Lockheed P-3 AEW Orion: USC&BP

Ray Seppala
Hey Dutch, make sure you don't use the E-2 radome support for the build. You need to build a new one for the P-3AEW. They aren't the same mount.

Dutch
Thanks Ray. I was looking at that this very weekend! Are you sure we weren't twins separated at birth?

I figured I had to build a new one. At one time I had both the old 12 Squared 1/144 EP-3E and P-3 AEWC conversions, but they went when I sold my collection several years ago. They were not very good anyway. So I will scratch one and see if I can cast a few resin copies. Still waiting for the rumored DEKLs P-3 AEW&C US Customs decals so I will really get motivated. BTW, I recently saw a USC Slick on eBay, but it was based on the revel 1/115 scale kit. The guy did a really decent job, adding a cockpit and opened crew hatch with small interior, but it is still the Revell kit. He told me he used 1/43 scale US Customs Police Car decals for logo and wording and painted the blue/gold stripe.

Ray Seppala
I saw pictures of that build on BM or ARC not long ago. It looked good though he scratchbuilt new gear legs for it in 1/144 (as he was not sure of the scale of the kit at the time) so it looks a little squat to me. Overall a nicely finished model.

My attempt at the mount
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Glenn
I'll keep an eye out for the DEKL's This is on my bucket list too.... My BIG bucket list!!!!! I'll try not to kick it! Have a spare Hasegawa E-2 that will donate the dome then it will become a C-2 Greyhound with the RVHP conversion! Oh yea then there's the Coast Guard C-130 with E-2 radome to do as well... More stuff from the bucket list.... 🙂

Ray Seppala
Big tick and big tick on both of those 😄 Too many P-3s and C-130s and not enough modelling hours when you build other stuff like airliners and RAAF heavies...