1/72 Scale resin cast kit, containing approximately twenty six injected resin parts, two vacform canopies (one being a spare) and screen printed decals by Fantasy Printshop for six 'what-if' Naval and prototype based colour schemes.
In February 1952 the Cowes based Saunders-Roe company tendered to meet specification F.124T to supply a small rocket powered interceptor, able to fire fifty unguided projectiles at its target, then glide back to base, or allow its pilot to escape via a jettisonable cabin, similar to the Bachem Natter.
Saunders-Roe were awarded an amended contract on 9th May 1952 now calling for a mixed power project. Work began on the Mach 1.3 capable SR53 high-speed research aircraft, however the SR53 would not materialize as a combat ready design, but instead valuable experience gained by the company could prove the concept for a larger more capable aircraft. This project was to become the Saunders-Roe SR177.
In May 1955 the go ahead was given to meet the requirements of the Royal Air Force under O.R.337, and the Royal Navy under N.A.47. First flight of the Mach 2.3 SR177 was planned for early 1958; by September 1956 this was refined to cover a batch of twenty-seven airframes, including nine development aircraft for each service. Now designated P177R and P177N for Air Force and Navy respectively. The first five aircraft, powered by one Gyron Junior turbojet and supplemented by a Spectre rocket engine were allocated serials XL905-07, 920 and 921. These five would fly without weapon capability or radar in order to speed development.
The future of the P177R and P177N was looking bright, with potential British orders for one hundred and fifty of each variant, along with strong export potential from the West German armed forces. Sadly it was not to be, the Defence White Paper of April 1957 resulted in the immediate cancellation of the RAF P177R, reducing the initial batch to eighteen aircraft. The Royal Navy P177N survived until December of that year, while work on the near completed prototypes continued, by Christmas Eve the whole project was cancelled.
Saunders-Roe's last attempt to revive the project, the sale of all five airframes under construction to Japan (including tooling and the completed SR53’s) proved unsuccessful.
But what if the project had not been cancelled? Freightdog Models kit gives you the chance to decide.