Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted October 7 Posted October 7 With the never ending finishing woes with the Cessna I thought I would remedy the situation with another entry! The Hasegawa SP-3B Marlin. The decals are old (I do like the Sea Blue scheme on the kit sheet though), fortunately I have a sheet from Caracal for the beast Popped open the kit to see how big it will be, did not expect the size. The span is greater than a P-3 and it is almost as long as one as well. So starting off the assembly, the Caracal instructions suggest moving one of the fuselage windows back a few mm. I modified the seats and added some card to hide a couple of deep sink marks The cockpit was enhanced a little with an extension to the centre console and rounding off the rear of the existing section. And the flying surfaces have been glued 12
81-er Posted October 7 Posted October 7 It's great to have you starting another build with us, Ray, and you're off to a good start with her already She's certainly a big old girl James 1
TheyJammedKenny! Posted October 7 Posted October 7 Great subject! I think this'll be the first time I've seen one built. Martin built these in Baltimore, which is not far away from where I live at all. 1
Beard Posted October 7 Posted October 7 I've got a Martin catalogue (somewhere in the loft) that my Dad got from them in the fifties and I can remember being amazed at their flying boats. 1
Snafu35 Posted October 7 Posted October 7 Hello Ray, I found a Hasegawa marlin that a friend sent me in the post. I decided to build it to put next to the PBM Mariner. Rest assured that I will be following your build closely. Best regards, Eric-Snafu35 1
modelling minion Posted October 7 Posted October 7 What a fantastic choice Ray, the Marlin is such a great looking aircraft, and as you say a pretty big one too! Off to a great start with her too. A wise choice to use the Caracal decals over the old kit ones, which scheme will you be doing? 1
Harry Lewis Posted October 8 Posted October 8 A fellow member pointed out your build when I posted yesterday raving about my Marlin build. It sure is fun seeing the same bird come together on someone else's work bench! I have really enjoyed building the beast - you are spot on, it is huge, as big as an AC-130, but the ability to build it in sections made it manageable for me. I found the fit superb, the cockpit spartan, so I tarted it up a bit. I should have put a hatch or something in the rear observers station, maybe mounted on the back bulkhead - I didn't realize how good the clear parts were and how empty it looks. Maybe the top half of a seat, or cut out the entire section to add the illusion of depth? I made a MAD ring for the tail by carefully cutting the spokes out of a 1/72 steering wheel for a tractor, leaving little stubs on the interior, then sliding it on the tail boom until it stuck and glueing it in place. It isn't perfect, but from a distance resembles the ring that is prominent back there. I might add some PE bits back there too simulate the antennas on the boom....if I get ambitious. If you find the actual mounting points for the wing float struts as indicated on the stapled instruction sheet (those were the days, my friends!) kudos to you...they weren't there on my wings, and I ended up doing some very fiddly measuring and drilling to mount the struts. Tricky when already painted, but to my amazement, I pulled it off without breaking anything and resorting to the intemperate language of my troubled youth. The anti-glare panels were a bit tricky to mask - and I must confess I skipped a couple. When I realized it, it really was too late unless I wanted to really risk breaking something, so I let it go...which is why I don't enter any contests, I suppose. Thanks for sharing your work, and good luck. I sure had fun, and look forward to seeing your finished bird! Harry Lutz, FL PS Simply couldn't resist the shark mouthed VP-48 scheme - they went on easy and make the bird look like an angry pterodactyl. Caracal decals rock! 1 1 1
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted October 9 Author Posted October 9 Thanks for the comments all, and especially your comments regarding your build Harry. I shall take some on board. I was going to do an OOB build mostly but it looks like I will make some further additions. Currently in Singapore for a week and will return to this next week. 1 1
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted October 9 Author Posted October 9 On 10/7/2025 at 9:56 PM, Snafu35 said: Hello Ray, I found a Hasegawa marlin that a friend sent me in the post. I decided to build it to put next to the PBM Mariner. Rest assured that I will be following your build closely. Best regards, Eric-Snafu35 I also have a Martiner kit but it will have to wait a while. 1
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted October 25 Author Posted October 25 After the trip my mojo suffered even though I managed to add to the stash while over there. Most of yesterday it rained so I was stuck in doors and decided to plug away with the Marlin Paint in the cockpit Fuselage together More pieces glued This morning I did some more puttying and assembly 9
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted October 26 Author Posted October 26 Thanks Alex! Moving on, the wing assembly is together, just have to add the flaps The fuselage has been sanded and tailplane and rudder fitted And a mock up of the major parts together. 8 1
modelling minion Posted October 26 Posted October 26 Thats very good and quick work Ray,she's really going together very nicely indeed, a sign of Hasegawa quality and your modelling ability. 1
81-er Posted October 26 Posted October 26 That's really come together quickly, Ray, it's good to see the mojo is back James 1
Harry Lewis Posted October 31 Posted October 31 Nice work!!!! Keep it up and keep posting! Harry Lutz, FL 1
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted Tuesday at 09:01 AM Author Posted Tuesday at 09:01 AM I am on the way to the ScaleACT model comp 1400kms from home. I'll be back to this one next week! 2
Harry Lewis Posted Tuesday at 01:09 PM Posted Tuesday at 01:09 PM 4 hours ago, Romeo Alpha Yankee said: I am on the way to the ScaleACT model comp 1400kms from home. My dear fellow, the very fact that you are traveling 800+ miles to a model competition that doesn't involve ----- you know, like, bikini models ---- impresses me to no end. Now that's dedication, and I salute you! I look forward to your return and continuing work. Harry Lutz, FL 1 2 1
Thom216 Posted 3 hours ago Posted 3 hours ago Actually, that separate wing/nacelle section looks like the start of a Star Wars space ship. 1
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