The Ryan FR-1 Fireball was a mixed power fighter developed during World War Two to give the US Navy a jet powered fighter that also had a trusted piston engine.

Only a few were made and did not see service during the war.

The Ryan FR-1 was designed at the request of the US Navy to give it a fighter with the speed of the newly developed jet engine with the fuel efficiency and rapid response of a piston engine.

It was ordered in February 1943 and the first prototype made its first flight on 25 June 1944.

Operational testing begin in early 1945 and the first squadron equipped with them was about the enter action when Japan surrendered.

Production orders for about 2,000 were placed but cancelled with the end of the war and only 71 were built.

They were found to be not strong enough for carrier operations and withdrawn from service in 1947.

This model represents a Ryan FR-1 in service with VF-41 of the US Navy in 1946

Anigrand 1/144 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in March 2018.