​​​​​​​Airplane art for sale?

 

BY ROB POOLEY

Though a local engineer for 20 years, on retiring John Davey found he still needed a ‘project’. 

Typically, one thing leads to another but John was initially attracted by a propeller from the genuine crash of a twin-engine plane – fortunately without casualty. It was offered on Trade Me and John perceived a special kind of ‘garden art’. 

No mistake, the prop is an eclectic piece of work as the twists, bends and concrete or runway scrapes  are the real thing
“You just simply couldn’t replicate them,” says John.

So, in buying the prop what then? Rather than mount it on a pole or some such John decided to try his hand at aeroplane building. Using Kiwi ingenuity and a fertile imagination he now has the makings of the forward section of a WW2 fighter plane. 

The dimensions are pretty much true and correct but the parts are bits and pieces very cleverly sourced and put together to resemble a fighter plane, right down to the result of an engine fire and bullet holes in the body and cockpit canopy. 

The engine, while looking genuine is also the result of cleverly arranged bits and pieces. A control panel sports a myriad of dials, switches and gauges one could imagine as temperature, wind and flying speeds, altimeter and a whole lot more and shows an amazing eye for detail.
Surprisingly John found his engineering skills could only take him so far. 

“The bodywork is all riveted aluminium sheeting but I had to learn a new trade, that of reverse curving in shaping the bodywork and where it meets the wing,” he says.

To this he credits YouTube. 

“YouTube is a marvellous thing” he adds “There is nothing that is not on video and explained in the most intricate detail.” 

And of course the part-plane is finished in the camo colour of the day, commonly known as Olive Drab.

Unfortunaltely that’s where our story must end. While the ‘plane’ is shed stored at Mangawhai, John and his wife have moved to a townhouse in Taupo – not really the place for such a toy – so it will probably soon appear on Trade Me, but anyone with a kiwi DIY mentality, a dash of cryptic foresight and with an interest in planes might just find their special project.