IMG_20200220_082023615 by
warbirdkid, on Flickr
Here is about 1.3 years in the making... and with the finish line close at hand, maybe some WIXers can spur me on to get it done and get it photographed professionally.
BeginningsA classic War-Film if there ever was one, 1970's Tora! Tora! Tora! was a masterful execution of a multitude of practical and special effects to recreate the attack on Pearl Harbor. Since I can remember, this movie has always inspired and captivated me. Climbing down to the basement, I remember finding my dad plugging away on his 1/32nd P-51D or P-38M at his workbench, with this movie on in the background. And for some reason one particular scene always intrigued me. A simple, quick scene that only lasted little over a minute, but I loved the pacing, action, and excitement for some reason. It depicted the mad dash rush of Lt. Taylor and Welch as they sped to Haleiwa Airstrip to jump in there waiting P-40s to scramble, and engage the onslaught of Japanese aircraft. This scene was re-created in Pearl Harbor years later, but it just didn't feel the same. So after awhile I figured, why not replicate that scene?
After acquiring a 1/72 Airfix P-40E, I decided to pay tribute to this scene and build it as a diorama. The Airfix P-40E is a rough kit for today’s standards. Other, more accurate / detailed models exist, but I have an affinity for these older kits. They are from my father’s childhood and to a lesser extent, mine. And I like giving them a new lease on life, because... who else will? In the past I’ve built out a french P-51A, Heller P-47N, and Revell P-36 in similar fashion.
A less then new / accurate 1/72 kit, the Airfix P-40 needed some work. I detailed it out with available aftermarket parts, light scratch-building (if at all), early USAAC Markings (Olive Drab, Stars with red dot).
P-40E Kit• Aftermarket Resin Cockpit added
• Aftermarket Resin Prop Spinner added
• Wheel well canvas covers made out of paper towels soaked in a water / glue mixture
• Canopy cut and separated for an open cockpit
• Rear windows cut from clear acetate sheet
• Chin scoop intake remolded / sanded / reshaped
• Rudder and Flight controls cut and pitched
• Landing Gear doors scratch built
• Masked and painted with Rattle can paints
• Weathered using dry brush and pastels
• Decals bashed together (stars were replaced with more accurate examples.
• Prop blurs added
• Middle 50 cal wing gun deleted and 30 cal nose guns added to simulate P-40B
1940 Mercury Convertible• 3D Designed model custom made for diorama
• Driver door cut off and glued in an open position
• Front wheels turned
• Primed and spray painted
• In the process of being painted / detailed
• License Plate designed / sized / printed
Figures• 1/72nd Presier Luftwaffe figures used for the majority of diorama
• Slight modification / sanding needed for all of them
• Scratch built Film Camera and Boom Mic
• Figures still need to be completed / detailed
Plaque• Designed plaque and engraved at local trophy shop (3 times!)
• Film strip printed on acetate with white cardstock backing
• Simple light fixture added underneath film strip
There are still alot of things to do before this entire 1/72 diorama is complete but I'm excited to see it start to come together.
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