The Martin P4M was a long range patrol bomber designed for the US Navy. Although it did not enter mass production it was converted for electronic surveillance missions and flew many secret missions for the US government.

The Martin P4M was designed in 1944 as a long range patrol bomber for the US Navy.

It was a large and complex aeroplane powered by piston engines and jet engines to boost performance during take-off and combat.

The US Navy instead selected the smaller and simpler Lockheed P2V Neptune for production but 19 P4Ms were produced, serving initially with VP-21.

From 1951 they were modified for electronic surveillance missions and were finally withdrawn from service in that form in 1960.

This model represents a P4M flying with the US Navy’s VP-21 in 1951.

Anigrand 1/144 kit. Completed in June 2011.