The Little World

Fate has dealt me three Gloster Meteor kits; a Cyberhobby F.3, an old Airfix III ( ? ) , and a new Airfix F.8.

I have played the first two as best as could be – the first as an RAF plane in the 1945 conflict, the second as a corroded gate guard on a pole, and the third…well the third is destined to become what I really wanted in the first place: an Israeli day fighter of the late 50’s. I collected decals years ago to make it so and now Airfix has slid a kit in under them.

The kit is a modern mould cut with computer aid and moulded in the Indian factory. It is dedicated in the box to domestic flight with exclusively RAF markings – and very well done they are. I can see myself using some of them as additional detail on this model.

There is a prototype for the aircraft I will build, and it still exists in an air museum at Hatzerim. The decal sheet is exact for it and thankfully dozens of air tourists have pictured it on its display stand. It is in the hot sun, and may need some weathering to be authentic, but ALL the ingredients are to hand – including an model Israeli air museum.

Sprue trees are dark, but detailed. Wheel well, engine, and cockpit tub details seem admirable, without the need for PE or resin. I am unsure whether the wheel arrangements are sensible but keep reading subsequent posts and if you see screaming you’ll know they went an inner tube too far.

The instructions are the clear and useful modern multi-colour Airfix.

I do not decry the previous iterations, but this one will be pure pleasure.