Saro London: 3 Models, 3 Sizes - Page 2

**Draco** · #11 03-16-2022, 10:30 AM

And assembling the lower half.

I was hoping to include the reinforcement strips in the model, but they are too thin (like less than a milimeter thin) so only the 1/33 model could maybe include them.

Anyway, mine will have strips made from pairs of sewing wire reinforced with glue to give them the proper width.

Meanwhile, I've finished drawing the wings and the engines. I need to finish the engine supports and unions to the fuselage, the fuel tank and the wing struts. None of them are difficult, just need a few of time sitting with the computer.

So... maybe I'll finish the 1/72 beta model this weekend?

**gomidefilho** · #12 03-16-2022, 11:57 AM

Very nice fuselage Alejandro!

**Draco** · #13 03-17-2022, 07:29 AM

Thanks, Péricles!

I finished assembling the hull, but I'm not happy with the curvature of the section 5 (the one with the rounded portholes) so I'll probably include an internal guide the facilitate the placement of the lower skin.

See that the section 6 has a keel like the original plane.

Anyway, now I'll review the section 5, glue the cockpit and proceed with applying the external strips and the first layer of paint!

**Draco** · #14 03-18-2022, 08:37 PM

And the lower half of section 5 have been improved, and the cockpit has been placed.

Now comes two branches: one the design in the computer of the fuel tank, engines (with cowlings), struts and floats.
And the second brach is to place the reinforcement strips on my phisical model and start to paint it.

**Draco** · #15 03-19-2022, 03:28 PM

Virtual plane: finished the design of the tails.

Phisical plane: started the placement of the strips and the first layer of paint.

**Draco** · #16 03-20-2022, 01:06 PM

Today I applied the first layer of Dark Slate Grey / Extra Dark Sea Grey to the upper surfaces of the Saro London.

And came with a tipical problem of the WWII planes: the camouflage scheme.
You can see the only picture I have found of the BN-L, 240 Sqn, and two interpretacions of the same plane. They don't match, so I had to guide me with that only picture and my knoweledge of the Supermarine Stranraer to design the full camouflage.

This is something common in this period, when the paint was made by hand and all the pictures were heavily censored. And it happened with planes and ships the same: try to guess the real color scheme of the HMS Prince of Wales when sunk (hint: the captain just ordered: "paint me this ship different").

Anyway, the phisical model is advancing, and the virtual fuselage is fully painted.

**gomidefilho** · #17 03-20-2022, 01:22 PM

Sound very promissor! Congratulations fuselage is very weel!

**wireandpaper** · #18 03-20-2022, 08:58 PM

Looking forward to the finished model(s)!

**Draco** · #19 03-21-2022, 03:28 PM

Thanks, wireandpaper, thanks gomidefilho!

More fuselage strips, more paint, more design. Remember, it's the first layer of paint, whe finished it will look like the Stranraer, He 115 and N-3PB

**Draco** · #20 03-23-2022, 11:25 AM

And more strips and more paint.

Sadly the green color is totally wrong. The reason: I live in Venezuela, and until I collect enought money to leave, I can't buy the right colors and have to make magic with the few I have.

Anyway that's not problem for you: the virtual model has the proper camouflage and you just need a good color printer. And the reinforcement strips print perfectly too.

Compared with my Supermarine Stranraer, you can see that everything is the same but different. This sensation is going to grow once I place the tail, wings and the rest of the plane.

Meanwhile, It's a wonderfull golden age plane with a very striking appearance!