TeeELLs Meteor NF 11 ** FINISHED **

[ShaunW]

That looks great Tony, it really does. The GB doesn't officially end until tomorrow, 4th March and perhaps the GBL, Fred K, might grant you an extension seeing as you are close to finishing.

[Stuart]

That's a stunner Tony! Nice build.

[TeeELL]

I get the impression that I am not the only person who has run out of 'official' time but fredk looks to be allowing a little extra time. I theory, I should have the whole of Monday to finish but I have realised that my car is going in for a system software upgrade (it is a CAR for goodness sake, not a computer!!) so that will eat about 3 hours out of the day. In the evening I am teaching from 7 until 9, so today I will try and get home for a couple of hours and get some decals put on.

[ShaunW]

Ah, but it is a computer Tony, it just happens to have four wheels attached to it that enables you to drive it around I remember the good old days of doing my own spanner work on cars, these days with modern vehicles I leave it to the professionals.

Hopefully you will manage to get the Meatbox finished, the build is really coming together very well.

[TeeELL]

I managed to escape home for a couple of hours this afternoon and did a fair amount of dacaling. The application of the aircraft serials to the undersides of the wings and rear fuselage took some time as I had to apply the letters/numbers individually. I also did some more wing upper surface markings and the fuselage fuel tank.
It is now just possible that the Meteor will be near as damn-it complete tomorrow (these, of course, being famouse 'last words'). I guess it all depends on whether the postman delivers the Galeria matt varnish.
Sorry, no photos, I will action that tomorrow.

[Gregers]

Looking forward yp seeing this one finished. It'll be inspiration to get mine done. I use Galeria too. Damn fine stuff.

All the best.

Greg

[TeeELL]

Today, despite having to take the car to the dealer for an 'update', I have managed to complete the decaling of the meteor. I am waiting for everything to dry before applying the Matt varnish, of course the varnish I ordered for delivery today has not arrived but I called in at my local Hobbycraft and they had some in stock. Here, then, is the aircraft awaiting the varnish (I am thinking I will 'cut' the matt with some satin as I am not at all sure that a flat finish would be appropriate).









I might be able to lay on the varnish this afternoon, we will see. If that is the case then the ancillary bits could go on tomorrow and the aircraft will be finished.

[ShaunW]

That looks great Tony. Personally I don't like a totally matt finish as I don't think it looks quite right and I prefer a slightly satin effect, which seems to be in accord with a lot of photographic evidence.

[JohnRatzenberger]

That looks good !

If you're nice to Fred, you can probably claim a "** Finished **" and save the varnish for a later day.

[TeeELL]

John,
Nice idea but the undercarriage, doors, fuel tanks and aerials are still required and they are scheduled to be fitted after the varnish. Off to do that now so, fingers crossed, today will see completion.

[TeeELL]

At 09.30 this morning the Meteor was masked-up and ready for the Galeria satin acrylic varnish. All set to hit the 'paintshops', plugged in the spraybooth extractor fan - nothing! The booth was stripped down, cleaned and reassembled and I tried again, still nothing grrrrrrrrr! Put the transformer plug into a different socket on the extension lead ta, da! All is well, so as soon as I have finish my cuppa I shall get on with the varnishing.

[TeeELL]

All is dry and ready for the bits and bobs to be added, provided I don't drop the Meteor I should be complete by close of play today - will I regret saying this I wonder?

[iggie]

How do you find the Galaria varnish for spraying? I've not tried it yet; I assume thinning with water is the order of the day?

[JohnRatzenberger]

John,
Nice idea but the undercarriage, doors, fuel tanks and aerials are still required and they are scheduled to be fitted after the varnish. Off to do that now so, fingers crossed, today will see completion.

Well, I did look at the top views at least

[TeeELL]

Iggie,
I tried using the airbrush - the varnish needed a deal of thinning. I used a combination of Isopropyl Alcohol and distilled water, I wasn't especially happy with the finish and ended-up putting on a brush coat.

I managed not to drop the blessed thing and 'blue-light' glue helped me fix bits quickly and firmly.





There are more photos in the gallery. Phew!! Glad that is done, now to decide what to build next, I am inclined towards the JP 3 in which I flew my '1st Solo'.