A remarkable scale model of an iconic de Havilland DH-9A biplane that took to the skies in the First World War has emerged for sale for a whopping £50,000.
The stunning quarter-scale model aircraft boasts a 10ft wingspan, is 8ft long and stands 3ft high and will be sold by Dominic Winter Auctions, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
Its clever creator, Peter McDermott, painstakingly recreated in forensic detail every part over several years to exactly replicate an actual DH-9, J-7086 that served in the RAF.
A remarkable scale model of an iconic de Havilland DH-9A biplane (pictured) that took to the skies in the First World War has emerged for sale for a whopping £50,000
The majestic model was built from scratch by Peter McDermott (pictured wearing a hat left), an internationally renowned model engineer who completed the project in 2009
The stunning quarter-scale model aircraft boasts a 10ft wingspan, is 8ft long and stands 3ft high and will be sold by Dominic Winter Auctions, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Peter painstakingly recreated in forensic detail every part over several years to exactly replicate an actual DH-9, J-7086 that served in the RAF
The remote controlled plane is fashioned from silk-covered spruce wood and metal and has been fitted with a working engine and flying controls
The remote controlled plane is fashioned from silk-covered spruce wood and metal and has been fitted with a working engine and flying controls.
The inside of the cockpit is identical to how it would have looked to a fighter pilot a century ago with all the handles and levers fitted which were present in the original plane.
The creator has even added hinge lines to the engine to create a more authentic look.
The plane has its own mock machine gun and a 2ft tall mannequin pilot sits in the cockpit. When fully charged, it can fly for several hours.
The creator has even added hinge lines to the engine to create a more authentic look
Peter used photos he acquired of the aircraft to inform his design and visited numerous RAF museums to study old planes in his quest for perfection
The inside of the cockpit (pictured) is identical to how it would have looked to a fighter pilot a century ago with all the handles and levers fitted which were present in the original plane
The model plane was purchased from Peter by a British private collector who has exhibited it in competitions around the world and has now decided to put it on the market
The majestic model was built from scratch by Peter, an internationally renowned model engineer who completed the project in 2009.
He produced a replica of the J7086 ‘B’ light bomber of the No 47 Squadron of the Royal Air Force that flew during the First World War and subsequently over Egypt during the 1920s.
Peter used photos he acquired of the aircraft to inform his design and visited numerous RAF museums to study old planes in his quest for perfection.
The model plane was purchased from Peter by a British private collector who has exhibited it in competitions around the world and has now decided to put it on the market.
Introduced in 1918, the de Havilland DH9A was an improved version of the DH9 which was plagued with reliability issues during the First World War
The original design was modified and fitted with a more powerful American V-12 Liberty engine. In contrast to its predecessor the DH9A gained a reputation for its constant reliability. The model was based on the middle aircraft pictured
The replica aircraft has been described in a leading scale modelling magazine as ‘a once in a generation model that defies superlatives’
Henry Meadows, specialist at Dominic Winter Auctions, which is selling the plane, said: ‘The collector has a keen interest in scale models and believes this is the best scale aircraft model in the world’
‘Its quality speaks for itself and it has been exhibited in various competitions. It is a fantastic model of an iconic aircraft and I believe it is unique. I love the little mannequin who sits in the cockpit as if he were flying it,’ added Henry Meadows.
Peter moved the model around in trailers (pictured) when he travelled across Europe competing in competitions
It has been described in a leading scale modelling magazine as ‘a once in a generation model that defies superlatives’.
Henry Meadows, specialist at Dominic Winter Auctions, which is selling the plane, said: ‘The collector has a keen interest in scale models and believes this is the best scale aircraft model in the world.
‘Its quality speaks for itself and it has been exhibited in various competitions. It is a fantastic model of an iconic aircraft and I believe it is unique. I love the little mannequin who sits in the cockpit as if he were flying it!’
The auction takes place on Wednesday January 31.
The auction takes place on Wednesday January 31 and the ‘once in a generation model’ will be sold for £50,000
The DH9A saw extensive service after the war, in Iraq and on the North West Frontier of India and was known for its reliability
The original was used late on in the War and saw limited service but went on to form the backbone of the Royal Air Force’s post-war colonial bombing force – here one is flying over Egypt
After the First World War, the aircraft had an aerial policing role effectively reducing the need for large numbers of ground troops
Not only were the aircrafts popular in Great Britain but nearly 4000 had been ordered during the war by America. It was retired in 1931 as engineers turned their attention to designing jets
The plane has its own mock machine gun and a 2ft tall mannequin pilot sits in the cockpit. When fully charged, it can fly for several hours