Jack, this is not a shot at you, but the other topic was locked, so here it is.
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Personally, I am sick and tired of this subject coming up on WIX over and over. Might account for my harsh tone here…..to you that complain, save your money, buy a warbird, learn to fly it, paint it in the scheme you deem historically correct, get involved on a museum board using decision power, whatever. Can we just cease and desist with the complaints about those who have already done it.
Amen. And I really didn't appreciate the cheap shots taken at people, even if in jest, in other threads, in the vein of, "Sorry, we can't post photos because we don't have the owner's permission."
You know that old saw that people used to say to people who were down on themselves without really trying to help themselves up? As in, "Get a job," or "Get a Haircut!" Well, to all the people who have the Testor's paint rack memorized at their hobby shop, I'll say, "Get your hands on a warbird." Or any airplane for that matter. There is SOOOOOOO MUCH more at stake when you are operating one of these treasures that the paint comes nearly last on the list. The parts aren't at Walmart, the skills flying or working on them aren't at the Jiffy-Lube, and there is a peanut gallery out there always willing to tell you, when you are on fire, juggling grenades without pins, running away from the scary monster, in the middle of a firefight, that your socks don't match. What a great way to marginalize yourself in such a big way. Instead of being interested in warbirds, why don't you get involved in the NFL's dress code policy? They are pretty strict and make sure people look right. Must be that the typical NFL fan, who never made a tackle in their life, needs their jerseys to look just right on the TV. Good, while you are there watching your NFL games, we who are really working on warbirds are not paying ANY attention to you. Actually, don't worry, we don't have time to laugh at you because you look or sound silly- we are too busy making sure the birds fly.
I have pretty much dedicated a big share of my life to preserving WWII artifacts and history, educating the public about them, and that is real WORK. As in, you get your hands dirty. Everybody is entitled to their opinions. But I will tell you this, as owner of thousands of WWII artifacts in a collection growing for 30 years- if you don't have the time to really jump in and preserve these objects, I don't have much time for you. I will be polite, speak with you at a show, and be really glad when you leave. And if you persist in marginalizing yourself into the camp of "paint schemes are everything," there you stand, marginalized. And I say that, believe me, actually agreeing with you that paint schemes should be as accurate as possible. I just know that this is a such an expensive, way-down-the-list, small consideration when it comes down to it, that I don't wish to waste anybody's time discussing it. Myself included.
In the movie, "The Last Samurai," Tom Cruise convinced his friend Ken Watanabe to "Make the Emperor hear your voice." Well, they got pretty slaughtered. But it had its effect. I'm not advocating you strapping on the armor and attacking superior technology. But maybe I am? Perhaps you should go volunteer at a flying warbird facility, and make your voice heard as you become more versed in what it actually takes to work one of these incredible machines. Let your fear of actually doing something productive go, pick up a tool or brush under proper supervision, and make one of these things fly.
I guarantee, you won't care about the paint scheme once you have been up 3 hours after your bedtime, sawing out a broken spark plug by hand with a hack saw, one stroke at a time. Or pulled up the bilge, cleaned it, then re-painted it. Or given up your vacation days to change an engine. I guarantee. Just try it, and the memories of the Testor's Paint rack at the hobby shop will be a remote memory...
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At least I kept my sense of humor...
