An Orion, but not as we know it Jim

[RayS]

This is a Hasegawa NP-3D (EATS) Orion

It is used as a missile range tracking aircraft and operated by the USN's VX-30 Bloodhounds.

I have a couple of these in the stash and was not keen on the kit scheme so I decided to finish it in the current scheme.

I used mainly the kit decals sheet supplemented by the Wolfhound graphic on the tail from an F/A-18 sheet (1/48 scale). I added the mostly correct antenna fit with a few scratch built blades and existing kit antenna.

The kit includes a resin EATS radar panel and shortened 'stinger'. HF wire antennas are Eziline,

[RHB785]

, Very nice Ray. I wonder what effect that great big fin fillet had on handling. I guess that would be an antenna of some kind but it's a huge one. You've done a great job on this Orion mate.Thank you for sharing with us. Do you have any idea when our P-3s will be replaced by the P-8s?

Regards,
RHB.

[tor lives]

What a beauty!!!!.....geez you are pumping out some good stuff at the moment Ray. Love the P-3, it is such a good-looking aircraft, (I especially love it's big, bad-arse smoke trails when it is coming in fast and low with weapons bay open "for business") . If it were cleaned up a bit it would make a great airliner
TOR

[RayS]

:D, Very nice Ray. I wonder what effect that great big fin fillet had on handling. I guess that would be an antenna of some kind but it's a huge one. You've done a great job on this Orion mate.Thank you for sharing with us. Do you have any idea when our P-3s will be replaced by the P-8s?

Regards,
RHB.

Thanks Ross and Ray.

That 'antenna' is billboard phased array telemetry antenna system capable of tracking 5 independent targets usually in the form of Harpoon, SLAM, Standard and Tomahawk missiles

The first P-8 arrives in 2017. I believe they are about to turn the first sod for the new hangars at EDN. If you know the EDN tarmac area the the new hangars will be on the opposite side of the tarmac to the current ones. The first RAAF P-8 (for 11SQN) will hit the Boeing production line (as a 738) early next year and will be completed mid year, it then will be fitted with role specific gear which will be another 6 months and then testing, etc carried out.

Some more P-3 love....

[hrtpaul]

Great work there Ray, that looks really nice. Well done mate

[Wedgetail]

Very nice Ray, such a great aircraft. Now, why doesn't my efforts turn out as good as these beauties.
Wayne

[RayS]

Cheers Guys,

Wayne, my poor photography skills hide a lot of issues

[Adam the Akrodude]

Very nice Orions there Ray! That "EATS" Orion sure wouldn't have any directional stability issues - that is one serious antenna - very interesting!

Cheers

Adam

[kfutter]

Great build, Ray!

Kev

[Graeme H]

very Nice, that antenna farm on the top must have been fun