Tamiya USAAF P-74 Meteor...COMPLETED

[AeroplaneDriver]

So she's painted in a coat of white Tamiya primer...and now I'm torn on how to proceed...



A.  Leave it white as an OOB build as one of the first 3 F.3s sent to Belgium painted white for recognition.  Kinda like it white....
B.  USAAF Olive over gray as originally planned
C.  RAF Far East scheme with SEAC roundels
D.  USMC Dark Sea Blue

The last three Whif options would include the ventral cannon pack and appropriate rockets on the wings. 

Thoughts..?

[The Wooksta!]

You forgot "E" - 2TAF replacing one of the Typhoon units.  Standard OG/DG/MSG camo but naturally, no Sky band and the yellow outline Type C1A roundels upperwing and the lower wing roundels also get a yellow surround.

[AeroplaneDriver]

You forgot "E" - 2TAF replacing one of the Typhoon units.  Standard OG/DG/MSG camo but naturally, no Sky band and the yellow outline Type C1A roundels upperwing and the lower wing roundels also get a yellow surround.

I did actually consider that since I have a lot of extra Tiffie decals in the stash, but I think I want something a little more different...

[AeroplaneDriver]

And of course I had to think of "F" to further complicate matters...Coastal Command scheme loaded with lots of rockets...

[The Wooksta!]

Go for a slightly darker scheme for 2TAF - Dark Sea Grey instead of Ocean Grey and PRU Blue underneath.

[AeroplaneDriver]

After 24+ hours of hand wringing over how to paint this thing, I went with my first (and long planned) idea of USAAF in the ETO c.1946 during the hard fought battle towards Berlin. 

It's in the pretty standard Olive Drab over Neutral Gray.   Decaling may take a little while since I couldn't piece together the necessary bits from the stash/spares, so I ordered a P-47 sheet that will work perfectly.  The wait will give me time to get the gear done and 8 5" HVARs painted up nicely. 

For now, here she is painted.  Belly cannon pack is not installed yet.  Haven't decided if it will be gray or leave it NMF. 

[Mossie]

I vote for NMF, it'll give some visual interest but also draw the eye to the changes you've made.

[Rick Lowe]

Agree NMF underside would be different and make a connection to the late 44/early 45 overall NMF - maybe say they had to cam the uppers because of some sort of 'McGuffin Effect' (perhaps for camouflage at low-level?), plus they had plenty of OD paint stocks kicking around and leave it at that.
Like how the Burma Thunderbolts were cammed even late in the war, and it was still the 'old school' Green/Brown, which was more suitable for that theatre.


If you were really keen on the other schemes, well, there are a lot more 1/48 Meteor kits available... 

[NARSES2]

I think it will look good in the scheme you've started. Just different enough 

[Mossie]

I vote for NMF, it'll give some visual interest but also draw the eye to the changes you've made.

Just to clarify, I meant the drop tank.  I agree with Chris, the underside looks good as it is.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Cannon pack painted in NMF.  I like it this way.  As several said, it adds a little interest. 

[NARSES2]

Yup, just catches the eye enough 

[Captain Canada]

It sure does. Love the look in those colours.

[AeroplaneDriver]

After discovering I didn't have appropriate decals in the stash for the way I wanted this to turn out, so it's been sitting for a couple of days while I waited for some to arrive. 

With decals on this afternoon, it's down to some weathering tomorrow and getting the fiddly bits attached (including 6 x 5" HVARs), and then she's ready for the shelf.  Quite pleased with it so far. 

[Old Wombat]

Looking so right!