T.V. Show American Restoration

[phil65]

Anyone see that homemade wheelchair using B-17 parts?

It was pretty bad @ss.

Phil

[Cherrybomber13]

That was pretty cool. I would be concerned with Ricks guys trashing it up with some non original paint scheme. He even said it that they could do it up "military". I love their work I just don't agree on the paint jobs they do sometimes...

[Taigh Ramey]

It was pretty cool to see that seat. The motor was the power unit right out of a ball turret and it also had some bendix upper turret parts too.

[Pat Carry]

This is my favorite show on TV. The work they do is pretty amazing especially when they take something that is seeminly destined for the scrap heap and make it look brand spanking new.

[RickH]

They sure screwed up tat guy's grandfather's Viet Nam helicopter helmet. They stripped off all of the original paint and decals that were applied to it in country and tried to duplicate it with new stuff. All they needed to do was clean it up and put new com gear in it.

[mustangdriver]

I agree with Rick on that one. That poor guy lost alot of history on that.

[gary1954]

They sure screwed up tat guy's grandfather's Viet Nam helicopter helmet. They stripped off all of the original paint and decals that were applied to it in country and tried to duplicate it with new stuff. All they needed to do was clean it up and put new com gear in it.

yep. I would have went......how do you Mericans call it???....Ballistic

[RickH]

Of course the guy that owned the helmet was clueless as to what he really had. Those guys do a really nice job resurrecting true junk yard dogs, but I'm not sure they grasp that some things should be left nearly untouched.

[Steve Nelson]

That's the difference between "restoration" and "conservation." Sometimes things are so deteriorated, or their original history is banal enough, that restoration is the right call. Other times, a truly historical artifact should be conserved in its original condition..full restoration destroys much of its historical value. A good example for comparison would be the Memphis Belle and Flak Bait. The Belle required a full rebuild because she was in such bad shape, but Flak Bait is still more-or-less in the condition she was when she was retired, and should simply be cleaned up, assembled, and displayed as-is.

SN

[Pat Carry]

That's the difference between "restoration" and "conservation." Sometimes things are so deteriorated, or their original history is banal enough, that restoration is the right call. Other times, a truly historical artifact should be conserved in its original condition..full restoration destroys much of its historical value. A good example for comparison would be the Memphis Belle and Flak Bait. The Belle required a full rebuild because she was in such bad shape, but Flak Bait is still more-or-less in the condition she was when she was retired, and should simply be cleaned up, assembled, and displayed as-is.

SN

I hope I live long enough to see Flak Bait on display as a whole airplane again. They way things are going at the NASM I'm beginning to wonder.

[Ken]

They sure screwed up tat guy's grandfather's Viet Nam helicopter helmet. They stripped off all of the original paint and decals that were applied to it in country and tried to duplicate it with new stuff. All they needed to do was clean it up and put new com gear in it.

Hear, hear. Not only was the original stuff lost, but they went over budget locating an oxygen mask that certainly wasn't part of a Marine helicopter gunner's gear in SEA.

One of my favorite shows too, but I wish he had more consultants on the speed-dial.

Ken

[DoraNineFan]

One of my favorite shows too, but I wish he had more consultants on the speed-dial.

I have mixed feelings about the show, especially after reading about the vintage helmet. I've not seen that episode. I'm not much of a fan for a "patina" restoration, but I think a helmet with so much memory should have been left alone.

Yes, he needs to consult more with experts before he begins a project. His other workers don't seem to be very careful with the items being restored and there is too much emphasis on completing something on time rather than restoring it correctly.

Also, this show could be just another "Pawn Stars" where interesting items are provided for the show just to keep the series running.

[pilot06]

These guys are really vending machine "restorers" and not much else. Anyone interested in the episode can view it here.

Patrick

http://www.history.com/shows/american-restoration/videos/american-restoration-american-hero#american-restoration-american-hero

[pilot06]

Just finished watching it, the "restored" helmet lost a lot of the color variation that made it so cool. Don't know helmets but that O2 mask looks fighter jet to me.

Patrick

[ZRX61]

They could show a bit more of the actual resto part. We see stuff being taken apart, next minute it's finished..