A STOURPORT man has won a prize at a European competition for model makers of flying machines with an unorthodox design.

Rich Harris, 38, picked up the Technical Achievement Trophy at the Inter-Ex 2011 event held in Boissy, France earlier this month.

He entered the competition with a quarter-scale model of the Little Nellie autogyro from the James Bond film You Only Live Twice.

Mr Harris flies with two of the region’s oldest flying clubs – Severn Spinners Model Radio Controlled Society and Oldington Flying Club.

He said: “I was very surprised when they announced that I had won. I was a little embarrassed at the time but on reflection I am very proud of it.”

Mr Harris was also able to work with Ken Wallis, 95, who designed, built and flew the original Little Nellie and appeared as Sean Connery’s double during flying scenes in the 1967 film.

“I met Ken a few times over the last couple of years,” said Mr Harris. “He helped me by supplying his 1960s drawings of the aircraft along with letting me take dimensions of the full-size one so I could replicate the original.”

The model took six months to complete and was constructed mainly from carbon fibre and aluminium.

Its fuselage was made from fibre glass from a carved foam mould by Mr Harris and the Ken Wallis pilot was made from foam with a latex-moulded head.

Mr Harris added: “This is an achievement that I am very proud of. I just hope it drives a little more interest into our great hobby in these very unnerving times.”

The Brintons worker is currently building a half-scale version of the Little Nellie which he plans to enter in to the British version of the competition.