The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter. The first version entered service in 1944 and the F.4 went into production in 1947. Later versions continued in RAF service until the 1970s.

Development of the Meteor began in 1940 when jet engines were only beginning to be made.

The first Meteor flow on 5 March 1943 and they entered Royal Air Force service in July 1944.

Development slowed after the end of the war and although the F.4 prototype flew in May 1945 it was two years before they entered service with the RAF.

A total of 535 Meteor F.4s were constructed for the RAF.

Another 100 were sold to Argentina and they also flew with the Belgian, Danish, Egyptian and the Netherlands air forces.

From late 1949 they began to be replaced in service by the improved Meteor F.8.

This model represents a Meteor F.4 of 263 Squadron, RAF, in 1950.

Frog 1/72 kit made by Leigh Edmonds in October 1998.