If you took a look at listings on warbirds sales websites, you will see a lot of:
Platinum Fighters wrote:
All new wood
(Source:
Platinum Fighters)
Platinum Fighters wrote:
Every system has either been replaced or overhauled to zero time specifications.
(Source:
Platinum Fighters)
However, as a counterpoint, I know of at least one case where originality was made a selling point:
Spitfire IX, MH415. Also, Warbirds News posted an
article about provenance earlier this year where the author argues originality can play a role.
I've always significantly respected any shop, such as Century Aviation, that makes a distinction between
preservation and
restoration. The same goes for museums, like Old Rhinebeck, that does the same thing on their
aircraft profiles. Or still others that attempt to strike a balance, such as Allied Fighters' restoration of the P-47 Dottie May, in which they went so far as to lay out the following policy:
Allied Fighters wrote:
Indeed we (collectively) understand the historical importance of 29150 K4-S "Dottie Mae" and plan (where possible & safe) to undertake the following:
A. To preserve as much of the existing airframe as possible. Parts that are in good airworthy condition are to be cleaned and reused, slightly damaged parts to be repaired, replacement hardware to be new old stock where possible and at the last resort non-existent impossible to find parts will be factory new.
B. New material to be clearly marked to assist in any future rebuild/restoration.
C. Document the restoration and preserve all original parts.
D. Retain all original paintwork, decals, significant and noteworthy stenciling.
E. Other fuselage skins bearing the names of the ground crew as well as "Dottie Mae" will be removed and displayed. These shall be replicated on new skins.
F. The original nose artwork has been preserved and will be on display in the future.
G. Stock restoration but retaining flak repairs and completing "K4-S" to as she was on the last mission in May 1945.
H. The R-2800, 18cyl engine has been rebuilt by Anderson Automotive in Idaho.
I. Eight .50 cal heavy machine guns and ammunition feeds to be re-installed.
J. Original instruments, gunsight and canopy.
K. Original skins to remain un-cleaned to preserve the patina of 90 missions. New skins to be weathered to match.
(Source:
Allied Fighters)
Sopwith wrote:
Interesting viewpoint, I can see where you’re coming from but on a rebuild of an aeroplane,a lot of parts would need to be made to airworthy spec out of the same material or modern equivalent, so you couldn’t really compare it to a dinosaur comprising a few genuine fossil parts and the rest made up of casts.
Yes, it's very correct that some original parts cannot be used in airworthy restorations because they are truly too damaged and pose a safety risk. However, I think a good amount of the time the major determiner of reuse of a damaged part is time/cost and not airworthiness. If you read about the Fleet Air Arm Museum's Fairey Barracuda restoration, for example their
October 2015 update, they have done an excellent job repairing parts that would have been thrown out by many other projects. Now, of course, their finished project isn't going to fly. Yet, I think the lessons are still applicable for airworthy restorations. I can't find a reference for it at the moment, but I seem to remember them even having the unique idea that if a part was too damaged to use, they could melt it down, recast the part, and in that way still have the "original material". I also thought I found a video about a company that was able to repair damaged pistons in an R-2800 for a Corsair project, but, again, I can't find it at the moment.
Lastly, since it's relevant, a little plug for a thread of mine from a while ago:
Historical Integrity