British "Zero"

[Alvis 3.14159]

I know it's been mentioned here before, but what was the late 30s fighter designed in the UK that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Mitsubishi Zero? I work with an avowed Zero fan, and he's keen to see it, and so far, my searches here have yielded no results. Was it by Bristol, or have my now aging synapses been misfiring again?

Alvis Pi

[pyro-manic]

Gloster F.5/34? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_F.5/34

[Alvis 3.14159]

Bingo Gringo! 


Alvis Pi

[Mossie]

The Vickers Venom had some similarites too.  It's closer to the Zero's predecesor the A5M, but the F.5/34 is closer to the Zero:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Venom

[The Wooksta!]

There's a Magna kit of it which is very nice, or you can go the kitbash route with a Zero (fuselage) and Blenheim (wings and engine).

I like the idea of the FAA adopting it instead of the Sea Gladiator.

[Mossie]

Was it by Bristol, or have my now aging synapses been misfiring again?

I think your synapses are doing okay, there was the Bristol Type 146 prototype that was also similar, especially in plan.  There was an offshoot of this, the Type 153 with Hercules engine that was a bit closer to the zero, this one didn't get built.

Type 146:
http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/2-Airplanes/Allies/3-UK/01-Fighters/Bristol-Type146/Bristol-Type146.htm
http://warbirdsforum.com/showthread.php?p=22461

Type 153:
http://warbirdsforum.com/showthread.php?p=22461
http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/AArt3.html

If your freind likes Zero-a-likes, there's also the Saab J19, a Swedish project that was never built:
http://www.x-plane.org/home/urf/aviation/text/saabcanc/

[Old Wombat]

That Type 146 looks more cobbled-together than the CA-12/13/19 Boomerang!

[The Wooksta!]

Magna also did that one.  Nice kit too.

[Mossie]

Think Magna do the lot, Venom as well.

[Radish]

Yes...thinking of these, and a German-built "Zero", but possibly in Finnish, Bulgarian or Romanian colours?

How about Vichy French ones out in Indo China?

[raafif]

Germany did build a "zero" -- one of the alternate designs for the Me-109 had a radial engine & bubble canopy -- god, it does look like a zero from most angles !!

[Mossie]

Me-109X.  Gary, (HOG) did a build:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,20818.90.html

[The Wooksta!]

Was it actually built though?  There's very little reference to it and the photos look like very clever fakes.

[NARSES2]

Germany did build a "zero" -- one of the alternate designs for the Me-109 had a radial engine & bubble canopy -- god, it does look like a zero from most angles !!

It definately looks Japanese, like a mini-Zero 

[Radish]

But not as pretty as a British "Zero" well be.....

I have a HobbyBoss 1/72nd A6M5 ready for Britishness, as well as a 1/48th Pegasus Hobbies A6M2