Boeing P-8 Poseidon - Walkaround at Le Bourget - Academy 1:144

recent builds of the Academy Poseidon in 1:144 by Thomas, Steve and Stu. US Navy  P-8 "759" photographed by this blogger at Le Bourget, Paris in June 2025 where it was on static display.

text based on Des Brennan's "Poseidon - both hunter and hunted" in SAM Vol 45/4

The Boeing P-8 is a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defence, Space and Security, and derived from the civilian Boeing 737-800. Developed for the United States Navy the type flies anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,and search and rescue missions. On 20 July 2007, the Australian Minister for Defence announced that the P-8A was the preferred aircraft to replace the Royal Australian Air Force fleet of Lockheed AP-3C Orions, followed by the United Kingdom in 2012, Norway in 2014, then New Zealand, South Korea, and Germany. 

Poseidon MRA.1 ZP805/05/Fulmar (the Naval Air Station name for Lossiemouth prior to it becoming an RAF base) operated by a crew from No.120 Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth drops a torpedo (recoverable exercise variant of the Mk 54) over the Moray Firth in July 2021. The rear fuselage weapons bay doors are still open, the forward fuselage FLIR ball is lowered, and no wing pylons are fitted. (Cpl. Adam Fletcher Open Government Licence) 

Poseidon P-8A YD/755 (168755) of Patrol Squadron VP-4 ‘The Skinny Dragons’ overhead Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, in February 2020 during Exercise Dynamic Mantra 2020. This gives a good view of the various aerials and sensors under the aircraft, the inboard wing mounted weapons pylon, and the mounting plinth for the outer as well as the location of the weapons bay aft of the wing. (US Navy photo)

The US Navy has 133 P-8s in service. With a six-screen glass cockpit the P-8 is operated by two pilots on the flight deck with another seven members of the crew operating the mission systems from consoles in the cabin, of which originally five but later upgraded to seven can be installed. The P-8’s maximum speed is 490 knots/564mph (908 kph), it has a service ceiling of 41,000 ft (12,500m), and an unrefuelled range of 4,500 miles (7250 km). Endurance is around ten hours but this can be doubled with air-to-air refuelling (AAR) although unusually for a US Navy aircraft (and for some of those current users who practice that art) only the flying boom method is provided for, as opposed to their long-standard use of the probe-and-drogue method.

The UK ordered 9 examples of the P-8 in 2019 with deliveries beginning in early 2020 and completed two years later although in the past year RAF sources have commented on the need for a further three aircraft to meet changed threat levels. Aircraft are operated on a pooled basis from RAF Lossiemouth by Nos.120 and 201 Squadrons with training conducted by No.54 Squadron’s Poseidon Flight

Note Steve's build of RAF Poseidon  ZP 804 "04" (below) has Harpoons installed on the wing pylons.

Model build below by Stu Davies

Model Day 2025 at the Kent Battle of Britain museum, September 13-14

a few photos of the display tables at the Hawkinge Battle of Britain museum model show that was held this weekend. Clubs exhibiting included East Kent Scale Modellers, Gravesham Model club and Shepway Military Modelling. Only the Shepway club were there on both days. Last time time I attended at Hawkinge was 2022. Highlights were Steve's Das Werk Sdkfz 251 in 1/16th and Ian's Tamiya F-4 in 32nd on the 'Silver surfers' table. I'll post some close-ups of the models in my next post..

from the Battle of Britain museum's own page; 

 "... We are pleased to report that the first day of the Autumn Model Show at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust at Hawkinge (www.kbobm.org) on Saturday 13th September 2025 was a great success and despite the awful weather! The event was organised by our own in-house Model Club, the Shepway Military Model Society, (thank you lads and particularly Adrian Smith) and were joined by members of the East Kent Scale Modellers Club, Gravesham Modelling Club and Silver Surfers. They were all set up in the Stuart-Buttle and Lord Dowding Memorial Hangars and displayed a wide range of brilliant painted and created military aircraft, vehicles ad. Today, Sunday 14th September 2025 the Shepway Military Model Society were joined by our good friends from the Southeast Tanks Scale Model Club. This was the third season for the Model Show which the Shepway Military Modelling Club have organised on our behalf and from November 2023 this model club have been basing themselves from the Museum and using the No. 25 Squadron Mess and Tea Rooms to hold their monthly meetings in. What promises to be an excellent partnership between the Museum, Modelling Club, Museum Shop (which carries a large stock of Airfix and Eduard kits) and the No. 25 Squadron Mess and Tea Rooms..."

 

Building the new Airfix 48th Sepecat Jaguar GR. 1 (2)

 

Above; general view of the Jaguar forward fuselage showing the curved intake and the starboard 30mm cannon fairing. Note the cover in the intake. There were a number of different intake covers fitted to Jaguars, both in- and outside the aperture. This is the machine on display at the RAF Manston history museum, XZ 106, latterly of 41 Sqd. 

The new Airfix Jaguar GR. 1 build continues serenely. This is as close as Airfix will ever get to a Tamiya-style 'shake n' bake' kit  - yet still a 'Skill Level 4'. Must be something to do with the number of parts, because its not a difficult build at all. Everything just 'clips' into place. Gear and airbrake bays build up easily into each fuselage half before the cockpit pushes into the fuselage. While the 'fit' is mostly very good, there are a couple of seams that I'm not too thrilled with, especially just aft of the cockpit.

Next steps involve some detail painting of the gear bays and constructing the intakes, the tail and the other moveable surfaces - slats and flaps can all be fitted in extended mode. 

Below, a few more reference shots. Note Airfix recommend '27' for the gear legs  - which seems far too dark a grey. There are no colour call-outs for the interior of the airbrake doors - they seem to be in the same colour as the fuselage/lower surfaces..

East Kent Scale Modellers - first club night of 2025

 

..first meet of the year coincides with the date of the Airfix 2025 range launch. Of course, as Luke has gone to Revell - and still no sign at our meets of his replacement - he was not present to give us our usual Airfix' briefing' but generally people were pretty happy with what was announced - obviously the Jaguar was an 'open' secret but the Stalwart was a surprise, but most seem to have already got a Spitfire twin-seater in their collections courtesy of Brigade Models. As usual there were some great models on the table for tonight's meet...

Rod's Airfix Javelin and Will's 32nd Hasegawa 79th FG P-47

Andy's 72nd Sword F.1

Ben's 24 scale Trumpeter Hurricane. Purchased at Telford. Airbrushed freehand, markings painted with masks.

Bob's Trumpeter Fulmar in 48th 

Ben's Airfix Buccaneer in 48th 

David's Academy F-4

Stu's Academy Thunderjet in 72nd and Dick's Kinetic Harrier..

Henry's Airfix 48th Anson

Bill Clark's Academy F-4 J (UK) ZE 362 and the 'infamous' turquoise paint finish of the RAF's F-4Js

 

Bill Clark from East Kent Scale modellers and Scale Aircraft Modelling on his colours research for the F-4 J(UK).  This is re-posted from Bill's FB page and draws on his own article in Scale Aircraft Modelling. 

Note that the J-variant can be distinguished from the RAF's FG.1 and FGR.2 (at a glance) by the inclusion of formation lighting strips, the (empty) DECM antennas on the upper part of the intakes (except for ZE 350), the longer exhaust cans of the J79 engines, smaller intakes and narrow(er) rear fuselage while also lacking the 'glazing' on the port side between the two canopies. 

Bill also supplied this unique view of the 'turquoise' shade....

And a view of one of my pictures of F-4 J ZE 353 and David's take on the colour on a build of the Hasegawa kit, also ZE 353..

Preamble over, back to Bill for commentary and a view of his build.

"Here's my take on it.. briefly......

....The first batch of maybe nine of the 15 arrived in that Turquoise shade. There might have been attempts in those nine to correct the earlier problems...The second batch of 6 were painted in shades of 'gray" closer to those specified by the RAF.

from Patrick Martin's 'British Phantoms _Vol 5'. The RAF ordered 15, and the overhauled aircraft were painted in a three-grey finish that was meant to be as close to the standard RAF shades. Flint Grey FS595 36314 was used for Barley Grey, Neutral Grey 36270 for Medium Sea Grey and Light Gull Grey 36440 for LACG. The first nine aircraft delivered had the 'turquoise tint', due to a misunderstanding of the pimer specification by the Mexican manufacturer. (The grey's may well have been affected by the zinc chromate(?) primer.) The mistake was rectified for the second batch, but still not quite right. At least five were repainted in standard RAF shades, including ZE354/"R", ZE357/"N", ZE361/"P", ZE364/"Z". This happened during the summer of 1989.

There is some conjecture as to whether the inner wing panels were actually painted in MSG /NG. They certainly should have been, but bear in mind that the whole idea of having a darker shade here was to blend the whole upper surfaces together. Therefore in most lighting conditions the difference between the two greys is hard to see. That said, it is clear that some of the earlier batches, that had the primer issue maybe(?) the inner wings were very tatty and faded and certainly appear to be the same shade.

"..Anyway....here's my interpretation of 74 Sqn's ZE362/"V", which was one of the later batch of aircraft painted in shades more akin to those specified....with replacement panels and radome...in 'Turquoise". Academy 1/72 kit. Decals from Modeldecal, Xtradecal and Esci kit. Painted in Xtracrylic 'Barley' Grey (fuselage and outer panels,) with Tamiya Medium Sea Grey inner panel. I made my own mix for the Turquoise..."

Typhoon Mk IB - R8893, 182 Sqd, Nov 1942 - Airfix 24th scale Typhoon 'Car Door'

 

A new attendee of the East Kent Scale Modellers group is Tom Le M.. His latest model was photographed on display at our last club night.

" At long last! It is done! 1:24 Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib Car Door - R8893, 182 Squadron, November 1942. It has been a crazy ride with a lot of firsts! I definitely fell in love with this kit. My painting skills not being as good as some modellers' out there, many mistakes were made and can't count how many times I very nearly gave up, right up to the end. So my Typhoon isn't perfect, but I think I gave it a damn good shot! I learned an awful lot in the process so the next one should be even better (whenever that will be).."

From the Wingleader Typhoon 'Photo Archive book 16'  ( a copy in evidence in the pic below of Tom's work bench)

After six weeks of training with the Typhoon IA, 182 Squadron received its first Mk IB with bomb racks, R8893, on 22 October 1942. Photographed a month later it has acquired the codes XM-M and Typhoon special markings as instructed on 19 November 1942. In addition to the white nose and spinner, four black 12-inch stripes were applied chordwise under the wings, starting at the wing root and spaced 24 inches apart. The cannon barrels have canvas covers. One of the first Typhoons modified to carry bombs, R8893 displays the short-lived white nose and black under-wing stripes. Note also the cannon with recoil springs mid-barrel. As with most Typhoons at this time it has the extended exhaust stubs. The aircraft also wears the overwing yellow ‘Dieppe’ stripes. Seen at RAF Martlesham Heath.