Hawker Siddley Nimrod P-4A

[smeds]

The U.S. Navy was using the Lockheed P-3 Orion for Anti submarine warfare from 1962. These aircraft gave sterling service until 2 crashed under mysterious circumstances. After an extensive investigation, the two crashes were found to be caused by an engine mount problem. They were not strong enough to dampen a whirling mode that affected the outboard engine nacelles.

When the oscillation was transmitted to the wings they were attached to, a severe up-and-down vibration escalated until the wings would tear themselves off the aircraft.

The U.S. Navy decided to ground all P-3 Orions until an answer to this problem could be found. The Lockheed company implemented an expensive modification program, in which the engine mounts and the wing structures supporting the mounts were strengthened, and some of the wing skins replaced with thicker material. Each of the Orions built to that time was modified at Lockheed's expense at the factory. With the number of airframes requiring the modification, this would take several years to complete.

The U.S. Government now left without airbourne anti-submarine warfare assests, approached the United Kingdom with regard to the purchase of the Hawker Siddley Nimrod to fill the gap left by the grounded Orions. Talks were held and it was agreed to sell the Americans an intial batch of 100 Nimrods with more to follow. These would be designated as the Nimrod P-4 in U.S service. Hawker Siddley had plans for several upgrades for the Nimrod, which included a signal intelligence and an AEW version. The U.S.N. were very happy with the Nimrod so they decided to sell its Orions once modified to several of its allies and keep the Nimrod in service.

The U.S.N Nimrods have been on TDY in the U.K. participating in the Fincastle Trophy, which they have yet to win.

Edited August 5, 2010 by smeds

[hovis]

Sounds good to me

[AnonymousDFB1]

Now that's different

[Daniel]

What a great story, it's nice to see a story that involves the UK aircraft being the answer to the problem!

Dan

[ChancerUK]

I agree with Daniel on that one, its nice to see a British solution. Will you be hanging a couple of Harpoon missiles under the wings?

[smeds]

I agree with Daniel on that one, its nice to see a British solution. Will you be hanging a couple of Harpoon missiles under the wings?

Yeah, had planned to do just that.

Just need to decide on the scheme - high or low viz !!

smeds

[smeds]

The box shot

Lots of plastic to fondle

smeds

[smeds]

Some progress

Not doing to much in the cockpit as not much can be seen through the windscreen

Blanked off the APU with scrap card

Fuselage all buttoned up

Cheers

smeds

Edited August 5, 2010 by smeds

[fredjocko]

Yeah, had planned to do just that.

Just need to decide on the scheme - high or low viz !!

smeds

Smeds;

There are a lot very colorful hi-viz schemes but to me the "badness" of the plane really shows in the low viz. This could be interesting.

Thanx,

Carl

[Daniel]

Good progress so far, and I also see you have come up with a way in which you do not need to use the Airfix decals!

Dan

[smeds]

A bit more progress, main airframe coming along nicely

All masked up and primed (Halfords finest), maybe just a bit of pre shading and then onto the final colour

smeds

[tc2324]

Looking good so far. Cant wait to see it in USN colours.

[Richard E]

Looks good so far, did you manage to get some decals for it?

One question from a curious mind: if it was a US operated machine would it have a boom receptecle instead as or as well as a refuelling probe?

[smeds]

Looks good so far, did you manage to get some decals for it?

One question from a curious mind: if it was a US operated machine would it have a boom receptecle instead as or as well as a refuelling probe?

It was operated by the Navy. the Navy use the probe and drogue method of refuelling, where as the USAF use the boom/recepticle method. I do have some decals, VP-5, VP-40 and VP-50, just need to make my mind up which to use.

smeds

Edited August 19, 2010 by smeds

[RussTnailZ]

looking great cant wait to see more

Russ

[Daniel]

Any more progress on this one?

Dan

[smeds]

Any more progress on this one?

Dan

Yeah Dan, almost complete, couple of small jobs to do, armament to be assembled/painted/fitted, satin coat then unmask and pics, hopefully this week.

Cheers

smeds

[smeds]

Some pics of my very recently finished Nimrod P-4A. All comments good or bad welcome. My photography skills are not up to scratch.

Appologies to mattie Bee !!

Couldnt make my mind up re finish, hi viz/low viz, so I went with the new low viz overall colour with high viz markings.

Followed Airfix instructions for the colours of the weapons

She's been zapped !!

Cheers

smeds

Edited September 14, 2010 by smeds

[Col.]

Very nice work! Like the mix of low-viz scheme with high-viz markings, must have been an airshow special

[Hypnobear]

That looks really nice, almost believable!

[Alan P]

That scheme really works! Makes even that ugly duckling look good!

And you put that one out in record time too, great work Smedley!

Al

[daz greenwood]

I think I prefer the Nimblob in USN markings it looks ultra cool

[Jabba]

She's been zapped !!

We never had a zap that big, but we did manage to get a few aircraft. Nice build by the way, it certainly does look different especially the huge fish on the fin.

[philp]

Nice job.

[Shar2]

Excellent build. As others have already said, she really does look good in US marking.