Hasegawa 1/200 P-8A Poseidon Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

In 2000, the U.S. Navy issued a requirement for a replacement for the P-3 Orion which included the anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare, and reconnaissance variants. Lockheed-Martin responded with an update to their cancelled P-7 design while BAE offered a new-build version of the RAF Nimrod. Boeing offered the 737-800ERX (-800 airframe on a -900 wing and 767-400ER wingtips). Boeing won the competition and the newest 'Guppy' has entered service as the P-8 Poseidon. The P-8 has the USAF-styled air refueling receiver behind the cockpit instead of the probe and drogue system. In addition, the magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) system was deleted from the aircraft to save weight and a change to the ASW mission profile.

Hasegawa has released the first kit of the P-8 Poseidon in 1/200 scale and they've done a nice job. Molded in light gray styrene, the kit is presented on five parts trees plus one tree of smoke-tinted clear parts. Among the features and options in this kit:

• Fuselage has innovative forward bulkhead with heavy screw for ballast
• Nicely detailed CFM-56 engine pods
• Landing gear can be posed down or retracted
• Optional display stand included (smoke-tinted clear parts)
• All of the bumps and blade antennas provided for the ASW version

The kit provides markings for two options:

• P-8A, 168428, VP-16, LF/429, Kadena AB, 2013
• P-8A, 168433, VP-16, LF/433, Kadena AB, 2013

Given the number of tiny parts to replicate the antennas and sensors on the airframe, I've rated this for experienced modelers. As with the other kits in Hasegawa's 1/200 series, this will be an easy build with the right patience and tools and will make a nice desk model for the ASW modeler!

My sincere thanks to Hasegawa USA for this review sample!