The birth of a concept: “WE BUILD HERITAGE”

Military history seemed fatefully intertwined with Gilles’ own life well before his illnesses. While in college, Gilles devoured every WWII book from his school’s library, mostly ETO air war. Fifty years later, Gilles had an inspiration; during WWII, the father of Michael Munzar, a university mate and now his doctor, was severely injured on take-off at RAF Tain, flying as navigator of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator, 311 Squadron, part of RAF Coastal Command’s anti-submarine mission off the shores of Scapa Flow; not knowing what to get, as a Christmas present, for his long-time friend, Gilles opted to build the venerable Monogram 1:48 scale B-24J and gift this exact scale replica to Michael, unbeknownst to him, placing it on Michael’s dining-room table, with the complicity of the Munzar housekeeper while he was away on holidays.

Which gave Gilles the idea for We Build Heritage (WBH), a concept for the Montreal Aviation Museum. The recipient of a commissioned aircraft model would donate a certain amount of money to the Montreal Aviation Museum (MAM), where Gilles was a volunteer, in exchange for a specific aircraft model; the ‘profit’ would remain with the museum, and the recipient would receive a fully tax-deductible receipt in the amount of that ‘profit’. Over the course of three years, Gilles accumulated well over $10 000.00 in such ‘profits’, a tidy sum for a donation-only funded small museum. In all, Gilles and his team built over 20 models, the 1:72 Airfix Avro Lancaster B.II being the most in demand.

​

“To get into the hobby is absolutely terrific. Especially if your job is 100% cerebral. You come home and do something concrete, that you can see and touch; it is extremely gratifying. Added benefit: your spouse will know where and with whom you are!”

Gilles’ first large scale model: AIRFIX 1:24 HAWKER TYPHOON Mk.Ib (late)

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Gilles’ next project was a big one. After learning about a former RAF Hawker Typhoon pilots’ story, he felt compelled to recreate his exact aircraft in 1:24 scale, down to the personalised code letters on the side- SA-Q. Squadron Leader Peter Roper flew Hawker Typhoons Mk.Ib (late) during World War Two and actually ‘borrowed’ his commanding officer’s personal aircraft in a bid to “get in the fray” on 7^th June 1944. He was shot down by light flak, injured, captured and then liberated by Patton’s Third Army. He ended up back in Canada as a doctor, after surviving the war, and it was there that Gilles and Squadron Leader Roper would meet for the first time, and become fast friends.

Gilles tells us that even though there are no photographs of the Typhoons he flew during WWII, when Peter Roper saw a very large photographic reproduction of Gilles’ 1:48 scale Hasegawa rendition of SA-Q, he asked “Gilles, where in the world did you find this 1944 photograph of my Tiffie?”

Gilles actually went on to use the Airfix Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib (late) kit to recreate the original aircraft. He enjoyed the project and build so much that he extensively detailed the process in a review of the Airfix Typhoon which you can read here if you would like to know more.

Once the model was completed, RAFM Hendon caught wind of Gilles’ project and reached out to the pair, to offer a once in a lifetime opportunity. As luck would have it, the only surviving Hawker Typhoon was currently on loan to and displayed at the Canadian Air and Space Museum in Ottawa, Canada; on the occasion of Peter Roper’s 92^nd birthday, the gallant warrior was allowed to sit in the cockpit of the Typhoon. Ottawa even built a ten-inch cushion for Peter; as most of you know, pilots would be boosted higher naturally from sitting on their parachutes and dinghies. Gilles tells us that Peter sat in that cockpit for over two hours, reminiscing quietly to himself, and it was quite a sight to behold.

Gilles’ 1:24 SA-Q Hawker Typhoon model is now in a museum in Normandy, France- Musée de la bataille de Tilly-sur-Seulles. It is eagerly awaiting repairs, as it was unfortunately damaged in transit.

Airfix 1:72 Avro Lancaster diorama: RAF Linton-on-Ouse

You can read the full military history of Squadron Leader Malcolm Dalton Loucks here. 

His next large project was to honour Squadron Leader Malcolm Dalton Loucks, the father of Gilles’ university hallmate. Intrigued by the history and buoyed by his own personal connection to the subject matter, Gilles began work on recreating a 1:72 scale diorama of RAF Linton-on-Ouse (Yorkshire), where Squadron Leader Loucks had admirably served as Senior Flying Control Officer (and occasional but unofficial Lancaster crew member) all those years before. 

Gilles often mixes and matches well-known kits to act as a base for his masterpieces. From there, he’ll modify the individual pieces until they have a level of detail he’s content with. In this diorama, some of you might recognise the Airfix Airfield Control Tower in 1:76, which Gilles has co-opted for his own use. To quote the man himself in one of our emails, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, and Gilles has found himself reaching for all manner of items to finish his builds. After some trial and error, he eventually settled on pipe cleaners, stripped of their white fuzz by fire, as metal railings on the Control Tower. You can learn more about this build here. 

If you cast your eye a little further afield, you might also notice the NAAFI Beverage Van, which Gilles customised from an Airfix 1:76 WWII ambulance. Gilles worked closely with Squadron Leader Loucks’ son Ron, to ensure this diorama was as historically accurate as possible. 

Photograph: W. Mark Roe

1:24 Airfix (modified) DH Mosquito FB.VI

Gilles left MAM as a volunteer in 2018 in order to pursue more ambitious modelling projects; however, the program he successfully created lives on.

Armed with a seemingly endless amount of determination, Gilles immediately looked ahead to his next big venture. Motivated to continue with modelling, as by then he had become quite the artist, Gilles decided to begin accepting private elaborate commissions. Each project that Gilles threw himself into, became a labour of love, as to be able to fully capture the magic of the story behind each aircraft, he needed to insert himself into their history and thoroughly research each one.

Gilles’ next project centered around the famous De Havilland Mosquito LR503 ‘F for Freddie’ Pathfinder, holder of the greatest number of missions flown by any Allied bomber during WWII (213 missions); he aimed to create a diorama scene of the Mosquito as it tested its engines at Calgary airport (Alberta, Canada) on 10th May 1945, just one hour before it was destroyed in a tragic flying accident, while on a bond-raising tour of Canada.

Photograph: W. Mark Roe

Recreating a famous photograph of the scene which was taken from the top of the control tower whilst the airport’s illustrious visitor was being prepared for flight, the build not only challenged Gilles’ modelling skills, but also posed some electronic difficulties. You can read the full story and 109-page review here. You can also read the article that Airfix wrote about the project, four years ago, here.

Gilles described that the inspiration for the project was not only the famous historical photographs that exist of the Mosquito’s Calgary visit, but also his friendship with the Chief of Operations of the Montreal Aviation Museum, Eric Campbell. Eric’s father, Lionel, was a Leading aircraftman in the RCAF and was at Calgary airport on 10th May 1945 where he witnessed the tragic events that took place. His recollections and the story of ‘F for Freddie’ LR503 gave his son a fascination for all things Mosquito, and Gilles thought that this would be a fitting project.

Using the current 1:24 scale De Havilland Mosquito FB.VI kit as his base model, the project involved some conversion work to turn the model into a B. Mk. IX. Trying to recreate the scene photographed in May 1945, he needed several scale figurines and a scratch-built ladder in order to reproduce the scene, along with a rather spectacular display case to house the model once it had been completed. Determined to add realism to the build, Gilles installed two 1.5v Airfix electric motors in the engines, allowing the props to turn, and two sound cards to simulate the sound of Merlin engines. Turn up the volume and enjoy the 50 second video you will find in the introduction of the above link.

Health Misadventures

Gilles’ heart attack and resulting health issues, put a temporary stop to his modelling exploits whilst he recovered. As soon as he was able to, Gilles turned his attention to financially support the hospital which saved his life using, as you will see, his modelling skills.

“I recently suffered a heart attack/life-threatening respiratory distress which, mercifully, did not paralyze me, thus allowing me to continue building model aircraft, a passion described on my website, Heritage Model Aircraft.

However, everything I do now requires some additional planning, and takes a tad longer to accomplish. Incidentally, my airbrushing respirator mask reminds me of the BiPAP oxygen mask I had to wear for many long days at the hospital; that BiPAP mask, and its associated forced breathing equipment, was instrumental in saving my life”.

Heroes one and all

“The nearly one hundred members of the Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU) staff of the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) whom, over the course of my 10-week hospitalization, brought me back to life; my appreciation and esteem for their dedication grew exponentially with each passing day; due to Covid-19, they were risking their well-being (and that of their families), all for total strangers.”

“I had to do much more than simply thanking them verbally. Contributing to their X-mas party was out of the question ("No X-mas party; Covid-19"). In any case, that concept felt too impersonal to me. By the end of my stay, my aircraft modelling activities were known to some of the staff members, so I proposed building a 1:32 scale CF-104 Starfighter and gifting it to the MUHC Foundation in order to raise much-needed funds. Appropriately, Starfighter sums up succinctly the CICU staff's courage; to boot, the CF-104 Starfighter is my favorite Cold War era aircraft, and my signature model. On its fuselage, "CICU" will replace "704", and "MUHC" will replace "RCAF". This model, or a model of any other aircraft, is essentially an excuse for a well-heeled philanthropist to financially support the MUHC Foundation, and can be obtained for a minimum of $25 000.00; a fully deductible tax receipt for the donation amount will be issued by the Foundation.”

Photograph: W. Mark Roe 1:32 scale CF-104 “12704”, on permanent display at the Montreal Aviation Museum, 2018 

Meanwhile, back at the MUHC ranch...  

“Confined to an ICU bed, I kept my spirits up by planning, in my mind, the details of the modelling obligations to which I was already committed prior to my hospital sojourn. Today, 6 months later, the length of my ‘runway’ being rather uncertain, I am eternally grateful for my modelling activities, which are keeping me optimistic and with purpose. If all goes to plan, I likely will be cremated still holding a dispenser of Humbrol Precision Cement in my hand!”

Despite the incredible artistry you see in the photographs we have included of Gilles’ completed projects, he remains resolutely humble. Rather than reflect too heavily on his own accomplishments, he is eager for others to catch the modelling bug, and help them out as well. He refutes our claims that what he does looks “very difficult” and, instead, gives a practical response:

“Talent, you say? Just a small contribution to the recipe for modelling success. The main ingredients are experience, imagination, persistence, patience, and ownership of the right tools and selection of “spices” (paints, thinners, and so on). Having your better half’s consent for you to have a workshop “person-cave” helps. And put the clock away, though you may occasionally require an egg-timer.”

His yet to be completed magnum opus: a 1:32 scale B-17G “297533” diorama, destined for Washington, DC, honouring Lieutenant Lester Sorensen, USAAF

This self-inflicted challenge is to honour Lieutenant Lester Sorensen, USAAF. Despite his illness, Gilles looks to the future with scale modelling on the mind. He refuses to dwell on the ‘what ifs’ of his uncertain situation and instead chooses to focus on his next big projects. His most ambitious upcoming project: a 1:32 scale B-17G diorama of the morning of August 24, 1944, as it was being readied for, as it turned out, its final mission; it was brought down by 88mm flak as it approached Berlin; this diorama is destined for Washington, DC.  Here are some of its features, illustrating the complexity of the project:

“1:32 scale model of Boeing B-17G-15-VE “297533”, with fully functional electronics by SmartFx. Sequenced Wright Cyclone engine starts, with prototypical Cyclone “coughing”, four sound boards and four speakers, one for each engine; the accumulation of the starting sequence engine sounds will be progressive, prototypical, and loud. Operating flaps; navigation, landing, formation, cockpit, bombardier, upper turret, tail gunner position, radio compartment, bomb bay and mid-fuselage lights will all turn on and off in sequence. The 12VAC power to the model will be supplied through an umbilical cable from the accumulator trolley, both prototypical. The full one button or remote-control activated sequence is +/- 3 minutes long.

The model itself is a kit by Hong Kong Models (01E030), with all aftermarket components available. Model wingspan: 39.25", length: 30". Squadron code letters: WFE. 365 Bombardment Squadron, based at RAF Chelveston; 305 Bombardment Group ("Can Do"), USAAF “Mighty Eight” Air Force. The model and diorama took five years to plan, research and build. The research includes visits to the offices of SmartFx in Rugby, Warwickshire (UK), the American Air Museum and Imperial War Museum Duxford, both in Duxford (UK), and the National Museum of the Mighty Eight Air Force, in Pooler, Georgia (USA). Diorama: 48” x 48” x 16"; weight: +/- 160 pounds.”

You can learn more about this project here and here. 

Gilles is also a frequent contributor to the well-known, among all modellers, online Scale Modelling Now magazine, based in the UK. We heartily recommend having a read of some of his reviews before your next build. 

We at Airfix would like to thank Gilles for his commitment to this article. It has been an absolute pleasure corresponding on all matters aviation and we hope we will all continue to benefit from Gilles’ ingenuity for many years to come!

Gilles' Gallery

1:48 Kinetic F-5A, modified to CF-116A “216”, as flown by Major Laurence Sianchuk

1:48 Monogram F-101B, modified to CF-101 “006”, as flown by Lt. Col. John Lawson. You can read the fascinating “Recollection of CF-101006” John Lawson penned here.

Photograph: W. Mark Roe 1:48 Tamiya Vought F4U-1A Corsair, as Pappy Boyington’s “86 Lulubelle”

1:48 Hobbycraft CT-114 Tutor “093”, as flown by F/L David Leier

1:72 Lancaster B.II smaller diorama, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, for Ronald C. Loucks

1:48 GWH T-33, modified to CT-133 “423”, as flown by F/L David Leier

1:144 Air Canada Boeing 747-100 “304”, as flown by Captain Clint Ward