Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Frank3k on June 11, 2023, 01:40:38 AM

Title: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 11, 2023, 01:40:38 AM
I recently bought the AMG (Arsenal Model Group) 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess (https://www.scalemates.com/kits/amg-350-302-saunders-roe-sr45--1250362) directly from AceUA/AMG through their EBay shop (https://www.ebay.com/str/aceuascalemodels?_trkparms=folent%3Aaceuascalemodels%7Cfolenttp%3A1&_trksid=p3542580.m47492.l74602):

(https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/3/6/2/1250362-27767-33-pristine.jpg)

I've always liked this plane, so I moved it to the top of my build pile. AMG makes their own kits but also reboxes kits from other manufacturers, so the quality of the kits can vary from fair to excellent. All the AMG kits I have have been finely molded and this kit is no exception. The fuselage and wings went together well, with a tight fit between the wing and fuselage. Some of the engine radiator details were obscured by the gluing, and there's some slight flash in spots, but overall it's been an enjoyable build, with zero cursing:

(https://i.imgur.com/WEAPmNw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JTXQf7W.jpg)

The props are PE, though. I've separated them all and they're ready to attach after the plane is painted.

I'm torn between building it OOB or whifing it. There was a proposed jet version, the Saunders-Roe Queen:

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b7/1c/28/b71c281f510600296c14d5199df61d37.jpg)

But it looks brutish and vaguely Russian.

The engine mounts and intakes on the Princess look vaguely jet-like... but horror of horrors, I 'm leaning on build it OOB.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 11, 2023, 02:08:59 AM
Maritime patrol version perhaps?
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on June 11, 2023, 02:11:37 AM
There is certainly a lot of detail in that 1/350th scale Princess so much so that it does not look to be that small of a scale.  Did you acquire only one kit? 
 
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 11, 2023, 04:56:06 AM
I only bought one kit. They have a version with wheels (https://www.ebay.com/itm/325412993619?epid=26059316556&hash=item4bc4203a53:g:fdAAAOSwB9RjZuTz) - but it just looks odd. It is a big model - for the scale - but just right for handling.

- Greg, do you mean something like a Short Sunderland? Painting would be a lot simpler...
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 12, 2023, 06:58:37 AM
- Greg, do you mean something like a Short Sunderland? Painting would be a lot simpler...

Either the Sunderland or Avro Shackleton schemes given an operational Princess would be in service in much the same timeframe.  Therefore, either of their post war schemes would probably be applicable.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Buzzbomb on June 13, 2023, 10:56:29 AM
Interesting elegant niceness. It will look quite stunning in a collection either canon or whiffed to some degree
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: The Rat on June 14, 2023, 08:57:33 AM
Water bomber...
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: finsrin on June 14, 2023, 09:28:48 AM
Wondering out loud:  will 1/200 Spruce Goose props work on this beauty ?
Avro Shackleton scheme seems proper to me.
Rear stinger ala P2/P3 ?
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 14, 2023, 09:56:57 AM
I thought about the Spruce Goose, but the props on the Princess are pretty close together:

(https://i.imgur.com/npcCBen.jpeg)
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: finsrin on June 14, 2023, 10:54:10 AM
Spruce Goose props measure exactly one inch tip-to-tip.   If too long could stagger depth of engines.   Used those props on OV-17 which has staggered engines.   Of course do as you like.

http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=3760.msg57383#msg57383 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=3760.msg57383#msg57383)
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 15, 2023, 12:07:04 AM
Water bomber...

 :smiley:
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: robunos on June 15, 2023, 01:15:44 AM
Could do the Convair nuclear powered version :-


https://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=4532 (https://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=4532)


If you want to spring for a Patreon subscription, there's a ton of information on the 'Retromechanix' site . . .


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 15, 2023, 08:13:02 AM
Spruce Goose props measure exactly one inch tip-to-tip.   If too long could stagger depth of engines.

The props on the Princess are 14mm/0.56" across - it would have to be a twin engine plane or a push-pull
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Dr. YoKai on June 16, 2023, 03:46:44 AM
This should be wonderful to behold-the original certainly was. In another continuum, the original was purchased by Clark Yo jr.,  (The "Man of Modern Materials"as the pulps and press styled him.), for use as his second 'Airborne Science Plane'.
(The first was the Couzinet Arc en Ciel, re-engined with BMW 801 radials shortly after WW2, and just
before the start of the Secret World War [1947-1958]).

I like the original paint scheme, myself, but an long range ASW aircraft would make for some interesting possibilities.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: raafif on June 18, 2023, 07:43:28 AM
I wrote somewhere (on BtS?) that the prototypes were bought by Russia as no-one else wanted them & more licence-built as troop & tank carriers to invade the USA
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 18, 2023, 08:58:19 AM
That's actually a good scheme!

I've gone the boring route and I'm building it OOB with the BOAC decals - which aren't responding to the decal setting solution.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 22, 2023, 04:32:56 AM
I finished the Princess. The PE props, and especially the propeller cones/hubs were tough to fit.

Top view. There's a 1/350 figure under the forward support for scale. I added minimal weathering and forgot the exhaust whethering:
(https://i.imgur.com/EcCFbI9.jpg)

It's odd that it looks better under harsh sunlight:
(https://i.imgur.com/m5H4HZc.jpg)

The various small decals were pretty easy to add. I cut the white stripe decal under the wing, to make it easier to attach:
(https://i.imgur.com/R6pqBgU.jpg)

Thanks for all the suggestions!
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: ericr on June 22, 2023, 04:39:03 AM
 :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

what are the dimensions of the kit?
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 22, 2023, 04:52:18 AM
Wingspan is a little over 180mm and length is around 130mm
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: The Rat on June 22, 2023, 06:09:58 AM
Absolutely gorgeous!
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: raafif on June 22, 2023, 07:18:14 AM
Such a shame it wasn't taken up by some airline :icon_sueno:.  Such a beautiful airplane. :smiley:
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Old Wombat on June 22, 2023, 08:33:46 AM
Lovely build, Frank! 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on June 22, 2023, 08:37:55 AM
Thanks, guys.

It really is a gorgeous plane. Overall, it was a fun build. The props were annoying - a good whif would be to turn it into a jet version, with embedded engines.

the Princess reminds me of a greatly enlarged flying boat version of the B-377.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: finsrin on June 22, 2023, 10:26:56 AM
Home run of a build.  :smiley:  8)  :-*   Everything is right.   Hints of Brabazon wing.
If was 1/200 or 1/144 would be candidate for 1/72 kit-bash.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Dr. YoKai on June 22, 2023, 11:16:42 PM
Beautiful build of a beautiful plane. As many times as I have seen pictures of the plane over the years, I never really noticed the wing form before-I know there were probably sound aerodynamic reasons for the shape, but I can't help but think it would have looked better with a continuous taper to the leading edge. Amazing to think of the size of this thing, even in this scale.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 23, 2023, 02:32:41 AM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Buzzbomb on June 24, 2023, 01:51:10 PM
Most Excellent
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Robomog on July 08, 2023, 11:31:00 PM
Beautiful aircraft, stunning build. Putting the figure in the photographs gives it some serious scale. Nice one  :smiley: :smiley:

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: John Howling Mouse on August 19, 2023, 05:52:00 AM
That is an outstanding result, especially so, given that scale. You must have incredible eyes and steady hands.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: Frank3k on August 19, 2023, 12:27:24 PM
Thanks JHM - it's a pretty big model, even in 1/350 scale; about the size of an average 1/72 WWII fighter.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: KiwiZac on October 14, 2023, 11:07:29 AM
Exquisite work Frank, she looks superb. And I agree that including the figure is a super-helpful indication of scale.
Title: Re: AMG 1/350 Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess
Post by: raafif on October 15, 2023, 07:05:24 AM
 :-* :-* :-*