Watch This Astonishing WWII Aircraft Replica Crafted From Scrap Materials

A Builder with a Passion for History

In Bowmanville, Ontario, a retired millwright named Ian Barron spends his days surrounded by full-size aircraft replicas that look like they’ve come straight out of a World War II airfield. For Barron, history and engineering blend into something remarkable. A lifelong builder and welder, he has transformed his backyard into a museum of metal and imagination. “No, I didn’t find them,” he says when asked about his planes. “I built them. And no, I’m not a pilot — I just like planes.”

Before retirement, Barron worked in a power station maintaining mechanical systems, welding, machining, and fabricating. Now, he uses those same skills to create life-size versions of famous aircraft and vehicles. His collection includes replicas of a 1916 Sopwith Camel, a 1918 Fokker Dr.1 triplane, a 1944 Spitfire Mk IX, a 1944 Messerschmitt Me 109G, and even a Sherman tank. Each piece is hand-built from recycled materials, turning what others might discard into museum-quality war machines.

From Spare Parts to Flying Legends

Barron builds every project from scratch, using scrap metal and discarded items. Galvanized fence posts become landing gear, jack posts are transformed into cannons, and even parts of old coffee tables and swimming pools find new life on his aircraft. “If you stick to using recycled stuff, you can keep the cost down,” he explains. Over the years, he estimates that he has recycled about 40 swimming pools to complete his projects.

His creative process starts with a small plastic model — usually at a 1:32 scale — which he measures carefully, then enlarges to full size. “I can’t pick the coolest thing,” he says with a smile. “I think they’re all cool.” Among his favorite builds are the trio of WWII planes — the German Me 109G painted in ace pilot Adolf Galland’s markings, the British Spitfire Mk IX, and the rugged Hawker Hurricane. Each one carries its own story, built entirely from the odds and ends of ordinary life.

Tribute and Legacy in Metal

Barron’s passion extends beyond planes. He also constructed a full-size Sherman Firefly tank, built around the frame of an old 1989 Chevy Silverado. The project is deeply personal. “My father was a tank mechanic in the Canadian Army, so I did the tank as a tribute to my dad,” he shares softly. Though his father has long passed, the tank stands as a heartfelt reminder of his service.

At 70, Barron shows no signs of slowing down. His property, which he calls Model A Acres Bed and Breakfast, doubles as a museum for visitors eager to see his work up close. With a laugh, he hints that his next project is “confidential and restricted,” but promises that something special is always on the way. For him, building these planes isn’t about fame or money — it’s about keeping history alive, one piece of scrap metal at a time.

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