Jcarr162000 Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 (edited) Shortly after the end of the the first Gulf War the Royal Air Force decided it was in need of a maratime patrol aircraft to supplement the aging Nimrod. The Ministry of Defence opened up a competition for a tried and tested ASW aircraft, the contenders were the Breguet Atalntic and the P-3C Orion. The contest was won by the Orion and in 1994 the Royal Air Force purchased 3 ex USN P-3C Orion aircraft. These 3 Aircraft were based at RAF St. Mawgan in Cornwall, Not utilised in there intended role they were used to patrol the English Channel to disuade the Spanish fishing fleets from entering British waters. In 2006 the Orion MR.1 as it was known, was deployed to Basra with the duty of patrolling the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The aircraft was finally used in late March 2007 to search for 15 Royal navy personnel that went missing in the Persian Gulf, at which point the Orions were handed to the German Navy. Cockpit painted. Wings ready to go. Fuselage buttoned up. Inboard engines on. Filler added so I can blend them into wings. Filler also added on fuselage joints. Amazed at the speed of this build so far. Edited December 31, 2008 by flankerfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Great start! Did you decide on a paint scheme yet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Cool! Nimrod Hemp-scheme! Nimrod hemp-scheme! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 It is indeed going to be Nimrod style hemp scheme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 (edited) Having real problems with engine nacelles as they come off when sanding. Quick update, inboard engine nacelles nearly faired in, give the beast a shot of primer tomorrow over the sanded areas to highlight any issues. Edited January 2, 2009 by flankerfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) Well as they say, so far so good! All the sanding and filling appears to be done. Outer engine nacelles gone on fine, certainly better that the inboard ones. I decided also to add an IFR probe from an Italeri C-130 just to give it a bit of extended patrol range. Apologies for bad quality of pictures as they are taken using my camera phone. Edited January 3, 2009 by flankerfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 Final Update for today. I've given her a shot of homebrewed Hemp and I have to say she is looking mighty fine in Hemp with her IFR probe on top. As she is drying I've noticed a few runs developing but nothing that can't be fixed with a bit of wet and dry tomorrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 The IFR-probe is a neat addition! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 wow! Excellent! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Good work! I like it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 Had a break from her ladyship today as I was at an archery competition most of the day. Might get her masked off in preperation for the light grey undersides. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Well I used Tamiya XF-19 Sky Grey for the light aircraft grey. Its beginning to look quite good I think just onto the aerials and antennae, but a quick coat of satin varnish is up next. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Wow! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Got the props on and a few touch ups on the paintwork, time to scrabble through the spares for some decals, was contemplating some tail art. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Midnight Storm Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 NICE!!! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Looks impressive so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 (edited) In the process of decalling her, although once I've finished I will overspray the wing walk areas with a misting of hemp just to tone them down a little bit. Yes that is an Airfix Nimrod in the background, I used the decals and the instructions to aid placing of them. Edited January 7, 2009 by flankerfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sotoolslinger Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Good looking build and paint work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Really, really nice! And now build the Nimrod in USN P-3 colours! :wacko: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mhoupt Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 (edited) Very nice build. I know the Orion has long legs, but I always wondered as I watched them in Brunswick why the USN did not add the IFR capability in one of the upgrades. Edited January 7, 2009 by mhoupt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 And now build the Nimrod in USN P-3 colours! Not a bad idea!!! Maybe when I get the bottle to do the vac formed Nimrod I have stowed away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 BRILLIANT... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 She's all but finished. Just gotta do a few paint touch ups, put in windows and add a few more aerials. Quite heavily weathered due to having been in open storage for 9 months after her ferry flight to Basra. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 After a long hiatus she is finished, but unfortunately due to my nephew (bless him) she is missing a propellor blade. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jcarr162000 Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 In process of sorting new prop for her. (Thanks Ray) Should have some photos up by Friday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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