Orion

Hello again, In answer to your questions: Yes, I did use the Revell decals. Excellent quality and sets fine with SOL and SET. After cutting out the cockpit access panel, I replaced this item with plastic packing from a set of batteries. Access to the AC for the crew was indeed right behind the nose wheel. On my model you can see the ladder. Attached a small movie from the Dutch Neptune with refuelling, preflight and the crew climbing up the ladder, and the take off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7PkAK9uq5w Any other questions, just shoot again. Highest regards to the Neptune Buddy team.

Hello Neptune friends, Here is my Dutch contribution to your Neptune Buddy Build 2014-2015. History From 1961 until 1981, 18 Lockheed Neptunes (Type P2V-7) have been in service with the MLD (Marine Luchtvaart Dienst)=FAA They were serialled 200/218. Starting with the gun-nose. Later replaced by the plexiglass window Started in overall dark sea grey. Later with white top. For service in the caribbean. It brought the tempature down by some 7 degrees in the workspaces. Serial 200 crashed on 08-08-62 during take off on (NAS)= Naval Air station Biak in the Former Dutch New Guinee. Serial 212 crashed on 23-01-65 in the North Sea, after it was hyjacked from the apron on the NAS valkenburg by two young flight mechanics. They new alot about the mechanical systems, but as shown, keeping it in the air was another story. Both young persons died in the crash. After this incident, if you got near the parked aircraft you were shot without asking any questions!! Besides these "accidents" the Navy was very pleased with their performance over the years. My model coms from the Revell Company. I purchased the Euard Cockpit/Bomb Bay set. Paints were from Extra Color and the airbrush used was from the Revell Company. I left the top left cockpit window open for vieuwing the inside office. Any questions, just shoot. Regards, Orion.

One extra addition: Thanks fo the lengthy revieuw. I agree with my fellow modelers that this important model has not been researched well enough. They are on the right track with their choice of models. The exact color for this helo would be not bleu, but engine gray FS16081. Regards, Dirk

Well Done. A real beauty to look at. Details all around the model. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Master Modeler HH-60H Rescue Hawk. Excellent done. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Dear Modelers, I think the mariner was constructed excellent. Thanks for that Mike and Ed. I hope to see some Dutch examples on this forum. The Royal Netherlands Navy Air Arm (Marineluchtvaart Dienst) has operated the PBM 5A type. Operational 15 Patrol Boats P300/P314. Two spare planes P315/P316 (All second hand) 14 extra engines and a shipload of spareparts. These Patrol Boats were to be used in the former Netherlands New Guinea. It turned out to be a disaster. Costing 8 airframes and 32 killed crewmembers. Historian Commodore Kees Leebeek RNLN (Retd.) writes in his book that crew failure (Pilots/Technicians) was the main factor in this all. This was due to the fact of not enough training and crewtraining. Title book: Martin Mariner PBM-5A by Commandeur b.d. Kees Leebeek/ Lots of pictures in colour and B&W. Publisher : Geromy bv Short movie attached from the Mariner in Netherlands New Guinea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R77CCS6wwrA Regards, Dirk The Netherlands

Hello Ryan, Just load the pics into your article. Make's it so much easier on everybody. Regards, Dirk

Hello Geologus, As mentioned before, Monogram was far ahead of it's time. You made a very high standard model of these pieces of grey plastic. The Devastator was at the forefront of carrier aircraft development in WW2. Although it was devastating for the pilots operating the planes My compliments on your skills. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Was looking for the seventh time at your pictures. So it was time to respond: "Well done, excellent job." Regards, Derek The netherlands.

Thanks for sharing this model with us. It made me interested in this AC. Found alot of info on the WWW. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

I like it very much. Lots of colour, excellent modeling. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Monogram, let us never forget: "Excellent Models" Well constructed and nice sprayjob. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

For scale 1/72 this looks superb. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Thanks for sharing this unusual AC with us. Well done. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Nice diorama. Gives it alot of live. You did put alot of time into this. The result is excellent. regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Hi Jurek, Excellent construction and sprayjob. Also a model that makes you want to stap in, strap in and take off. Interesting to mention, EE manufactured also diesel locomotives. These were transported by the Britisch War Ministry to the Netherlands in 1946 and were in service until 1989. It shows that EE made alot of very useful items, just like your Lightning. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

It looks like you just can step in, strap in and fire it up. That says enough about your skills. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Hi Dan, Thanks for sharing this famous AC with us in scale 1/72 Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Hi Stig, Enjoyed your Sea Fury. Another Britisch succesfull design in Naval Aviation. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Hi Bjorn, Excellent construction and bright colour scheme. Regards, Dirk The Netherlands.

Hi Roger, Try this site: www.vlaggeschipsmaldeel5.nl Very detailed site from the Colossus Class carrier Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman. Period 1948/1955 original build. Period 1958/1968 angled deck. If not helpfull, let me know. Regards, Derek The Netherlands.

History: Between 1962 and 1967 the Canadian Ministry of Defence acquired 18medium weight tandem rotor helicopters used primarily for search and rescue (SAR) operations. (Total prize: 25.500.000 USD) The twin gas turbine engine multi-purpose helicopter is suitable for take-off under minimum IFR conditions. Besides the SAR mission it performed medical evacuations (MEDECAC), training, passenger transport and transport missions. Most famous rescue mission was performed on the 3rd of October 1980. The Dutch luxury liner “Prinsendam”, on fire and positioned 170 miles out, in the frigid waters of the Gulf of Alaska signalled an SOS. It had left Vancouver three days earlier with 510 souls on board. This large American-Canadian rescue effort resulted in all passengers safe and well. To be mentioned here is the use of the supertanker “Williamsburg” as a floating landing platform. In 2002 the helicopters were replaced by the Cormoran. The helicopters were for sale for USD 158.300 a piece. The Model: Years ago I selected the Hobbycraft 1/72 model. I think the boxart made me buy it. To complete the model I acquired Belcher Bits decals and the Eduard cockpit set . Paints came from Xtra color and the bright red was from Testors. Construction was, with the exception of the cockpitglass no problems. Most difficult was the “paint” job. Especially the red band over the side of the helicopter. Yellow is already difficult to spray on primer, but red on yellow is a challenge. The cockpit glass was taped for many times to get everything covered in a nice rescue yellow color The paintjob finished I tackled the decals. With micro set and sol the decals were put in place. The lightning bolt was cut into pieces to cover the open hatch on the starboard side. Own construction: Searchlight Sight mounted HF antenna Landing lights /anti collision lights Crash Transmitting Locators

Hi John, Excellent construction and color job. I am amazed that the engines are so close to the tarmac! Dirk The Netherlands.

Hi Russ, Well done. It looks like a very used AC Greetz Dirk The Netherlands.

Hi SAR95, Job well done. Dirk The Netherlands.