In the past five years, I’ve built about 40, 1/72-scale airplanes that were flown by the US and other countries during the Vietnam era, and am finally getting around to the Orion P-3. As near as I’ve been able to determine, no P-3Cs were ever deployed during the fracas, only P-3As and P-3Bs. Unfortunately, the Hasegawa P-3C kit is the only one made. My question: How do I go about converting a a P-3C to a B or A variant? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Check out Wiki, and look for the Squadron book on Ebay as shown by Scalemates. It looks doable as it looks like there is not much external changes between the A/B and C.
https://www.scalemates.com/search-solr.php?fkSECTION[]=All&q=Lockheed+P-3+Orion+orio*
I did this conversion several years ago for my step-dad, who worked on these when he was in Vietnam. My recollection is there really are very few obvious differences. The biggest thing was the depth charge array that is located just aft of the wing along the fuselage belly. The kit I did, Hasagawa, had that molded per the C variant, but to convert to a B all I did was remove a number of the depth charge dispensers (Represented by small holes in the kit part). I believ I used a Squadron “Walk-Around” or “In-Action” book as reference.
Good luck on your build.
The old Revell kit at box scale was an A.
I grew up under the pattern at Moffett NAS. Later in life I had a friend who was a pilot out of there.
Those things came in all day long.
Bill told me that a typical eight hour flight was San Diego- east of Hawaii- Seattle Sunnyvale
Thanks for this. I think I’ll stay with the 1/72, though. Everything I’ve done is 1/72. I guess there were no short rides in these birds. None that were enjoyed, anyhow.
Yeah, I knew about the difference in dispensers. I figured on filling those holes. I’m trying to find one of those Squadron/Signal books, “P-3 Orion in Action,” but they want $30 and up for them. Anyone out there got one they’ll sell for less than that?
Do you remember what you did for decals? I’m looking for a bird that was deployed to SE Asia during the Vietnam War. Not particular about the squadron or year. thanks!
Hello!
Funny thing - I was thinking about this conversion too. There is one more publication worth checking - Koku Fan Famous Aircraft of the World, May 1978. Though it’s in Japanese, it has a lot of nice period pictures and lots of line drawings, too.
Good luck with the conversion and have a nice day
Paweł
Maybe I can help you a bit. I have several thousand hours as a P-3 Crewmember in all three major types AND, I have the 1/72nd Hasegawa P-3C kit. As others have said, the external differences between the A, B and, C models are small and only readily apparent to those who have spent time with the bird or those who have educated themselves. The kit depicts an early “Charlie” which had a camera under the nose radome. That needs to go and the notch it leaves needs to be filled in and faired into the bottom of the radome. Under the wings, the ECM and LLLTV pods go away and a 150 MILLION candle power searchlight goes under the outboard right wing. On the airplane’s belly, those holes that one poster called a depth charge array need to be filled in. They actually carry sono-bouys. A and B models carried their search stores internally so, a single “door” of about 3 x 3 feet will need to be scribed on centerline and a little forward of the main cabin hatch. The PDC (practice depth charge)dispenser door was about 1 x 1.5 feet and next to the right wing fillet. The doors were airtight so scribe a very fine line for them. The last major external differences I remember off the top of my head are the SS3 Operators window over the right wing needs to go and, the 2 galley portholes on the starboard side need to be replaced by a single port on the port side. There are other differences such as antenna types and placement but, they are very small differences. I spent most of my time flying what were called “Super B’s” but, if you need more info, I’ll gladly help…
Ray Marotta
Lyons, Co,
Good to hear from you, Ray. I was hoping you were still among the living. 
Saw your posts on an earlier P-3 build, and figured you could answer my question. I’m just getting into this, so I’ll no doubt have more. I’m ex-Air Force, but grew up seeing the P-3s coming and going from NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. I’ve also done a bit of going here and there in the Lockheed Electra. I remember it being called fast, but dangerous in its early years. Looking forward to building this bird. Right now, I’m planning on modeling Bu 153432, which was a VP-4 P-3B that was deployed to Sangley Pt., Philippines during the Vietnam War, mainly because I found a decal for it. I’ll be looking for a photo of it. Thanks again!
Hello Ray!
Great info here, thanks a lot for sharing. I think now I can get that Orion from Hasegawa now that I’m sure a Vietnam-era machine can be done out of it! Thanks again and have a nice day
Paweł