Prototype. Surprise Entry, the Saunders-Roe ‘Squirt’. ###Finished###

[Jb65rams]

My entry in the prototype category is Xtrakits Saunders-Roe SR.A/1. A jet propelled flying boat fighter.

 

This was a surprise announcement/release last weekend. It is a subject that has always interested me so I. The postie just delivered and it is going straight on to the bench.

 

Initial impression, it is a big aircraft.

In addition to the plastic, the kit includes some etch, a mask set and some 3D printed decals for the cockpit.
 

Looking forward to start this one.

Edited October 23, 2022 by Jb65rams
Title updated

[psdavidson]

Interesting subject. I'm looking forward to see how it builds up

[Courageous]

Will be interesting to see how this builds. I built one of this type not long ago, my build thread here.

 

Stuart

[AdrianMF]

Beautiful! Surprisingly large for a fighter...

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Shorty84]

Wow, hot off the in injection moulding machine. Jet powered flying boat fighters are a unique category of aircraft, so I will remain glued to your thread 👍

 

Cheers

Markus

[bigbadbadge]

Nice, looking forward to seeing this build up.

 

[Col.]

I suspect many of us are now watching your progress and treating it as a live review build before we purchase our own copies of the kit  

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Well Dang that was quick, Im happy to see this in the build though. 

[CliffB]

Fantastic - one of Saro's finest weirdest offerings  

[woody37]

Having seen the announcement, great to see a build review already in progress!

[Jb65rams]

On 29/09/2022 at 23:00, Col. said:

I suspect many of us are now watching your progress and treating it as a live review build before we purchase our own copies of the kit  

No pressure then!

 

@Sabrejet has also started a WIP in the aircraft section. He has some nice reference photos in his thread.

 

Made a small start, there a number of injector pins that need dealing with.

 

I have discovered a few errors/omissions in the instructions. They don’t show the installation on the engine compressor fans into the inlet.

 

 

[Col.]

Those ejector pit marks are rather prominent. Nothing a little work won't solve though.

[bigbadbadge]

Nice start, are you doing a wheels up, on water or on undercarriage build? 

Chris

[81-er]

Following both this an Sabrejet's build. As Col said, I'm treating them as review builds before grabbing one of my own

 

James

[Jb65rams]

Made some progress, with the sub assemblies.

Taking @Sabrejet advice, definitely worth fitting the engineer nozzles into the fuselage before closing it up. Could be me but I struggled to get a good fit.

Those looking closely at the above photo will notice that the instrument panel is missing. I didn’t until I was packing up for the day. Spent best part of an hour looking for it, finally found on the floor underneath my chair, Luckily I hadn’t run it over.

 

Decided to assemble the cockpit before I loose anything else.

[Col.]

Nice progress JB and good idea to fit the instrument panel after finding it - bigger assemblies are harder to overlook than small components

[Jb65rams]

Major construction has been completed. Just some clean up before applying primer.

 
It’s a big beast. To give an idea of size, photographed alongside a 1/72 Helldiver.

 

[Col.]

Everything looks to have gone together well JB. Was about to say 'ship-shape' but forethought it. It certainly was a big machine for a single seat fighter design when seen in comparison to a three seat torpedo bomber!

[Jb65rams]

Replaced the plastic pilots with some brass tube and rod. Looks a big improvement.

A finally bit of cleanup then ready for priming and paint.

 

[Jb65rams]

Out of the paint shop, used Humbrol aluminium from a rattle can.

 

An hour later all 14 decals added. Seen here sitting on the reverse of the box which features a seascape.

 

The kit comes with beaching gear, decided not to use this, so knocked up a simple stand from some scrape.

 

With that I am calling this finished. A fun build.

 

[stevehnz]

Very nice, I like that a lot. 👍

Steve.

[81-er]

Very nice. I'm looking forward to the chance to start mine now

 

James

[Shorty84]

She looks really nice, well done Sir!

Cheers

Markus

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Thats turned out nice, very good looking build. 

[Pin]

Please, give us more pics!