Filming The Haleiwa Scramble

[Warbird Kid]

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.

Beginnings
A 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.

[Scott Rose]

Neat! Great work Chris!

[Warbirdnutta]

I think this is such a cool and well done project and I am by no means wanting to hi-jack
your thread, just wanting to add to it so hope you don't mind this.

The two P40’s took off from very close to the biggest town in the area Haleiwa hence the
strips name. Few years ago had a family holiday and stayed close by so couldn’t help myself,
had to go and seek out this little bit of history. The local people are very protective of their
property you often see signs warning you to stay off, keep out etc. However beach front is
not be privately owned, so found the location on Google earth set off with my trusty Canon.

Looking west the airstrip ran parallel to the coast line, pretty much overgrown now.


Looking in the opposite direction to the above image, no idea what the concrete block is?


I believe this maybe the base of the control tower?


Couple of links that helped me look into this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleiwa_Fighter_Strip

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/HI/Air ... tm#haleiwa

Last edited by Warbirdnutta on Fri Apr 03, 2020 3:16 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbird Kid]

I think this is such a cool and well done project and I am by no means wanting to hi-jack
your thread, just wanting to add to it so hope you don't mind this.

Not at all! Glad you like the post and added your info! I will try and have an update with some pics soon of the rest of the build. While the actual events of Dec 7th did indeed take place at Haleiwa Airstrip, the filming for this scene for the 1970 film: Tora! Tora! Tora! took place at Waiele Gulch Army Airfield, adjacent to Wheeler. I believe Waiele was used instead since the original Haleiwa had become overgrown and was no longer a viable landing strip. Boy I'd love to see it resurrected as an actual flying field again.
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/HI/Airfields_HI_Oahu_N.htm

I actually have three different dioramas in the works, all of this same event.

"Hell of a Way to Enter a War" (1/350 Scale)
Small diorama of the actual Haleiwa Strip showing the various P-40Bs and P-36s being readied as Lt. Harold Chaffin brings his newly arrived B-17E in from California during the attack. I haven't started this model yet.

"Scramble at Haleiwa!" (1/144th Scale)
Essentially the same thing as the above diorama except since its a larger scale, it's more focused in on only three aircraft: Welch and Taylor's P-40Bs and Harry Brown's P-36. Its an attempt to accurately portray the actual event that day. Its about 50% done.

"Filming the Haleiwa Scramble" (1/72nd Scale)
Obviously the diorama above, depicting the filming of the 1970 film: Tora! Tora! Tora!, along with all its inaccuracies. I'd say its closer to about 85 to 90% there. Just need that last big push to finish up the figures, finish weathering the base, final details / touch ups to the P-40 and car, and then its final assembly.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Looking good Chris!

[phil65]

[anarchist]

great job!

[Warbird Kid]

Okay, well with the current quarantine going on, I've been able to finally put all the pieces together. The 40 Mercury is the only think not glued down. (Still have to try and put some Plexiglass in the windshield, and pull off chrome hub caps somehow. Maybe a couple little other things too) But otherwise, I'm calling it done! As an added bonus, there is a switch that turns on small fairy lights underneath the film reel.

[Scott Rose]

[wolf]

a good history as well as photos of the wartime Haleiwa Fighter Strip can be found on the freeman site
.
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/HI/Air ... Oahu_N.htm

[mazdaP5]

I love it, great work.

[phil65]

Great work Chris...but shouldn't the camera guy be wearing a Patriots jersey...
Just saying....

Phil

[RyanShort1]

How'd you do that propeller? Looks intriguing!

[phil65]

How'd you do that propeller? Looks intriguing!

http://www.propblur.com/instructions.html

Phil

[wolf]

Where's the head gear of the crew chief ? He is missing his garrison cap