Vickers-Armstrong 559

British Supersonic Jet Interceptor Concept (1950)

Scale: 1/72
Initial Release: 2018
Medium: Resin
Kit Rarity: 2

About the Design

In 1955, Britain's Vickers-Armstrong aircraft company submitted this radical supersonic jet interceptor concept to the British Ministry of Supply's Operational Requirement F.155, which called for a high-speed jet aircraft capable of intercepting incoming Soviet Bombers. 

Vicker's design incorporated large set-back delta wings supporting a pair of wing-tip rudders, plus two large forward canards. Perhaps the design's most distinguishing feature was its massive chin intake, used to supply oxygen to two deHavilland Gyron engine arranged one atop the other, much like the English Electric Lightning.

The plane would carry either two radar-guided Red Hebe or two heating-seeking Blue Jay missiles on its back. Vickers purported that the plane would have a top speed of Mach 2.5 and an operational ceiling of 60,000 feet (18 km). 

Unfortunately, the Ministry of Supply considered the concept too radical, and the plane never got passed the proposal stage.

About the Kit

This 1:72 kit was produced exclusively for Fantastic Plastic by Anigrand Craftswork of Hong Kong. It featured a clear resin canopy and pilot figure. This is was the last of three 1:72 U.S. Navy Convoy Fighter competitors released by Fantastic Plastic in 2016.

This kit was built from an original issue.