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How much do you have????

Posted by bdk on Thu Aug 29, 2002 02:39:28 PM

In reply top How much would these fibreglass replicas cost? posted by Jagan on Thu Aug 29, 2002 05:36:56 AM

I was told it would cost about $100k for a P-47 replica (retail) due to the amount of engine detailing required and significantly less for a P-51. The display standard matters a lot. An aircraft that will be blown up for a movie (and only seen for a split second) does not have to be as detailed as an aircraft for permanent outdoor display. Also, an aircraft that is hung for display is cheaper because the landing gear doesn't need to be detailed and the structural requirements are less.

There was a fellow in the UK offering fiberglass Spitfires a while back on Barnstormers.

The market is so specialized for these replicas, that I think the price varies a lot. I know a guy that has a mold for a P-51, but if you wanted one he wouldn't do it because he is too busy working on real airplanes.

Fiberglass work of this type can be done by mostly unskilled labor if you have a decent shop foreman. You need a good mold, which requires either a real airplane to copy (Mr. Grey, can I borrow your Spitfire for a few weeks?) or a plug to make the mold from. With all the environmental regulations in the US, it is becoming increasingly difficult to work with these resins and they are expensive because the shells need to be thick enough to support their own weight and any loads from handling. For a display aircraft, you would need to have a nice canopy made and you would have to have the same quality paint job that an airworthy aircraft would require to make it look decent.

For the less sophisticated consumer/patron/guest/visitor to your museum, you could build a plywood frame like a giant tissue paper covered model and screw sheet metal on the outside and call it a Zero (like I saw in China). :-)

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: How much would a fibreglass spitfire cost? What are the co
: sts involved?

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