clear gloss takes a while to harden which is what I'll let it do before I go any further. All this because I wanted to avoid rattle can clear varnish.. Next up will be the undercarriage, but I need to paint the wheel bays first. Then on to the canopy which has a bit of work needed before adding the last small parts and it will be done. I sometimes think that modelling is a little bit like writing decent computer code. The first 90% will get you a good idea of how the final product will look, and the second 90% is what really makes it. Cheers, Michael