WIX Archives
Re: Oh dear oh dear oh dear
Posted by Mick on Tue Mar 05, 2002 09:20:14 PM
In reply top Re: Oh dear oh dear oh dear posted by Brad on Tue Mar 05, 2002 07:47:36 PM
Just to finish Brad.
Not once have I ever said that I would prefer to see an aircraft on the ground rather than flying just because it is not quite as it is alledged to be, one or two others have said that before but definitely not me. I do recall someone saying on the WW forum that he would prefer to see them scrapped if they were not painted in the correct colours, and very rightly he got roasted for it, can't remember if I joined in though.
As an example, David Price's 109 is virtually brand new but it is absolutely no problem to me because it has been done honestly and openly, and I just love the fact that at least one 109 is flying somewhere even if it is not the same bits of metal that actually flew during the war, when (or more like if !) I ever have the money, then that is one aeroplane I would like to own, but sadly it is not likely to happen.
And it was me some while ago that asked about whether it was possible to fit the Merlin upside down in a Buchon to make it look a bit better, or even stck Allisons in them, but I would rather a few Buchons were flying with any ID rather than none at all.
I do actually recall saying something somewhere that even though John Paul has converted the A36 to a P51B/C at least he has done it openly and not tried to hide it like some others would have.
I'll even be happy when Mr Paul gets his Mustang flying, I'm sure it will be a wonderful piece of work as his P40 restorations have been, but it just won't mean the same to me and many others because we would prefer to see it as an A36 as it should be, I don't see any problem with that at all even if I haven't given any money towards it.
And regarding money and private property, I am also on record as having said several times that I don't care what an owner does with his private property as long as they are not trying to pull the wool over our eyes, people would expect me to be honest in the same position so I don't see why richer people than me think they can get away with it. If you care to go to the Flypast forum and search around a bit you will find a post I put there about warbird colours and how I have always wanted to paint a Spitfire as the very first 1.32 scale Spitfire model I made when I was about 7 or 8. As you can imagine it wasn't quite up to standard especially as I built it, painted it bright gloss green and brown and put the decals on all by the evening. The point to this is that most people would just hate it and give me a real hard time because of it, but i wouldn't care as it would be MY PROPERTY, so why should I tell someone else what colour to paint their warbird if I want to paint a Spitfire like that, if only for a week?
A lot of people didn't like G-FIRE in it's red scheme but I did, and I always thought it was funny what Spencer Flack said to people who didn't like it......"When you too own a Spitfire you can paint it any colour YOU like", end of story.
I'm just not as anal as you obviously think I am Brad, it is me after all that has said several times that the only warbird I could afford is a data-plate from a Spitfire with about 20 years of brand-new work on it, being open about what I was doing of course, but some people did not agree with this approach and they are entitled to their opinions as I am, and although it would not be quite the same thing as one which was found complete somewhere it would STILL be a Spitfire to most people I'm sure, it couldn't possibly be anything else if it has been built to the exact original specs......and I would cherish it for what it is and what it represents, in my own unique paint scheme......watch this space if you don't think I'm serious about the paint job !
Also, why would I get excited about pulling hopelessly corroded wrecks out of the sea and rebuilding them to fly, or at least static, if I really was so up-tight about what was original, or not?
Anyway, nuff of this.
I'm dying to ask you where you are going on the C17 but I know you can't tell me that, but if it's where I think it is then give 'em hell for us Brad, good luck and see you back soon.
TaTa
Mick