Found this movie clip on Youtube, and thought some here might like it, a couple Badgers, one trying to refuel the other, while an Il38 May, with a few different markings to make it look like a P3, flying in fairly close formation. This is from a Russian movie, but the May pilot is speaking English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1KwIAQIn-0

I like the very obviously painted out star under the May's left wing

Yeah, I saw that too.

Still, from what little I saw, and I think there are more clips, it doesn't seem all that bad. I mean, I'll sit through the whole movie, even though I can't speak much Russian(other than a few unprintable phrases that a trawler skipper from Vladivostok taught me, including the words of Jabberwocky in Russian, which, by the way, sounds amazing when recited in basso Russian by a drunk trawler skipper, but that's another tale for another evening), but the visuals of the movie would entertain me a lot.

And, I might start thinking of finding a May model and digging up some USN decals, if there is a model of the May available.

And the Badgers looked pretty good.

There is one available in 1/72. It's quite expen$ive and very rough. I've built it's IL-18 cousin so I know it can be done.

In 1/144, you can get one from Anigrand or Eastern Express.

What a bizarre sequence.

I am familiar with the Il18 and the conversion of it to the May, but filed that memory away and forgot about it.

What is the availability of the 18, as well as the price?

That A Model May didn't look like it'd be worth the price they are asking.

Also, I realize that the dates from approximately around the time Top Gun came out, and is approximately similar(your basic cinematic recruiting poster, like Top Gun). but was the lifeboat attached to the belly of the Badger realistic?

Even if not, it could make for an interesting possibility for a model.