[Image: Google Earth]

If your hobby is modelling, wouldn’t a lifelike 1/1 scale replica of your favourite aircraft be an ultimate expression of your interest? James May of BBC made a well-publicised TV show along this idea, but he really wasn’t the first to embark on such an undertaking.

Aviation nut Barry Wallond from Cornwall has so far built two 1/1 scale Spitfire replicas – alone. One of the “models” is being displayed in his garden, shown above. The garden is located adjacent to Newquay Airport  - fromerly RAF St Mawgan. Recently replainted, Mr. Wallond’s “model” represents a Spitfire Mk. IXC in the markings of ZF-Z of a Polish unit.

However impressive, this model hasn’t been a one-off undertaking – Barry is also a happy builder of another Spitfire replica, this time  a Mk. I, held at nearby airport and transported to various displays around the country. It has been also used in film productions, including the recent BBC drama documentary First Light.

Barry Wallond’s Spitfire Mk. I replica as featured in a recent BBC movie
[Courtesy Lion TV]

The builder estimates that both models cost around £100,000 to complete. The Spitfire in the garden has become a local landmark and attracts around 1,000 visitors each season.

• More images and information can be found in this recent article from The Sun:
  http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3134142/Man-builds-lifesize-Spitfire-in-his-back-garden.html

• …and even more photos of the model at Flickr:
  http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=spitfire+newquay&z=e