Dayglo?artic orange EC-121

SInce i'm going stir crazy because of this stupid lock down.  Figure we all needed a little of some cheery colors.

The Orion is an aircraft I'm very fond of.   From 1979 to 1982 I was a Flight engineer on this amazing Patrol Aircraft.   Being in a reserve Sqaudron VP-93.  We only had "A" models.  Some where pretty old. Plus near to the end of their careers as an Patrol aircraft.   Here is some history on the aircraft.

This Day in Naval History - April 15, 1961: First flight of a production P3V-1.

The prototype YP3V-1/YP-3A, Bureau Number BuNo 148276 was modified from the third Electra airframe c/n 1003. The first flight of the aircraft's aerodynamic prototype, originally designated YP3V-1, was on 19 August 1958. While based on the same design philosophy as the Lockheed L-188 Electra, the aircraft was structurally different. The aircraft had 7 feet less fuselage forward of the wings with an opening bomb bay, and a more pointed nose radome, distinctive tail "stinger" for detection of submarines by magnetic anomaly detector, wing hardpoints, and other internal, external, and airframe production technique enhancements. The Orion has four Allison T56 turboprops which give it a top speed of 411 knots; 473 mph comparable to the fastest propeller fighters, or even slow high-bypass turbofan jets such as the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II or the Lockheed S-3 Viking. .
The first production version, designated P3V-1, was launched on 15 April 1961. Initial squadron deliveries to Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) and Patrol Squadron Forty Four (VP-44) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland began in August 1962. On 18 September 1962, the U.S. military transitioned to a unified designation system for all services, with the aircraft being renamed the P-3 Orion. Paint schemes have changed from early 1960s gloss blue and white, to mid-1960s gloss white and gray, to mid-1990s flat finish low visibility gray with fewer and smaller markings. In the early 2000s, the scheme changed to a gloss gray finish with the original full-size color markings. Large size Bureau Numbers on the vertical stabilizer and squadron designations on the fuselage remained omitted.
(WikipediA The Free Encyclopedia)

Photo #1: Pre-production YP3V-1 Orion = Prototype Patrol 3rd type by Lockheed Aircraft Corp (Vega, Plant A) -1st configuration.
Photo #2: Production YP3V-1. *** Photo #3: P-3A Orion from VP-9 at NAS Moffett Field circa 1964. This was my squadron from 1966-1970 with P-3B

Prototype

P-3A

P-3A

Electra the fore father of the Orion. Santaina's private aircraft

History of Aurora Model company

 Aurora made a  lot of model kits. They seemed to me that the most accurate at the time.  But this was the beginning of plastic kits.  Now with the rumor of WnW ( Wings) going under is shocking. As they made the most detailed WW1 aircraft.

     Again , grab a beer enjoy. Specially if you are in Lock down..

History of Revell models

Here is the next installment of the history of model company.   Revell, my first model I bought was the 1/72 Hurricane.  It cost me a 35 cents in 1963.

History of Monogram Models

Great video on the history of Monogram Models.  It one time was the leader in making plastic model kits.  I grown up with Monogram.  Great model a good price and lots of kool stuff.  Like opening bomb bays, folding wings and more.   Grab a cold drink, some chips, kick back . Now for the video.

Top model artist for model boxes

Growing up I loved the box art on Model kits.  Revell had amazing box art.  The imagination of these artist were something to behold. In some way this inspired to go into the USAF.  Jack Leynnwood was one of them.    Now I have something to watch during this stupid lock down.  Get some popcorn if you can, sit back and enjoy.

Making GWH kit into an "A" Model F-15

The GWH kit already includes these F-15A features:

1. F-15A/B wheels
2. Escapac seat

Make these changes on a very early F-15A airframe:

1. Leave forward undercarriage doors open on very early airframes (brace/retraction link to the forward lower corner)
2. Smaller airbrake area. Modifiy with plasticard and filler

Make these changes for a 'standard' F-15A airframe:

1. For standard (larger) airbrake, add external stiffener
2. Delete stiffeners on tailfins
3. Delete rudder actuator bumps
4. Modify pod on top of fin so both are same (small) type
5. Delete bumps on top of wings forward of the ailerons
6. Delete chordwise strengthening strip forward of aileron/flap gap. Leave panel in place but no raised strip
7. Add fairings (razor vents) below the fuselage
8. Delete black boxes in bay five
9. Bay five painted blue-green metallic

Off of ARC by Old Crew Dog.

F-15 A to C, A type prior to MISIP and C model initial production. Nose to Tail
Early C Models and A models were almost indistinguishable. I was a Crew Chief on A models 80 – 84 in the 27th TFS, 1TFW, 76-0057 was my first hog. Got my first C model 82-0019 in 83 with 12.7 hours from Micky D’s.
Top
1.    Majority of the cockpit remained the same with only minor instrumentation upgrades through the years.
2.    HUD and HUD combing glass went through an upgrade in 82 to accept the EagleEye scope, home made to mount to the side of the combing glass to slide a rifle scope on for visual identification.
3.    The early C models had the same cockpit configuration as the A model until after MISIP in the late 80’s.
4.    ESCAPAC seats were initially installed but changed out before 1980 on active duty aircraft with the ACESII Seat. The ACESII seat was basic with no major mods till much later in the seats career.
5.    Bay 5 was Metallic Green Color, much to the disbelief of many this was not painted white later in the A models career. This metallic green can be found in the avionics bays of all F-15’s. This Color carried on into the initial batch of C models’ my C model at Kadena 78-0479 still had a Green Bay 5.
6.    There was no set up for the ICS boxes that go in Bay5 on the C models.
7.    A models did not go through MISIP till later in their career, after the C models went through except for certain intercept squadron aircraft.
8.    Aileron actuator panels do not have the pronounced bulges as this denotes a modification of the addition of a hydraulic reducing valve which did not happen till C model production.
9.    Both LVS and RVS (left vertical stab and right vertical stab) are missing the beef up plates for the top bullets torque boxes did not come about till the late 80’s.
10.    Pnl 128 or tail hook fairing was not removed till after Desert Storm.
11.    Turkey Feathers were removed on the Nozzles starting in 79 through 82, I have the scars to prove that from snapping off the finger seals while doing my BPO.
12.    Sabre drains (sharp as hell redundant fibreglass drains) on the aft Engine Bay panels were there till after Desert Storm.
13.    JSF Exhaust still had a metal Louver, this was not moved till after Desert Storm..
14.    Wheels and Brakes were modified to the type you see today on C model production, A models had the star pattern type wheel and most did not receive the new type after going through MISIP in the 90’s.
15.    No chaff and flare mods installed under the intake on A models.
16.    COMM panel on the A model was further forward on the left intake bottom and square, the C model COMM panel was rectangular and further aft, both were hinged at the front of the panel.
17.    No ICS antennae’s behind the nose gear door and in between the blade or UHF antennae’s. 
18.    The rectangular blade antennae’s on the canopy hump aft of the canopy were the only half type used till the early 90’s when these were hard to replace so a suitable sub was found which turned into the shark ant you see today.
19.    There were panel changes over the years but this would not be noticeable in smaller scales and only to someone intamite with the F-15.