Nathan wrote:
Long story short...the info is out there on markings and paint schemes for these warbirds. It's a standard. We need to tell history correctly. Why do the accurate paint and markings croud always gets looked down on wix? Isn't being interested in warbirds also mean you are interested in the history? (This is NOT bashing warbird owners). It's discussing a standard that should be put into place. I can assure you some other forums would totally have a hernia if people did not care about paint and markings i.e. this forum has some niches.. lol
Lets do a "For Instance" excercise-
Mr "Tastless" Warbird Owner ( not referring to any particular owner, living or dead and from now on referred to as Mr T) has a good year running his capitalist corporation.
He decides to spend $250K on his P-51 that year as his operating budget.
Mr T also wants to use that budget to paint his P-51.
(Budget Quality Paint Job)
Running the numbers we have-
Sand and paint-
$25K with basic markings, OD glare shield and silver overall, Codes on the side of the fus.
$2-3K to add a Nose Color, spinner and about 12". Std Europe late war
$6-7K if they are squares or diamonds and scallop down to the rear lower cowl. Std Europe mid war.
$5K to add all the small stencils.
Strip and paint add $20K to the above.
To get a show quality paint job add 30-40% to these figures.
Now if Mr T does the paint the wheel wells don't look the best, so-
8K for budget mask and paint MLG wells.
5K to remove the hyd lines and components so you can reach and cover areas better.
10K to Strip paint.
4-5K to make and install new hyd lines and overhaul the hyd parts you removed
It would look a little better if the landing gear legs were removed so the paint around that area could cover better.
20K to remove stress doors, fuel cells, MLG legs which then could be pulled apart and NDT insp and new seals installed.
But the engine was also high time so a Roush engine is maybe 160K to O/H, Prop O/H could be 8K or so. New hoses and stuff to install with labor another 5K.
Maybe we should paint the engine compartment too while we are at it.
The rudder will need to be recovered since you can't just keep putting layers of paint on fabric so there is another 2K.
At some point in time you have to say what is worth it. With all the normal costs of storage, insurance ect this 51 may not have any money left to budget to flying. What does Mr T do at that point?
To keep flying maybe he has to tell his daughter that you'll be working at Wendy's this year and college might happen next year.
It's interesting that Nose Art and Paint Jobs gets this much attention in a season that we have witnessed some high profile losses of aircraft.
I'm all for Jelly Beans and second rate paint schemes if it focuses resources and contributes to maintaining the aircraft in the highest possible condition for safe operation.
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