To sum up
This has been an extremely enjoyable build – parts fit well, detail is fine for the type and scale with the rider that more could and should have been included for the high price tag, like photo etch for a seat harness. The build went very smoothly and I think the end result is very pleasing; there’s no mistaking that this HKM Gloster Meteor looks every bit the F.4 it is supposed to represent.
Geoff C.
SMN Quick summary Star rating out of 5
| FEATURE | STAR RATING |
|---|---|
| Quality of moulding | **** |
| Accuracy | ***/**** |
| Instructions | *** |
| Decals | * |
| Subject choice | ***** |
| Build Enjoyment | ***** |
| Overall | **** |
Gallery
Below are a series of images of the completed model. Click on a thumbnail to see the enlarged image.
You can download a pdf of the Full Article here.
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Sometimes you’re just not happy
Do you ever get that feeling, months or years later? You know, you finish a model and it’s OK, but not quite how you envisaged it at the start? Well, that’s how I feel several years later after completing this HKM Hloster Meteor F.4 in Belgian Air Force markings. Please don’t misunderstand me, I love the BAF schemes, it’s just that now I’m unhappy with:
- the metallic finish – it’s too bright and shiny
- there are a few ‘ghost’ seam joins’ along the top of the fuselage – not good and they have to go!
- the decals just don’t work and I don’t have new ones so it’s time for a complete change!
There’s a complete ‘how-to’ for how I went about this whole task of removing the BAF decals and then repairing the seams, preparing and re-spraying the metallic finish and finally adding new decals and it’s all in your SMN TB – here.
I used Kits World decals that included a very nice scheme for a Gloster Meteor F.4 of No.207 Advanced Flying School, RAF Yeadon, West Yorkshire 1952.
Here’s how it all turned out…
