Frog 1/72 Gloster Meteor F.IV

FROG 1:72 GLOSTER METEOR F MK.IV

Reviewer: Richard Stacey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 24 December 2001 (#33)
Additional boxart and addendum supplied by Jerry Lawrence

Aircraft:
George Carter of Gloster’s had begun to design a jet fighter even before the E28/39 Whittle flew. Due to the lack of power of the early jet engines he settled on a twin engine layout. This resulted in the Air Ministry issuing specification F9/40 that became the Meteor , first flying at Cranwell on the 5^th March 1943. The Meteor F.I and F.II both saw action during WWII. Powered by two Derwent V engines the F IV broke the world air speed record on 7^th November 1945 at 606 mph (EE 545) and on 7^th September 1946 at 616 mph (EE 549). As the “Trent” Meteor it was the first aircraft to fly with turboprop engines.

Thirty one squadrons were equipped with the F.IV’s and the also served with the Argentine, Dutch, Egyptian, Belgian and Danish air forces. The F.IV’s were armed with four 20mm cannons and had provision for a belly tank and drop tanks. It was followed into service by the F.VIII which was a stretched F.IV with a new tail and ejector seat.

The Kit:
FROG F200 1/72
This kit dates from the 1970’s but, as with most Frog products, is good and accurate. It consists of forty one parts including a pilot, stand, drop tanks and a belly tank.

The Russian-language plastic bag header is from the same kit marketed by frogkits.com who import a good range of ex-Frog kits into the UK (supplied by Jerry Lawrence)

Along with most Frog kits, other than the Axis aircraft, it surfaced in Russia under the Novo brand, usually with unusable decals and varying degrees of flash and surface damage but still a good kit.

Novo boxing of the Frog kit

Construction:
The cockpit consists of a floor, stick and seat. More can be added but not much can be seen with the canopy closed. The cannon ports need drilling out, the undercarriage doors sanding down and the nose wheel bay deepened. Weight is needed for the model to sit on its undercarriage. I filled the nose with lead but it was not nearly enough. It probably needs lead piled up behind the seat and under the floor too! I replaced the pitot tube with wire and added a whip ariel from a nylon brush bristle on the fuselage center in line with the exhausts. Everything fitted well with the minimum of filler. After making a couple of limited run kits I was in the mood for something simple but accurate with an un complicated paint job and useable decals. I got it.

Versions & Decals:
The paint scheme couldn’t have been simpler, all over “High Speed Silver" for which I used Tamiya XF 16….and not even an anti glare panel to mask up! The two decal options are both for 1950 machines. A Dutch 323 Sqn aircraft Y9*8 and an RAF 263 Sqn. (Fellowship of the Bellows) aircraft VT 328. Anyone know what “the Fellowship of the Bellows" is all about? Sounds like a Masonic Lodge, but why “Bellows”?

Reference:
With very little modification, EE549, the world speed aircraft could be depicted, see Aeroplane Monthly of December 1975. Good references for single seat Meteors can be found in Scale Aircraft Modelling of March 1979 and the F III and F IV in Scale Aviation Modeller of July 1996 and the F IV is featured in Profile No.78. Plans are available in Scale Models International of May 1997.

Finishing:
Luckily, I had two decal sheets with the kit as one was off register. The decals themselves were fine but one must consider their age. On very close examination, fine cracks could be seen so a liberal dose of Microscale Liquid Decal Film was administered. That did the trick but the glue had “gone off" so some watered down white glue was painted onto the surface prior to adding the decals. Tamiya XF 16 being “matt”, I gave the finished model a blow over with Johnson’s Kleer (or whatever it's called now) which resulted in a nice sheen.

Overall:
I was pleased with the result. This kit is ideal for the beginner or the more experienced. With Airfix making the F.III and Matchbox the NF.11, 12 or 14 (PK129) and Aeroclub making conversion kits for the Matchbox kit for a T.7, F.VIII, FR.9 and PR.10 quite a good collection of Meteors can be assembled.

Addendum supplied by Jerry Lawrence on the Russian (incl Novo) boxing and releases of this kit:
The Russian-language plastic bag header is from the same kit marketed by frogkits.com who import a good range of ex-Frog kits into the UK. I have this and an original Frog version in front of me. Almost identical twins. The Russian-produced example has some sink-marks on both ailerons and on the right hand side fuselage-to-rudder area. It has also gained a little flash. Either the blue or the red of the decals is slightly out-of-register. This has resulted in a thin black line between these two colours on the Dutch markings but the UK roundels are useable. A great improvement on Novo decals which were appalling. At £5, I'm pleased with my acquisition.

Related Reviews:-

Airfix 1/72 Gloster Meteor Mk.III (Kevin Ronayne) | (myself)
Tamiya 1/48 Meteor F.1

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