Finally it is here! If there is a symbol for the dawn of the jet age, it is the Gloster Meteor. For many, it was more than just an aircraft – it embodied the beginning of a new era in aviation. With the Revell kit of the Gloster Meteor F.8-FR.9, you bring exactly this piece of history home. And not just any edition, but an exclusive special edition that could hardly be more limited and detailed.
The Meteor was the first British jet aircraft to be produced in series. While World War II was drawing to a close, it was already flying missions against the notorious V1 flying bombs. These elegant machines chased across England’s sky with glowing jet exhausts and marked the technological turning point between the piston engines of the past and jet power of the future.
From Prototype to Jet-Myth
The development of the Meteor began in the early 1940s under the leadership of George Carter at the Gloster Aircraft Company. While the German Messerschmitt Me 262 was also considered a revolutionary jet, the Meteor was the one that actually served in larger numbers. Its early versions (around the F.1 to F.4) proved that British engineering was ready to keep pace with the speed demanded by the new era.
The F.8 variant, on which the Revell kit is based, was somewhat the crown of the Meteor series. It received a more powerful engine of the type Rolls-Royce Derwent 8 and a redesigned cockpit with improved visibility. The aircraft could now reach speeds over 950 km/h, impressive for the late 1940s. With its characteristic “sting nose” and slightly elongated silhouette, the F.8 became the flagship of the Royal Air Force.
Missions, myths and anecdotes from the jet-era
The Meteor served not only in the RAF but also in numerous air forces worldwide. Australia, Belgium, and Israel used it as well as the Netherlands. Its deployment in the Korean War became particularly well known, where the Australian Air Force experienced jet-versus-jet combat for the first time, especially against superior MiG-15s of Soviet manufacture. Nevertheless, it stood its ground, and its pilots earned great respect.
One of the most remarkable stories about the Meteor is that of test pilot Eric “Tirp” Brown, who flew over 400 different aircraft types. He described the Meteor as an “inevitable step into the future of aviation: raw, powerful, and beautiful at the same time.”
Even in the post-war period, the Meteor remained present in test programs, airshows, or as a test platform for flight measurements. Some Meteors were equipped with camera equipment and served as reconnaissance aircraft, just like the FR.9 version, which is thematized in Revell’s special edition.
The Meteor on canvas and paper
Those who look closely may have already seen the Meteor in cinema. In the British production “Angels One Five” from 1952, it appeared briefly in a flashback scene, and in “The Sound Barrier,” it had a prominent appearance as a symbol for the early jet dreams of aviation pioneers. In documentaries, especially by the BBC, it is still often shown when it comes to the leap from propeller to jet aircraft. 
The Meteor also plays a role in literature. In numerous autobiographies of British pilots such as in “Jet Provost Boys” or “Testing Years,” it is described as a milestone, as an aircraft that inspired both awe and fascination.
Our Revell-Model: Craftmanship meets history
Exactly here, Revell connects: The Gloster Meteor F.8-FR.9 special edition in 1:32 scale brings you this legend to your workbench. You get not just a kit but a tribute to the golden age of aviation development.
The special edition is strictly limited to 3,000 copies and makes the model a real collector’s item. With 405 individual parts, Revell delivers a demanding project that convinces with excellently molded plastic parts and exceptional fit accuracy. Particularly remarkable are the separate engines, allowing you to depict the internal mechanics of the Rolls-Royce engines with impressive realism.
The set also includes an exclusive Duke Hawkins reference book, providing deep insights into the technology and history of the original, as well as an A3 poster of the machine. The cockpit photo-etched parts set ensures the optical precision that we modelers so deeply appreciate. Additionally included are canopy masks, various aileron options, and extra accessories with which you can configure your model individually.
Why this model is more than just a kit
Anyone building a Meteor is not just building an aircraft. You are building a piece of history, a symbol of innovation, courage, and technical curiosity. In every fuselage pipe, every wing, the spirit of those years is contained, in which the sky was newly conquered. With our special edition of the Gloster Meteor F.8-FR.9, you bring exactly this feeling to your workbench.
Whether in a diorama of a Royal Air Force base from the 1950s or as a single piece in the display case, this detailed reproduction draws attention. And it tells something about the speed of technical progress, the dream of flying, and the beginnings of the jet era, which seem natural today but were pure future back then.
Timetravel made of plastic and passion
We hope we have created something here that goes far beyond pure modeling. The Gloster Meteor F.8-FR.9 special edition is a tribute to those pioneers who made the jet age possible, and at the same time a great project for all who love historical accuracy.
So if you want to expand your model building shelf with a real highlight, best secure one of the 3,000 copies quickly. This Meteor will definitely not be available for long – and it deserves a place in your collection.
Here you can read again our series on the development of the Gloster Meteor.
Inspiration for your build
There is relatively little F.8 let alone FR.9 in action to be seen, but we did find at least one F.8: