A slightly awhile-ago build…Arii’s ancient (but still cool) 1/144 P-3C Orion with neat-o Starfighter decals for VP-40 ‘Fighting Marlins.’
Hope you enjoy!
Lookin’ cool! Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful plane and build! Love those tail markings. The guys on the “Model Geeks” podcast would love this build!( they’re ex Navy aviation guys)
That’s really nice. I grew up around those things endlessly patrolling out of NAS Moffett Field.
I’d like to add that model to my Gull Gray-over- White collection, good scale.
Was the kit hard to find, or did you have it salted away?
I think the only Orion model I ever built was the Revell box scale, and memories aren’t too positive.
Bill
Thanks, guys!
Bill, I found it on eBay…though quite a few years ago…and last time I looked, the prices seemed to have increased exponentially. (I should point out it was also released under the LS label.)
I picked up the old Revell kit recently when it was rereleased by Atlantis. No build yet, but looking it over it’s about exactly as I remember quality-wise…i.e., acceptable but needs work…but I had completely blanked on the fact that it had the relatively-rare bulged bomb-bay which I think was limited to early -B models (but don’t quote me on that – I’m no Orion expert). I got as far as sawing off the bulge and doing home-made decals (easiest, since it’s the weird box scale) for a RNZAF bird…then everything screeched to a halt for a pending house move.
Nice job. I’ve been wanting an Orion as well. I really like those markings!
Thanks, John.
I actually got the Starfighter sheet (and the kit) to do the VP-23 ‘Seahawks’ livery…which has always been my favorite Orion scheme…but that Marlin just sort of grew on me as I was building. I’ve saved the Seahawk art for another go with a full missile-equipped bird.
Cheers
Very nice, Greg.
Thank you, Don. [Y]
Great looking build
That is one beautiful build of a great looking plane,a lot better looking then the one I saw in person on Saturday
Thanks Learmech & Tojo!
Looks a little forlorn!
(Since there’s a punter taking photos, may I assume that’s a museum or display setting, rather than, say, the Boneyard?)
It was the Hickory NC Museum of aviation,on paper they have a nice inventory F-4, F-5, F-14, F-18 but they are just shells and pretty neglected.Run by some nice volunteers,admission was on a donation basis
Actually the Orion was in good shape compared to some of the other stuff pretty sad.
It is a great build. The Model Geek guys are in my local club in southern Md. Not only are they great modelers they are also super people. Always willing to help a new modeler like myself.
Hasegawa makes a 1/72 scale with those markings in the kit. I was looking everywhere for that kit, and finally found one at a little model railroad hobby shop in Gettysburg. I was a bit shocked at the sticker price, I wanted the kit, so I quickly handed over the 70 bucks on the box!
Gulp! [:S]
When I got that kit at my LHS…only 40 or so years ago…I think it was dear at $11.99!
Awesome work, Greg! Thanks for sharing it.
My pleasure.
Even after decades of all-gray naval aircraft…having ‘come of age’ in the '60s and '70s, the old white over gray/gray over white schemes are still the only ones that really look ‘right’ to me for USN a/c.
Cheers
That’s beautiful work Greg! Always nice to see something a little different than fighters and bombers here.
Very nice build. That is a great paint sceeme. Back in 2005 I happened to be in Hawii on Hawahu at Kenoe Bay air base and saw five P-3s lined up. One was from Japan, another from Austrailia, another from the US and two others I cannot remember who they belonged to. There must have been some training exercise going on. A Navy P-3 was doing touch and goes and that was neat to watch.