MANY people enjoy piecing together model planes. Ethan Guy, 13, of Morisset Park, is working on a doozy.
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Ethan has become the youngest person to join the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association volunteers.
Ethan has joined his grandfather, Peter March, 71, among the dedicated group of men and women working to restore a PBY Catalina, dubbed Our Girl.
The association's hope is that the restored aircraft will become the focal point of a static display and musuem at Rathmines.
Mr March, a former mechanical engineer of 45 years, said Ethan had been welcomed by the group and given a tour of the restoration site at Kilaben Bay, and told about the project's history.
"He comes here one day a week to do some work experience and get his hands dirty," Mr March said.
So what, exactly, has Ethan been doing?
"Whatever Pa tells me to do," he said, quick as you like.
Ethan is learning how to repair and restore components to be reinstalled in the aircraft. And he's picking up handy skills in the process.
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Mr March recommended the restoration site as a place where young people could gain valuable life experience, too.
"It's a chance for [young people] to see what goes on away from the world of technology," Mr March said.
He said he'd enjoyed spending time at the restoration site among skilled volunteers who were generous in sharing their knowledge and experience.
"They're all good blokes, all retired, and everyone has different experience and skills - in everything from painting to sheet metal work," he said.
Mr March said the rebuild was progressing nicely, having been slowed initially by weathered components.
"Corrosion was a really big problem. Everything was rusted tight and worn away," he said.
Ethan agrees that it looks promising for Our Girl.
"I think it'll look really good when it's painted and fully restored," he said.
Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association president Bill Anderson said it was terrific to see Ethan join the crew.
It was good business practice to have younger people coming through the organisation and gaining experience, he said.
"All of the people involved in the restoration work are over the age of 60, so we're keen to see younger members taking an interest in the project," he said.
And while the current volunteers were committed to seeing the project right through to fruition, they wouldn't be around for ever, Mr Anderson said.
"In the fullness of time, it's important to have younger people coming through to take on future roles," he said. "Whatever they may be."
Mr Anderson emphasised that while mostly men were involved in the restoration work, women were also very much a part of the RCMPA team.
"We would certainly encourage more women to get involved," he said.
Visit rathmines-catalina.com.
