The Gloster Meteor project was initiated in 1941 in anticipation of the jet engine then under development by Frank Whittle. However, the Whittle engine was repeatedly delayed and two other jet propulsion engines consequently appeared over this period - one from de Havilland and the other from Metropolitan Vickers. The de Havilland H.1 engine was chosen and the Meteor prototype, DG206, flew in March 1943.

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Disappointingly, the aircraft was similar in performance to most piston engined fighters at the time, and possessed aileron instability at high altitudes. The final prototype, DQ209, was built to test the Rolls Royce Derwent engine and it had the highest speed of any engine installation thus far. The operational aircraft, with the Derwent unit, were designated as the F.Mk 3. In this configuration the Meteor at last possessed a superior performance.

The model  shown here represents one of these aircraft and it is made from the revised Tamiya kit. It is painted in the winter scheme, and is heavily weathered. Records show that this white finish  was hastily applied and soon deteriorated. The model is meant to represent an aircraft as it may have appeared after several sorties. Additional details on my website www.aircraftscalemodeling.com

Richard Eglen

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