Saunders-Roe SR41 Flying Boat

[TallEng]

I have to admit I don't really know what the SR41 would have looked like, as the Internet and my books didn't really help.
But Wikipedia very helpfully lists the Air Ministry Specifications which gave me this;
R.14/40   OR.91   Very long range reconnaissance flying boat - Centaurus-engined Sunderland replacement   
for which there were two competing designs, the Saunders-Roe S.41 and the  Short Shetland.
I suspect the actual OR.91 was probably a bit more detailed than just what's written above, but I think that's vague enough for me to go on.
The Air Ministry apparently told Shorts and Saunders Roe to join forces and build the Shetland (A Flying Boat  only it's mother could love)
So what if Saunders-Roe had been allowed to build their Flying Boat?
Well.....
I've got one of these,



And these plans...



Which with a bit of cutting and pasting gave me a crude looking plan, which should at least give you a clue as to what I'm aiming for.A sort of Smaller Princess, one might even say the predecessor to the SR45 Princess.
Quite possibly the most beautiful Flying Boat ever built.



Comments, critics, ideas etc, all gratefully received

Regards
Keith

[dwomby]

This looks very promising.  Great idea!

David

[Rheged]

Great idea.  Go for it.

Some data I gleaned from Ken Delve's book on "Short Sunderland"  on possible developments-----6  engines, twin tail etc------here, together with colleagues comments:-

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,36799.msg593140.html#msg593140

[rickshaw]

That looks rather graceful.  Bit like the missing link which led to the Princess...   

[Tophe]

Nice project, as missing link...

[sandiego89]

Excellent.  The curved planking on the bottom of the hull can be tough.  More smaller pieces instead of several large pieces can help get the shape correct.

I have found laying one piece down the middle on the bottom of the hull to serve as the bottom of the keel helps a lot.  Allows you to but the hull planks to the keel.

Here is my SeaVictor showing the main keel piece fitted and some frames cut.

 

And some of the frames mated up to the keel piece.  



Hope this helps.  I like your boat!

[jcf]

Interesting project, here is the S.41 profile drawing from Saunders and Saro Aircraft Since 1917,
and a photo of the reverse cooling-flow Centaurus test rig.

[kitnut617]

Now that is interesting Jon, I can see some possiblities with that design --- 

[ericr]

potentially beautiful!

[pyro-manic]

I actually really like the look of the Shetland. Not a patch on the Princess, obviously, but still handsome IMO.

This looks very much like it could be a relative of the Princess, which can only be a good thing.

[Go4fun]

Whyis it everytime you mention "Flying boats" I picture...

[PR19_Kit]

I actually really like the look of the Shetland. Not a patch on the Princess, obviously, but still handsome IMO.

I concur with the above opinion, I quite like the Shetland.

Your SR41 scheme looks a blast, relly looking forward to seeing the finished article. It surely looks better than SARO's own SR41 proposal!

[deathjester]

Whyis it everytime you mention "Flying boats" I picture...

You're not as far off the mark as you think - a small company in America actually build something like this, IIRC it 'flies' so low that it still counts as a boat, and therefore does not require a pilots licencse!

[NARSES2]

Interesting project

[rickshaw]

How does the reverse flow cooling system work on that Centaurus?