Airplane model donated to aircraft association

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For more than a decade, Louis Weiss has dedicated himself to the craft of model making.

From St. Peter's Basilica to Ottawa's Parliament building, the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue resident spends months to years finishing a piece, making sure to pay close attention to detail.

One of his latest models, that of a Halifax Bomber, was presented to the Halifax Aircraft Association earlier this month.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Weiss worked as a tool and dye maker after moving to Israel.

The 81-year-old joined the Canadian Sculpture Society when he settled in Toronto in 1976.

"In the early '90s I began making models," said Weiss, adding St. Peter's Basilica, which took three years to finish, is his favourite. "I did all the drawings and made all the models."

Weiss spent seven months working on his hand-held model, complete with motor, of the Halifax Bomber in a workshop in his condominium, adding it will be one of the last models he'll make as he's decided to retire.

"This is the first airplane model I've made," he said. "I'm happy with it. For every piece I did, I never made a penny."

The Halifax Bomber all but disappeared after the Second World War.

Of the 6,000 planes built, only three remain today, one of which is under restoration by the Halifax Aircraft Association and is stored at the Royal Canadian Air Force Memorial Museum in Trenton.