Small Scale Military Headquarters

Here is about 1.3 years in the making... and with the finish line close at hand.

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 a few things left to do on the 1940 Mercury but I'm fairly happy with how its come out.

Looks nice!

Your P-40 looks fantastic! And quite an interesting subject since as opposed to depicting the historical scene as most modelers would, you’re showing the filming of a movie depicting the historical event... That’s a neat twist

I like what you did with the propeller...cool!

Very cool I like the concept as Tman stated. You have put a lot of thought
and effort into this diorama, nice work!

The prop blurs add to the entire scene, does give the illusion of movement.
until now...never heard of them. Cool link below:

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