Aviation fan turns RAF Coningsby Typhoon into 6,000-piece Lego model

The scale-model of the RAF Coningsby-based aircraft is more than a metre long and measures 73cm in width.

It took about 500 hours to complete, spread over a period of six months or so.

The skilled Lego architect behind it is James Cherry, 45, of West Sussex, husband to Jo and father to 10-year-old Fox.

James, who works for a computer games company, is a member of the UK Lego club Brickish and creates highly detailed models out of Lego bricks to display at shows.

Aviation provides the inspiration for the builds, with each taking about six months from start to finish.

“I grew up always wanting to be fighter pilot,” James said. “I was in the Air Training Corps and intended to join the RAF when I left university, but for various reasons that never happened. I have maintained a very deep interest in military aviation and love studying aircraft in depth. This forms the basis of all my Lego builds.

“I consume as much information as I can find on an aircraft, then find the best scale drawings available and blow them up to the correct scale, mostly 1/15. I also will build an Airfix-style model kit so that I can get an understanding of the 3D shaping and, if possible, visit a real aircraft at a museum to take photos.”

Having recently worked on US aircraft, James decided to focus on British machines this year.

“I decided to start with the Eurofighter Typhoon as it is the current frontline RAF fighter and presented quite a challenge with its unusual shaping,” he said.

James, of course, does not have an instruction book to follow for his creations, but neither does he take advantage of computer software to guide the build.

“I build in bricks only (many people design Lego models now in digital programs first) and so go through a very long process of trial and error to get each part of the model as accurate as I can and to maintain the necessary structural integrity that it doesn’t fall apart!” he said.

To complete the build, he adds custom canopies, stickers and decals.

Once they have been shown, the models are boxed up and put into storage – although James hopes an alternative home could be found for the Typhoon, perhaps at an aviation museum or at RAF Coningsby itself.

He said: “I would love to have the chance to display the Typhoon somewhere more long term if possible. And perhaps even have the opportunity to take some pictures of it with a real 11 Squadron Typhoon at Coningsby!”

You can see more of James’ creations on his Flickr photostream.