1:72 Gloster Meteor F.8 Prone Pilot

Gloster Meteor F.8 Prone Pilot 1:72 - Plastic Kit

An injection-molded plastic model of the British jet aircraft Gloster Meteor F.8 in the unusual experimental Prone Pilot version in 1:72 scale. The kit is supplied unassembled and unpainted; it is a classic plastic kit to be glued and sprayed. For the exact contents of the boxing (the number of parts, decals, any extras) go by the enclosed instructions and the markings on the box.

The real subject

The Gloster Meteor was the first British operational jet fighter and the only Allied jet aircraft to see combat service in the Second World War. It was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Derwent jet engines mounted in the wing. The F.8 day fighter version was one of the main postwar variants. The special experimental Prone Pilot conversion had a station for a second pilot added in the nose, where he lay on his stomach. The aim of the research in the first half of the 1950s was to find out whether a prone position would let a pilot withstand g-loads better. The version remained experimental and was never taken into production service.

Building and painting tips

Study the cockpit and the extended nose with the prone pilot station carefully against the instructions and paint them before closing the fuselage. Glue the model with liquid cement for plastic, fill the seams and sand them down. Spray the base over a primer, and pick out the natural metal surfaces with metallic paints in different panel shades. Apply the decals over a gloss clear coat and even the whole thing out with a final clear coat.

Who the model is for

• For lovers of early British jet aviation
• For collectors of experimental and prototype aircraft
• For modelers looking for an unusual piece for a Meteor collection
• For collectors in 1:72 scale

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.