1/72 Folland Fo 150 Mayfly GR.1

[The Big Gimper]

The Boffins at Folland were certain the Gnat has untapped potential but did not put 2 + 2 together until a USN A-4 landed at Chilbolton. The Boffins inspected the A-4 enjoying Heinemann's wonderful compact design. While at the pub that night, one of the engineers folder a napkin into a triangle and and doodled the Gnat fuselage over it. Boink!!! The light bulb lit. A delta wing Gnat. Yes!! Next day back out to the airfield and out with the tape measure. The rest as they say is modelling history.

What I am using is the original Airfix Gnat (Yeah, its an ugly kit) but the way it is engineered made an easy cut of the A-4 wings and butt fit to the fuselage. Hasegawa OA-4M wings. I closed up the rear cockpit. Added a Harrier Aden 30mm cannon. Have not selected the under wing stores. I am leaning towards rocket pods. Landing gear will be from the A-4. Gnat nose gear looks to be okay. But will use slightly larger wheels.

I actually started this kit before the Hawk 300 but got delayed as the Hawk was proceeding better than I expected.

[Tophe]

Nice new silhouette!

[Kerick]

Those wings look huge attached to a Gnat!

Single seat 1/4th scale Vulcan! Or maybe the test aircraft prior to the Vulcan.

[finsrin]

Those wings look huge attached to a Gnat!

Perhaps is the once secret high altitude Gnat !

[Volkodav]

That looks even better than the Hawk.  Got me thinking ow to do a swing wing Gnat now........... 1/144 Tornado donor........?

[TurboCoupeTurbo]

I love the looks on this one!  Great job finding new uses for existing parts.

[The Big Gimper]

@ kerick: Good eye. I also noticed that wings are very similar shape to those used on the Vulcan B.1.

@ Volkadov: I had not through of this. Cool idea.

@ finsrin: A Mayfly PR.1. Nice idea!!!

[Steve Blazo]

I like, it has a very nice look.   

[elmayerle]

For a high-altitude version, perhaps reduce the sweep on the outboard portion of the wings and extend them?

[Weaver]

Oh nice one!  :)

I've had something similar sitting in the half-finished pile for ages. I nearly went down the same route, but in the end I went for Airfix MiG-21 wings. Underside panels are scratched and u/c legs will be 1/100th F-15 ones.

[The Big Gimper]

That's so cool Harold. Smart minds think alike but ....

[Kerick]

Finish them both for a comparison. Looks pretty cool to me.

[The Big Gimper]

Oh nice one!  :)

I've had something similar sitting in the half-finished pile for ages. I nearly went down the same route, but in the end I went for Airfix MiG-21 wings. Underside panels are scratched and u/c legs will be 1/100th F-15 ones.

It looks you removed the spine. Faired over the 2nd cockpit. Whose Mig-21 wings did you use? Which canopy will you use?

[GTX_Admin]

Looking good

[KiwiZac]

Nice one, TBG, I love the look of this!

[ed s]

Great mod to the Gnat. This does look a lot like the Hindustan Tejas.

Ed

[Brian da Basher]

A delta winged Gnat! Absolutely brilliant!

Sure looks like it's going to finish up a real gem!

Brian da Basher

[DFZ]

That Mayfly is going to look good!  :)

[uncle les]

That's rather neat - and yes , the scooter's wings like huge on that airframe.  Just as an aside (I picked on this thread as it was Gnatworthy) , I just scanned this and it's got me thinking.

Thread hijack apologies - back to the delta !

[Weaver]

I've had something similar sitting in the half-finished pile for ages. I nearly went down the same route, but in the end I went for Airfix MiG-21 wings. Underside panels are scratched and u/c legs will be 1/100th F-15 ones.

It looks you removed the spine. Faired over the 2nd cockpit. Whose Mig-21 wings did you use? Which canopy will you use?

Oops, sorry: I've only just noticed this question! 

The MiG-21 wings are from the old Airfix kit (somewhat underscale IIRC). The canopy and spine will also come from the MiG, which is why I removed the original spine.

[The Big Gimper]

That's rather neat - and yes , the scooter's wings like huge on that airframe.  Just as an aside (I picked on this thread as it was Gnatworthy) , I just scanned this and it's got me thinking.

Thread hijack apologies - back to the delta !

It's all good Les. This is a RW Folland proposal?

[The Big Gimper]

I've had something similar sitting in the half-finished pile for ages. I nearly went down the same route, but in the end I went for Airfix MiG-21 wings. Underside panels are scratched and u/c legs will be 1/100th F-15 ones.

It looks you removed the spine. Faired over the 2nd cockpit. Whose Mig-21 wings did you use? Which canopy will you use?

Oops, sorry: I've only just noticed this question! 

The MiG-21 wings are from the old Airfix kit (somewhat underscale IIRC). The canopy and spine will also come from the MiG, which is why I removed the original spine.

Thanks Guy. All good ideas.

[uncle les]

It's all good Les. This is a RW Folland proposal?

Yep - scanned from a '50s RAF Flying Review.

[The Big Gimper]

It's all good Les. This is a RW Folland proposal?

Yep - scanned from a '50s RAF Flying Review.

Cool. It's now in the build queue.  Looks like the Tip tanks could be sourced from a 1/128 Monogram Constellation.