1:72 Fairey Delta 2

I've been making up the Maquette version of this a/c and what a nightmare!

The worst part about the kit is the undercarriage. _SO_ badly moulded it had to thrown away.

Can anyone recommend a suitable white metal set?

I haven't seen this kit in years. Is it possible to retain the wheels and rebuild the undercarriage legs with rod stock?

Two books that I know have details of the FD2: both out of print.

British Experimental Jet Aircraft by Barrie Hygate
ISBN 1 85486 010 0

Project Cancelled
Derek Wood
Various ISBN's, depending on edition and publisher
0 71060 441 6
0 67252 166 0
1 85488 026 8

Several websites have pictures that will help:
http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/fd2-1.htm
http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/imagewof/fd2_08.jpg
http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/images/fd2_12.jpg http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/imagewof/fd2_07.jpg
http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/images/fd2_15.jpg http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/images/fd2_16.jpg
http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/images/fd2_17.jpg

There's a cutaway here http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/images/fd2_09.jpg

At Cosford http://prototypes.free.fr/fd2/images/fd2_11.jpg

A Walkaround of WG777 at Cosford, with all the undercarriage detail you could want http://www.andybann.com/walkarounds/fairey_delta/ faireyfd2walk.html

Some more pics of the FD2 here http://www.studenten.net/customasp/axl/planes.asp? cat_id=7

Referring to Barrie Hygate's "British Experimental Jet Aircraft" I find the following:

Nose and main gear is completely different between FD2 and BAC221, the latter being longer and heavier.

The FD2 undercarriage was a Fairey design and specific to the aircraft,
I'm afraid.

BAC221 main gear is from a Lightning.
BAC221 nose gear is based on a Gannet oleo leg with the original FD2 axle and twin wheels.

Frog once did a kit of the FD2, which was later reissued by Novo; if you could find one of those, perhaps its gear may be better?

I just got this kit--oy vey. What a mess! At least it was cheap. I may just do it wheels up on a pedestal, if I ever get the nerve to tackle it.

hmm, thanks guys! i was at the gate of despair on this one. rather than go and see about some white metal u/c legs that maybe out there but no one now makes.

a further root about in the spares box is called for.

one point that i missed out was that you have to make your own clear windows for the cockpit hood. fact is this kit was so annoying, that it makes the matchbox 'trench digger' look rather good!

when i get the model finished. i'll post the results up though i don't have access at the mo' for pictures.

The moulds must have really deteriorated since the Novo renditions. The parts were nice and clean as I recall.

I believe this is the geriatric Frog kit in yet another box.

i am now doing the model gear up.

the gear doors are requiring lots of filler.

I tried that kit last year...omg...not just the poor molding,but the flash and bad fit...I wound up doing it gear up,even found an original Frog stand for it.
Good luck on that POS...if you manage to get it done,maybe you could post some pics.