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PLANE enthusiast Barry Smith has included his love of 1940s music in his latest project a life-sized model airplane with sound decks in its cockpit.

Mr Smith, from Hundon near Haverhill, started building his aircraft last autumn, but after his measurements went adrift he had to take a wall off his conservatory to get it out.

The replica twin-engined Beechcraft was completed in his garage. It had its first outing last Saturday when it was taken by trailer to Hundon Village Hall for a dance.

It was so successful that Mr Smith plans to use it for future events, including another dance at Hundon on December 15.

With his background in the RAF and with BOAC, Mr Smith has created a working replica with working engines and propellers, which does everything but fly.

He estimates he has spent about 1,000 hours and around £5,000 creating his fantasy plane, but now plans to make it the centre of a Silver Bird Music Show.

"I had to take the side off the garage to get it in. It is about 22 feet wide and I only had about 12 inches to get by when I was working on it, so it was very tight. Saturday was the first time I had seen it built from a distance. I was really pleased, it looked excellent, very dramatic," Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith and a colleague sit in the cockpit of the plane to play music of the period, including Glen Miller, waltzes and lively jitterbugs.
His wife Joy is also a Second World War enthusiast. The plane can be dismantled and reassembled in local halls and anyone interested should contact Mr Smith on (01440) 786360.

CAPTION: On the road … Barry Smith, with his replica model plane that also doubles as a music centre. Mr Smith prefers 1940s and 1950s music.