Lance Cooke starts smiling as he reaches for the "green ghost" model proudly displayed in the kitchen of his Gunning home.
The Beaufighter wasn't the World War II veteran's first choice but the 95-year-old fell in love, which is why you'll find pictures and models around his home.
"I wanted to be a mechanic on the mighty spitfire," Mr Cooke said.
"[But] I got posted into a squadron and it happened to be the Beaufighter squadron, the old spits could go but they weren't near as good as the Beaufighters."
Mr Cooke and his fellow veterans will take a moment to reflect on Saturday - the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. He will take part in a special service at the Australian War Memorial on Saturday morning.
The Australian Air Force leading aircraftman still remembers the murmurs of Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945.
He was stationed at Labuan as a 20-year-old when gossip started through the latrines of soldiers, colloquially known as the latrine wireless. Mr Cooke has the day documented in a diary.
"I have in the diary I got called out of bed at 9pm at night to go down and service the planes, they were going out the next morning," he said.
"They had me up at 5am the next morning to go and see the planes out."
Mr Cooke had heard through the latrine wireless the reasons for the flights were to send a message to the Commander in Chief of the Japanese Army in Borneo Masao Baba, who had wanted to negotiate terms of the surrender.
"As far as the Allies were concerned unconditional meant unconditional and they wanted to talk terms ... but as far as the surrender was it was unconditional and I think they had the planes up for the express purpose, they weren't bluffing," he said.
Mr Cooke joined the Royal Australian Air Force in January 1943. He went through a series of training courses in Tocumwal, Ultimo, Melbourne and Tamworth before he was deployed to Borneo as an aircraft mechanic. He left for Borneo on Mother's Day 1945.
When the war finished, the job of the soldiers continued. However, Mr Cooke soon heard news that would bring him home but it wasn't easy to get leave.
"My dad had bowel cancer and he had never mentioned he wanted to see me while the war was on but then he expressed a wish he wanted to see me," he said.
"I was his shadow when I was little so I applied for a posting out."
When he took it to the orderly officer, Mr Cooke was told to tear up the application and put it in the bin as the chances were so low. But thanks to a loyal squadron leader he was able to get leave.
In fact, his leave was given the highest priority possible and Mr Cooke returned to Australia on November 19, 1945. He was able to spend time with his father in his final weeks - he died on January 1, 1946.
Mr Cooke's love of airplanes has remained steadfast and was even passed down to his son who is a pilot.
Mr Cooke will attend the commemorations with his daughter.
