What if
GROUP BUILDS => The RAF Centenary Group Build => Topic started by: kitbasher on July 01, 2018, 02:01:27 am
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Conversion of a Matchbox NF Meatbox into a single seater. So how will that be a whiff? Wait and see!
Bits in the box - it was bought as a part-build at the last ever Hendon model show for £1. Some additional disassembly required - and there will be some chopping and changing.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1830/29257307168_2c3acdbb32.jpg)
(https://flic.kr/p/Lznm7u)
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at the last ever Hendon model show
Hopefully not
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... and there will be some chopping and changing.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1830/29257307168_2c3acdbb32.jpg)
(https://flic.kr/p/Lznm7u)
Maybe an extended nose? ;)
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Maybe an extended nose? ;)
You could say that.
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Or even extended wings?
But who'd ever do that to a Meteor, eh? ;)
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Or even extended wings?
But who'd ever do that to a Meteor, eh? ;)
Indeed, hey, Kit ;)
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some nitty gritty work this morning:
- reduce the wingtips to F.8 size/shape, cut off the wing guns and fit front and rear engine fairings.
- assemble NF.11 fin and rudder, plus drop tanks.
- chop out the front seat to make way for an ejection seat (taken from a Merlin Meteor F.8), tidy up the Aeroclub F.8 fuselage decking, refit the instrument panel and successfully lose the control column(!).
- select nose, add weight and fit to fuselage.
- realise some of the unwanted cockpit detail might be good for the Shorts Bronco (http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,45423.msg813546.html#msg813546).
- be surprised how easily the plastic melts - only have to put it within 10 inches of a bottle of liquid cement and it goes weak at the knees!
- and be surprised how weedy the plastic is compared to the original Matchbox mouldings, making it seem like a limited run kit in some respects.
- above said not having actually built any of the Matchbox Meteors I have in the stash.
- appreciating the warnings of the gaps, etc, referred to in all of the reviews of this kit when it first came out.
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Where I am with the Meteor. Some cockpit tidying up ahead of fitting the Aeroclub F.8 fuselage fairing. That'll lead to plenty of filling and rubbing down ahead of fitting the wings and the tailplane, which will need to be prepped before fitting.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/41901163730_607792feaa_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26QEqaq)
(https://flic.kr/p/26QEqaq)
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Good to see your making progress mate :thumbsup:
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You may need to think about some transverse bulkheads inside the fuselage, because that plastic is really thin and the join line with the top can never be eliminated unless you do something to stiffen it.
I've fought that kit several times and I detest it with a passion.
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You may need to think about some transverse bulkheads inside the fuselage, because that plastic is really thin and the join line with the top can never be eliminated unless you do something to stiffen it.
I've fought that kit several times and I detest it with a passion.
Good tip Lee, tvm.
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Had on - what you using for weapons? There's a dirty geet radar nose so no guns there and you've deleted the wing armament.
Ah - four cannon gunpack under the fuselage as the fuel goes in the space formerly occupied by teh radar gadgy?
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Some initial filling done, fitting the fuselage decking next.
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Cockpit decking fitted, filled and sanded. Fin/rudder and one tailplane fitted, filled and sanded. Wings all filled and sanded and one wing fitted, realised I'd missed some filling around one of the engines so filled (sanding to follow). Wingtips sorted.
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Wings, tailplane, fin/rudder, etc, all sorted, fitted and PSR done. Test fitting - Merlin ejection seat still fits nicely and the Merlin canopy does too.
Next up: tidy up the drop tanks and either build up a pair of PP Aeroparts Firestreaks or rob a pair from the Airfix Lightning F.2A that's down to have the Freightdog VG wings and a pair of Odds & Ordnance Genies fitted to it. By 'eck, the old Airfix Lightning F.1A Firestreaks are weedy in comparison!
And yes, Firestreaks. The Meatbox is going to be from the Guided Weapons Test Squadron, which in the real world trialled Fairey Fireflashes on Swift F.7s. Fireflashes were also trialled on Woomera-based Meteors. Firestreaks on the other hand were trialled on Sea Venoms and RAAF Sabres.
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Hurrah! That's the Meteor essentially built, just need to finish painting and fitting the ejection seat and then of course the canopy before starting the main painting. With the GB done there's no point in posting progress pics, it'll just be the final product.
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A mere 18 months after the GB's extended deadline.....it's done!
In 1955, No 6 Joint Services Trials Unit was established at Valley as a lodger unit to undertake trials with the Fairey Fireflash air-to-air guided missile, which had first been test fired from Gloster Meteor NF.11s. Meanwhile, the Firestreak missile (then code-named Blue Jay) was being tested, first launch taking place in 1955 from a de Havilland Sea Venom, the target drone - a Fairey Firefly - being destroyed.
Intensive trials of the both missiles were required using single-seat aircraft, to be conducted with the redesignated No 1 Guided Weapons Development Squadron in 1957 with 10 modified Supermarine Swift F7s acting as Fireflash carriers. The unit was also engaged on the trials programme of the Firestreak infra-red homing missile, using a mix of specially-modified Meteor F.8s and Javelins of various marks.
Not wanting to further modify Swifts, and with plenty of airframes available for modification, the Air Ministry modified 10 Meteor F.8s to F.8(R) standard, the ‘(R)’ suffix referring to the Ferranti Airpass radars fitted to Meteors, in recovered/refurbished NF.11 nose sections. The Meteor was a highly adaptable aircraft, the F.8(R) being no exception, the additional modification being the fitting of wingtip missile rails. The first (WK988) was delivered from No 60 Maintenance Unit at RAF Leconfield in late 1956. Unlike the Swifts which were delivered straight from Fairey, the reworked Meteors were delivered in 60 MU colours that were worn for the duration of the Meteor trials and would later be seen on several Lightning F.1s (e.g. XM144).
While Fireflash was only ever used as a training missile, Firestreak entered operational service with the RAF and the Royal Navy in August 1958; it was the first effective British air-to-air missile and remained in use until 1988.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49845751166_f9c4b49d0f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iWGvdS)(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49846053892_faa5a6b65f_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49845209683_986e453a44_c.jpg)(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49845209638_24bac52b3c_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49846053802_20b9da6c14_c.jpg)(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49845751186_902c33ec8e_c.jpg)
The model depicts WK988 as delivered, with dummy Firestreaks attached. (https://flic.kr/p/2iWGvdS)
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Oh yes, I DO like that Dave! :thumbsup:
Is it an F8 with an NF11 radome, or an NF11 with an F8 cockpit though?
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Oh yes, I DO like that Dave! :thumbsup:
Is it an F8 with an NF11 radome, or an NF11 with an F8 cockpit though?
an F8 with an NF11 radome, Kit.
although the build is actually a Matchbox Meteor NF with an Aeroclub F8/FR9 decking plus a Merlin F8 canopy (as it was the only one I had in my spares box apart from one with the solid rear end, which wouldn't be in keeping with the timeline).
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Hehehe, so you started with an NF11, converted it to an F8 and left the NF11 radome on it? ;D
I like it, Whiffgeneering to the max! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Hehehe, so you started with an NF11, converted it to an F8 and left the NF11 radome on it? ;D
Yup ;D
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A very smart looking finished product. Well done ;D
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A very smart looking finished product. Well done ;D
Totally agree :thumbsup:
If you'd like it moved to normal build thread let me know mate
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A two seater in a training/development role isn't too much of a stretch either. Possibly NF14s but with bang seats too?
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A two seater in a training/development role isn't too much of a stretch either. Possibly NF14s but with bang seats too?
I'm sure the Meteor T7 must have been a cheap as chips to build and operate as I've wondered why an NF14-based trainer as described by Lee never happened?
Now I've 2 Matchbox NFs in the stash (one as an 11, the other a 14), so if one were to be replaced by a Special Hobby NF.14, and assuming I can find a non-radar nose and get the right seats......
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T7s were all over the place in the day, every Meteor Squadron had a couple of them, and many were just around as Station hacks.
When I was at Benson the Ferry Training Flight had half a dozen T7s, and two T7.5s as well, plus the Station had four T7s just hanging around. :o
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A two seater in a training/development role isn't too much of a stretch either. Possibly NF14s but with bang seats too?
I'm sure the Meteor T7 must have been a cheap as chips to build and operate as I've wondered why an NF14-based trainer as described by Lee never happened?
Now I've 2 Matchbox NFs in the stash (one as an 11, the other a 14), so if one were to be replaced by a Special Hobby NF.14, and assuming I can find a non-radar nose and get the right seats......
I did an NF14 based trainer years back in an overall black scheme and FAA markings, but I doubt there's any photos on here. IIRC, it was a straight Matchbox kit with an Airfix F3 nose and Aeroclub bang seats (apparently the NF14 was going to get them hence the revised canopy and the Treasury said the RAF couldn't have the cash. There's a very subtle one - have I enough Matchbox bits? Edit - yes. Unfortunately.).
I meant a "straight" NF14, with the wingtip missiles and bang seats, possibly as a De Havilland development aircraft instead of the Venom that they did use.
Dave, use the Matchbox ones for whiffing and just get the new Special Hobby one for the real thing. That's what I'd do. IIRC I might have the mould somewhere for a standard nose but I may have a gash fuselage kicking about too. Yours if and when you want it.
Edit: found a cast resin fighter nose that's of no use to me. You may need to add a few shims of plastic card on the back but it's perfectly useable. I did find a gash Airfix Meteor nose, but only one half...
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If you'd like it moved to normal build thread let me know mate
Very kind Chris but it can stay here.
I meant a "straight" NF14, with the wingtip missiles and bang seats, possibly as a De Havilland development aircraft instead of the Venom that they did use.
Dave, use the Matchbox ones for whiffing and just get the new Special Hobby one for the real thing. That's what I'd do. IIRC I might have the mould somewhere for a standard nose but I may have a gash fuselage kicking about too. Yours if and when you want it.
Edit: found a cast resin fighter nose that's of no use to me. You may need to add a few shims of plastic card on the back but it's perfectly useable. I did find a gash Airfix Meteor nose, but only one half...
Aah, all clear now, Lee. Missile-armed NF14 Firestreak test-bed makes sense. I think I may have a fighter nose available (or at least an FR9/PR10 nose that could be adapted. Let me look.
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Great result! glad you drug her out. Three months, two/three years, what's the difference? - deadlines are flexible.....you don't work for government do you? ;D
Nice job
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Subtle, smart & plausible - I like it! :thumbsup: