Saro London

Another of my models is the Saro London.

Here are a lot of hints and a mix of history of the real plane and the paper model.

Years ago, when I was making the Supermarine Stranraer, I found a picture of the BN L, in camouflage two tones with silver undersides. But it was not the Stranraer, but another plane that I didn't knew: the Saro London.

It happens that the 240 Sqn RAF, before the Stranraer had the London. And they used the same camouflage and the same identification. So I decided to build them.

And here came the problem.

See the drawings, the rear hull after the step? Two drawings depict that surface as a soft curve, the other drawing shows THREE steps, no two. (At that was before the AI)

So of course I started to design the model with a very complex curve and a lot of parts.

But my beta-tester told me: "hey, look this picture, the hull after the step is perfectly straight!"

And yes, it was. The keel was straight, the sides had an easy curve.

Dump all the patch of parts and surfaces and replace with only one piece.

So... don't trust the drawings. See the pictures.

And, another day, we will contine this history.

Thanks, Matthias!

My Saro London models, like the Stranraer and the Do-24, have an inner structure very similar to the one used in ship models.

And the reason is the lower hull curvature, that is too difficult to reproduce with normal formers. I don't have a frontal picture of the London assembly, but here is one of the Stranraer.

Another reason is that I build my models so they can survive at least 20 years being moved from some place to another (sons and nephews don't included) so they are stronger than needed.

The picture London (56) shows two towers that were included to help with the wing design.

They include:

A lower entry for help with the dihedral of the upper wing before being glued to the fuselage.

A middle entry to help with the dihedral of the lower wings once glued and the model is placed over the base, and

The upper side where the upper wing will rest while being glued and the model is placed over the base.

I included similar aids for the Stranraer and the Twin Otter. I haven't seen anybody else doing it.

By the way, a running joke: all my planes, except the Slam Pluto, have an internal reinforcement the goes between the wings and the fuselage. And in all my planes this reinforcement is called the "I part"

Sorry, the previous post is valid only for 1:33 and 1:72.

The Saro London 1:100 is made with formers and has less parts than the other two sizes

And here we can see a finished Saro London, 1:100 scale.

It has some changes from the default, like open doors and a metalized finish.

You can find them and many more in ecardmodels looking for Draco.

Perfect, Matthias!

Let's see how you build it, then!

A funny detail: the total wing area of the Saro London is bigger than the Lancaster! So don't be surprised when assembling the upper wing!

And the model includes an external fuel tank over the fuselaje and between the wings, that can be placed and removed as you like. In mine, I left the rails glued and the tank free. The Stranraer has the same space, but they used it to carry external cargo like engines, boxes and anything they wanted!

Thanks, Zaphod!

Four more details about the London:

1) Here is a model made in 1/100 scale. The color is aluminium, but the camera made it look almost white.

2) The dark stripes around the model are not a mistake, the real plane was reinforced with squared stripes that can be seen perfectly in the pictures.

3) Don't try to make the stripes. So far any modeler has been unable to achieve a realistic feeling. Or do it and send me pictures!

4) The central part of the upper wing is a fuel tank and is fatter than the wing.