Special Hobby 1/72 Gloster Meteor Mk.4 # 72498
The Mk.4 Meteor jet was the first post war version of this twin engined jet and became a front-line fighter of the RAF as well as the air forces of Belgium and the Netherlands.
Our model kit comes on two styrene sprues, one with clear parts and also offers a sheet of decals with markings for three RAF machines and one of the Dutch air force.
Two of the British options have interesting connection with our country, then called Czechoslovakia, as they used to be flown by Miroslav Miro Liskutin and Charles Eagan Lamberton / Karel Lechner, who both first fled Czechoslovakia to fight the Nazis and a few years later were forced to flee for a second time, now by the new communist regime.
The Gloster Meteor Mk.4 was a British jet fighter developed during the late 1940s, playing a pivotal role in the transition from piston-engine aircraft to jets.
It was an advanced version of the earlier Meteor models, powered by the Rolls-Royce Derwent 5 turbojet engines, offering a significant performance boost with a top speed of 600 mph (965 km/h) and improved climb rates.
Key features included a robust and streamlined design, a tricycle landing gear, and a pressurized cockpit for high-altitude operation.
The Mk.4 was equipped with four Hispano Mk V 20 mm cannons and could carry rockets or bombs, enhancing its versatility in combat roles.
It saw service in the early Cold War period, primarily with the Royal Air Force and in various export versions.