BAe Nimrod MRA.6 ( refurbished projects)

[McColm]

Germany has withdrawn its programme to update its Lockheed Martin P-3 Orions. Whilst the French are upgrading/updating their 18 Altantiques to Stage 6. Both countries are in agreement that they will join together in the replacement for a Maritime Airborne Platform.
I'm thinking what if they refurbished the BAe Nimrod MR.2P,  with the money saved on development costs both countries could refit the Rolls-Royce Spey engines with those from the Eurofighter or Rafael. Composite materials with rewiring and modern technology.
The fuselage would be stretched to accommodate a cargo door and extra underwing pylons for weapons or sensors.
If other countries were interested a production line using Airbus facilities would be set up.
Naturally the French would call theirs the Airbus Caravelle X Mk1, whilst the Germans would stick with Nimrod,  Britain would do a u-turn and join forces. A big sales campaign in the Middle East and the Pacific Rim .
The kit that I will be using is the Airfix HS/BAe Nimrod MR.1/MR.2 with some spare parts from other MPA kits.
Ground clearance does raise a problem if the FLIR pod is fitted from the Hasegawa Lockheed P-3C Orion under the nose,  a recess would be a better solution or the Gulf War FLIR fitted to some of the Nimrods under the wings.
ESM pods from the Revell Breguet Br1150 if the Caravelle X is to be built . Additional sonorbouy launch tubes can be drilled out.
As for the engine air intakes these can be reshaped using filler/puty for  boxy or larger ones. The same can be said for the exhaust pipes.
The wings can be lengthened and so too the fuselage.
It will be interesting to see the Nimrod in a different colour scheme other than the ones worn by the RAF.
If you prefer there's the various vacform kits available plus a host of improvement sets.