Lockheed Neptune

Mike Wren · January 10, 2005, 06:04:40 AM

P2V Neptune

just found this nice site, includes a lot of very nice colour profiles & info on foreign operators, now I must get round to buying the Hasegawa kit... not sure how to What If? it yet though...

Captain Canada · January 10, 2005, 08:51:37 AM

The Neptune is so fecking sweet it's hard to WI it ! Those big radials, auxilliary jets, big mthoer-feckin' tail, it's even got tip-tanks !

I'm thinking turbines...........and didn't the Yanks have a few COIN type jobs done up ?

Mike Wren · January 10, 2005, 11:57:27 AM

yeah, it's hard to do anything to the real aircraft, Japan had some with turboprops...

but I'm thinking a German Marineflieger on in grey over white with day glo tip tanks at the moment

or what about an ELINT one covered in lumps & bumps & aerials?

Captain Canada · January 10, 2005, 01:07:32 PM

The German navy bird sounds good....always loved a/c in that scheme !

You could even put those lovely 'tulip' markings on thsoe big radials.......and whay not combine your two ideas, by putting lumps and bumps all over it ?

I've got 3 of those beauties in the pile.....was going to do all three of the RCAF schemes. Well, 2 schemes really, but the blue birds had 2 different types of markings.

Cheers !

nev · January 10, 2005, 01:56:39 PM

QuoteThe Neptune is so fecking sweet it's hard to WI it !

Gotta agree with ya there Pomerleau! B)

Just too many cool looking schemes

elmayerle · January 10, 2005, 08:55:58 PM

QuoteThe Neptune is so fecking sweet it's hard to WI it ! Those big radials, auxilliary jets, big mthoer-feckin' tail, it's even got tip-tanks !

I'm thinking turbines...........and didn't the Yanks have a few COIN type jobs done up ?

Yep. AP-2H and OP-2E(?) I know a few Neptunes were used to test the TRAM system before it was fitted to Intruders.

Jschmus · January 10, 2005, 09:12:35 PM

In the 60s, a couple of P-2s were loaned to the Air Force for recon/elint missions off China and Vietnam. They were operated as RB-69s.

If I recall correctly, the P-2 was originally intended to operate from Midway-class carriers as nuclear strike aircraft. In an alternate WW2 scenario, you could have them flying long-range strikes against Japan.

I seem to recall that Bryan H proposed the P-2 as a patrol aircraft for his Republic of Texas.

DP-2 drone with a piggybacked A-1 Skyraider as a Mistel?

Jschmus · January 11, 2005, 12:47:58 AM

As originally designed, the Neptune had defensive turrets in the nose, tail and on top, 20mm I think. Most of the variants did away with these, as newer hardware were adopted (MAD= no more tail guns, et al). The Navy AP versions mounted two retro-fitted 20mm in the tail, with a 40mm grenade launcher under the nose and Minigun pods fitted under the wings. There was also an OP-2E version operated over Vietnam with all the ASW gear removed and replaced by assorted sensors for hunting trucks and such along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. These also carried the Miniguns and had provision for guns mounted in the rear fuselage, similar to WWII waist gun positions.

CORRECTION: Earlier I stated that the Air Force operated a couple Neptunes. I have since discovered these were actually CIA aircraft that flew in Air Force markings.

nev · January 11, 2005, 02:17:20 AM

I'm sure I've got some piccies in a book upstairs of a P-2 in "jungle" camo operating in Vietnam. I'll have to try and dig it out.

Aircav · January 11, 2005, 04:59:00 AM

Something like these
http://p2vneptune.org/c05.shtml
http://p2vneptune.org/c05a.shtml

Joe C-P · January 12, 2005, 09:49:56 AM

Phillipines patrol aircraft - surplus ones provided post-Vietnam.
Torpedo bomber.
US Coast Guard - white and international orange.

Just some ideas of the top of my noggin.

JoeP

Mike Wren · January 13, 2005, 01:43:36 AM

QuoteUS Coast Guard - white and international orange.

I like the sound of that, Joe

Jschmus · February 11, 2005, 05:58:07 AM

I found it. I was looking for info on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, the third Midway-class carrier, that the Navy paid off years before the others. The Navy info page has all sorts of nifty tidbits on it.

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42, later CVA-42 and CV-42)

If you scroll 3/4 down the page, there's a shot of a P2V making a JATO launch from the FDR in 1950. The smoke plumes cover the entire flight deck down to the fantail. The ship's in it's pre-refit configuration, with the straight flight deck and all those 5" guns. Very cool!

Captain Canada · February 11, 2005, 06:16:37 AM

Cool !

Love the JATO pic.....must've been a real bitch for the deck crews, eh ?

elmayerle · February 11, 2005, 10:55:38 AM

QuoteI found it. I was looking for info on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, the third Midway-class carrier, that the Navy paid off years before the others. The Navy info page has all sorts of nifty tidbits on it.

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42, later CVA-42 and CV-42)

If you scroll 3/4 down the page, there's a shot of a P2V making a JATO launch from the FDR in 1950. The smoke plumes cover the entire flight deck down to the fantail. The ship's in it's pre-refit configuration, with the straight flight deck and all those 5" guns. Very cool!

Haze Gray and Under Way has a good history of most US warships and a growing number of those of otehr nations.