The owner of a full-size Lancaster cockpit replica hopes it won’t be bombed when it’s up for auction

THE owner of a full-size Lancaster cockpit replica is hoping it won’t bomb when it’s auctioned for £150,000.

Norman Groom, 85, spent six years building the 6ft by 15ft bomber in his garage.

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The retired electronics engineer traveled the country in the 1990s to track down and acquire all original equipment from aero flea markets.

The navigation table even contains wartime astronomical books and charts that would have been used by the crew at the time.

Beds single Norman said: “Every rivet is in the right place.”

The inspiration for the build came when he met a friend at an Aero flea market in 1990 who started rebuilding an old bomber.

After deciding to build the aircraft from scratch, he was granted off-hours access to the Imperial War Museum in London to take close-up photos and draw up plans for his project.

During the process he had to build an extension to his garage to house the aircraft parts.

He hopes it will be exhibited at Flints Auctions, Newbury, Berks after today’s sale.

The replica will go under the hammer at Flints Auctions, Newbury.

Auctioneer Matt Nunn said: “It is a truly unique and amazing object that is offered for sale.

“This is the best that people can get from owning one of these legendary planes right now.”

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