T.7 take 1

[kitbasher]

Gloster Meteor T7 WK810 'E', 615 Squadron RAuxAF, RAF Biggin Hill, June 1955

What if the Meteor T.7 had side-by-side seating rather than tandem seating, and been fitted with an F.8-style tailplane?

This was an interesting build.  I'd had a Merlin Meteor F.8 in the stash for, phew, 20-odd years and didn't really know what to do with it and then the MPM/Xtrakit/Airfix F.8 came out (I'd not been tempted to use the Aeroclub conversion for the Matchbox NF).  I knew it had to be whiffed, but as what?  Early thoughts centred around a single-seater with the engines moved inboard so it looked rather like a mini CF-100.  Modeldecal markings for Belgian CF-100s were to be used (either 349 or 350 Sqn - both flew Meteors and CF-100s). 
Then I had the notion of a side-by-side seating configuration using the nose off a Matchbox Hunter T.7/FGA.9, again with the engines moved inboard - it'd look a little like a 1950's Grumman Intruder.
Finally I settled on the T.7 layout as you see it - Merlin F.8 with Matchbox Hunter T.7 nose grafted on to it.  Needed to use some Matchbox Meteor u/c from the spares box to replace the awful Merlin white metal 'shapes'  that masqueraded as undercarriage.  The cockpit interior needed some attention so I glammed up the rather basic seats - slight reshaping, seat straps from masking take and pull handles from fusing wire - to add some detail and interest to the cockpit, and used the Hunter T.7 instrument panel decal to finish the thing off.  May yet add a whip aerial or two.
Markings mostly come from an old Scale Aircraft Modelling sheet that included four or so very colourful F.8s, a Suez Hunter F.4 and a USAF F-111.  The nosewheel door code letter came from a generic Modeldecal lettering/numbering set, and the walkways from Xtradecal black striping.
The real WK810 was a 615 Sqn F.8, also coded 'E'.

Note: The T.7 was a development of the F.4 and of course had the early 'ear' shape fin and rudder.  The F.8 was essentially an improvement of the F.4 with the new tailplane, so it makes sense to fit the new mark's tailplane as standard to the T.7.  Martin-Baker's real-world T.7s do of course have the F.8 tailplane.

[Hobbes]

Very nice!

[rickshaw]

That's really good!  Very believable looking.   

[NARSES2]

Beautiful build sir 

I admire the way you combine such disparate and old parts and come up with something so clean and fresh 

I don't know why, but that first photo almost looks like a promo shoot for a cartoon character to me. I can visualise "eyes" and a BBC lead in that reads " Meet the new school master at out flying school" type of thing. Going barmy I know. 

[kitbasher]

Kind words, y'all, flattered indeed.

I don't know why, but that first photo almost looks like a promo shoot for a cartoon character to me. I can visualise "eyes" and a BBC lead in that reads " Meet the new school master at out flying school" type of thing. Going barmy I know. 

Like this?

[crudebuteffective]

 

very nice

[lancer]

Btilliant!!! Now, has the plane got a name??

[PR19_Kit]

That's a CRACKING job you've made of that Dave, and from a MERLIN kit as well! 

Some T7s had the T8 tail fitted during RAF Service and they were called 'T7 1/2s' at the time. The Ferry Training Squadron at RAF Benson in 1956 had 3 or 4 T7 1/2s and maybe 10 standard T7s. Needless to say the Flight Commanders tended to fly the 7 1/2s 

[Martin H]

I like it 

[kitbasher]

That's a CRACKING job you've made of that Dave, and from a MERLIN kit as well! 

Thank you Kit.

Some T7s had the T8 tail fitted during RAF Service and they were called 'T7 1/2s' at the time. The Ferry Training Squadron at RAF Benson in 1956 had 3 or 4 T7 1/2s and maybe 10 standard T7s. Needless to say the Flight Commanders tended to fly the 7 1/2s 

I never knew that, Kit.  Any pictures anywhere?

[PR19_Kit]

The only pics of T7 1/2s that I can find on the Net are the Martin Baker pair, but the tail 'upgrade' is mentioned quite often in Meteor books.

As they all started out with the F4 tails there doesn't seem any way of determining which ones became T7 1/2s and which ones didn't from their serial nos.

[Ed S]

Nice kitbash. A well done and very believable model.

Ed

[NARSES2]

I don't know why, but that first photo almost looks like a promo shoot for a cartoon character to me. I can visualise "eyes" and a BBC lead in that reads " Meet the new school master at out flying school" type of thing. Going barmy I know. 

Like this?

Exactly, you can see what I mean

[PR19_Kit]

I dug out my copy of Barry Jones' Meteor book and it says the F8 tail, actually the Gloster E1/44 tail but I'm not quibbling  , was fitted to some late production T7s actually on the line, and some earlier built aurcraft were updated too.