Lakewood resident Bob Craine's passion for history has seen him recreate a model plane to pay tribute to events from 75 years ago.
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In 1944 the world's biggest comedian, Bob Hope, made an emergency landing in the Camden Haven River.
Hope and his fellow entertainers had been touring the Pacific and entertaining US troops in WW2.
The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing of the Catalina.
Mr Craine's model plane will be on display at the annual festival Slice of Haven on Sunday, May 26 at the Camden Haven River foreshore. The event is on from 10am until 4pm.
The food and wine festival is paying tribute to Bob Hope's landing through its theme of "It's not Hollywood, but..."
Mr Craine was born in the same year as Hope's emergency landing and grew up hearing stories about the incident.
He said it's great the Slice of Haven is paying tribute to what he described as a 'real action' historical event.
Mr Craine said he discovered a Catalina model kit in 2006 and said it's as close as possible in design to the one that Bob Hope would have flown in.
"The colour is a bit different as Bob Hope's was bleached by the sun," he said.
Mr Craine's model has been on display at the Camden Haven Historical Museum, where it hangs from the ceiling.
The model can float and move along the water, operated by a remote control.
Mr Craine would like to make further adjustments so the Catalina model might also fly.
Bob Craine will be at Slice of Haven from late morning to showcase the model plane at low tide near the foreshore.
Historian Mitch McKay will also be at Slice of Haven to tell some of the stories from the 1944 event. His book "It's not Hollywood, but..." will be available for purchase at the festival.
The Camden Haven Historical Society plans to mark the 75th anniversary of the emergency landing in August.
For more information about the Slice of Haven festival please visit www.sliceofhaven.com.au
