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Re: Beware of parts consolidation (long)

Posted by Tony on Tue Nov 13, 2001 06:26:49 AM

In reply top Beware of parts consolidation posted by john parker on Mon Nov 12, 2001 08:00:12 PM

But surely, the logical conclusion to your argument John, is that a substantial amount of "dataplate" rebuilds are fraudulous.

After all, if I was to "chop and weld" 2 halves of a BMW, with only one VIN number, and attempt to pass it off as one car, I would be committing a criminal offence, QED, when a rebuilder, presents the finished article, and says "this is a Spitfire or 2, with a combat history, which I found in a barn" He is in fact, selling goods under a false description.

It is only very very rarely, that an aircraft, in my opinion, is so substantially complete, that it can be said to be the original aircraft., and more often than not, these are the "static" rebuilds

Static rebuilders, tend to be very open, about how they are building an aircraft, suitable for display. After all, they are trying to create, a very accurate representation , of the aircraft. Tony Dyer, has publicly announced he is rebuilding a Hurricane, in the true "Grandfathers Axe" tradition. However, though the aircraft will have an identity, I am very very sure , that Tony will not try to pass it off, as something it is not. Though I for one, would like to see the finished article in Nicholson's colours.

I think, the direction of your argument, in terms of static restorations, is largely redundant. A great many static rebuilds, do incorporate a great many parts from the "host" aircraft.


However, a substantial amount of flying warbirds do not. That is more serious, because flying aircraft, are sold with a provenace, be it Dataplates or A25's etc. As such, the more historic the aircraft, the more money it commands.

Several restorers on this board, have commented, on the high prices that junk is fetching. The industry, has now got to the stage, that the most valuable part of a restoration, is the dataplate. In the case of the "substantial hurricane remains" the seller seems to imply, that a flying restoration, can be made from the assorted bits. Now there are parts of 3 hurricanes at least in the package. He places emphasis on the "stainless steel" parts in the package QED these can be used in a flying restoration. The completed article, will wear a dataplate, and the stainless steel parts possibly, while the other 90% of the aircraft is new build.

In the case of aircraft like "Glacier Girl" where even the original engines, appear to have been rebuilt, then that can be safely regarded, as a true re-build, and worth (possibly) every penny they may eventually ask for it.The same goes for the Nanton Halibag, where they are trying to retain, as much of the aircrafts original structure as possible.

Elliott is rebuilding a Whitley.There are no examples remaiining, but he will try and get one together. If he manages it, then I for one, will not be arguing the toss over the aircrafts identity, I think we'll alll just be grateful, that the sum of the bits collected, brings an aircraft back from the dead. I think you'll find, that static restorers, will try to use as few different aircraft to rebuild , as they possibly can, in order to be as original as possible. If they can't afford the substantial hulk, of a "high demand" aircraft, then they will, as Tony is doing , make do..... and no one is going to censure them for that.

Just my 2 bob's worth

Tony



: I really enjoy this site as with the old WWW site and I re
: ad it regularly (dialy)
:
: This post is to spark discussion no more so think of it in
: that way and attach no more to it than a debate. I do not
: try to attach my views to anybody else.
:
: That said
:
: There is to me a disturbung trend at present for restorers
: of STATIC aircraft , particularly the better resourced on
: es to collect a number of "wrecks" of a particular type an
: d "use" these to reconstruct one machine from the many.
:
: I have no problem where the machine is constructed from a
: diversity of parts but the issue stems from airframe swapp
: ing where parts are swapped from one airframe to another a
: s they are the best of those available. This process can r
: esult in a number of dubious outcomes
:
: 1) The provinance of the original aircraft is destroyed it
: is no longer XY 123 but a montage of many and historicall
: y destroyed as a result
:
: 2) In the process of dismantling several airframes they AL
: L lose their identity
:
: 3) The "leftover parts never seem to carry over to be used
: to restore another example - they get broken up into comp
: onents and traded on either as souveniers or once near com
: plete airframes are broken up to act as christmas trees fo
: r other hybrids.
:
: Does all of this matter ?
:
: I think it does - from the historical perspective it would
: be nice to look at an aircraft and think that as much as
: possible of the original aircraft is there...........
:
: What does everyone else think................Just my thoug
: hts
:
: John Parker

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