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Re: I´m beginning to understand ......

Posted by PeterA on Thu Oct 24, 2002 06:19:31 AM

In reply top I´m beginning to understand ...... posted by Christer on Wed Oct 23, 2002 06:57:45 PM

Christer,
What I said was - '2.4 x the number of the initial estimate of the potential purchaser'. That is difference that the customer 'thought' it might cost or time it might take initially compared to the actual, not what he was quoted by the rebuilder/restorer.
Despite what Mick from Australia has posted subsequently, nobody in the UK got too 'fat' on rebuilding Spitfires and other Warbirds. History shows a trail of small businesses that have failed or gone through very lean times over the past twenty plus years.
The fact is that in pure engineering terms, and speaking for Spitfires, they are grossly undervalued for the complexity and magnitude of the engineering. You just cannot rebuild this amount of complexity, with all the requirements of the CAA, with realistic hourly labour rates and make a viable business case. Some of the results of those who cut corners in the endeavour are the subject of this forum, insuffucient inpsection checks, insufficient investment in jigs and fixtures, work being re-done for the second and third time etc.
For my part I have encouraged several of the small businesses to sharpen up and have provided Project Management Technicques from the 'prototyping' motor industry, to control and monitor these projects and give the customer more confidence.
Some will disagree I am sure but if the the people protecting customers at the very top of the wealth tier from being 'ripped off' only had the vision to see that paying the full market value would open up the market below and their own investments would surge forward as happened in the 1980's.
Peter



: ...... why there are double posts every now and then! When
: typing the subject I, by mistake, hit enter and off it we
: nt!!
:
: I?m also beginning to understand that there?s some truth i
: n the saying "If you have to ask, you probably can?t affor
: d it", right?
:
: Still, the professional rebuild companies must be able to
: give a better estimate than what You indicate, don?t they?
:
: I mean, if you get an estimate that you can handle in thre
: e years and you end up paying 2.4 times that in six years,
: then you?ve been had!
:
: Of course, if they say "bring it over and don?t stop picki
: ng up the bills until we say so", then it?s different.

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