Gloster Meteor T.Mk. 7

Xtrakit, 1/72 scale
 

Reviewed by Brett Green

Xtrakit released their first kit, a 1/72 scale Meteor F.Mk.8, nearky two years ago. That kit was nicely detailed, with excellent surface features and useful options. It was also a pleasure to build. An image of my Xtrakit Meteor F.8, built in December 2006, may be seen below.

Xtrakit has now expanded their Meteor family with a 1/72 scale T.7 two-seater trainer comrpising 77 parts in grey plastic, two parts in clear and markings for two aircraft.

Perhaps the most intimidating prospect of these two-seater Meatboxes is their heavily framed canopy. Xtrakit has thoughtfully supplied masks to speed this otherwise time consuming task.

Xtrakit's new 1/72 scale Meteor T.7 features the same fine surface detail as its predecessor, but now sports and all new fuselage, cockpit and tail surfaces.

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The plastic parts are manufactured to a very high standard. The grey styrene is cleanly moulded and well detailed with crisply recessed panel lines and selected fasteners around the nose. The effect is impressive, even when viewed under high magnification. The only imperfections on my sample is a little fine flash and a few sink marks on some undercarriage parts.

Sprue gates are narrow, so cleanup should be trouble free. This is especially important if your Meatbox is destined to wear a High Speed Silver finish.

Parts breakdown is quite conventional and robust. Wings are supplied as full-span top and bottom halves. The fuselage will then be mounted securely on the resulting saddle. Horizontal tailplanes fit into large tabs in the fin.

The fit of the engine nacelle to the wing leading edge will be straightforward thanks to the bulk of the nacelles being moulded as part of the top and bottom wing halves. Only the front of the nacelles are separate, allowing different rings for the early small, or later large (cut back) jet intakes.

Cockpit detail is basic but adequate considering the black finish will hide all but the most prominent features. You might like to add some harness straps from paper, lead foil or from an aftermarket photo-etched set.

Drop tanks and the bulged belly tank are included as options. Both the small and larger jet intakes are also supplied, so check your references carefully to see which version was fitted to your chosen subject.

The canopy is really very nice - thin and free from distortion. This is supplied as a single piece, so you will need to do some careful work with a razor saw if you wish to pose your canopy open. A gunsight is also provided on the clear sprue but the Meteor T.7 was unarmed. Check your references before installing this part!

Although the instructions do not mention it, this model will definitely need plenty of nose weight to avoid tail-sitting.

Markings are supplied for two aircraft:

• WF722 / Y Target Towing Flight, RAF Cyprus, November 1965. This aircraft is finished in High Speed Silver on the upper surfaces with black and yellow diagonal stripes underneath.

• WL380 74 Sqn RAF, Horsham St Faiths, February 1958. This aircraft is finished in High Speed Silver underneath, and Extra Dark Sea Grey with disruptive Dark Green on the upper surfaces.

Decals are thin and nicely in register.

I believe that this is the first time we have seen a 1/72 scale full injection moulded kit of the Meteor T.7.

Xtrakit has delivered another great little model. Parts breakdown is straightforward, detail is good and the surface features are excellent.

This would be a good project for relatively inexperienced modellers wishing to try their hand at a limited run kit.

I am looking forward to building mine!

Thanks to Hannants for the sample

Xtrakits, Xtraparts and Xtradecals are all available online from Hannants' website

Text and Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 14 October, 2008
Last updated 14 October, 2008

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