Authentic Mustang?

[C VEICH]

I always liked Dave Tallichet's Mustang "Dixie" (N3333E?), slightly off-the-mark 55FG livery and all, precisely because she was not pristine...looking at her on the ramp was like standing inside a 1945-vintage Kodachrome slide...

This is precisely why the Shuttleworth Spitfire was my absolute favorite prior to its restoration.

[JDK]

If a wixer is so inclined, please visit Crawford very soon to heavily photo document their P-51 K. It would be highly, immeasurably valuable to get detailed images of the interior and exteriors of this bird. This Mustang has been untouched since it was last flown in 1947.
The curator had told me that they intend to 'restore' that airframe. ...

Regarding some posts following Vlado's, let's not get too critical of the Crawford museum and staff. Firstly, a conservation project is often reported as a restoration; I've done it, it appears here regularly. However I'm sure Vlado's information is of enough precision to establish the difference, as well as the door colo(u)r...

Secondly, rather than name calling here, tempting though that is, those that care about P-51Ds (count me out!) might like to politely contact the museum to find out their intent and explain - again courteously - why a conservation programme rather than a restoration would be appreciated and historically important.

Enough interest and good information does change poor decisions.

Regards,

[JDK]

Yes, Shuttleworth's Mk.V was remarkably realistic with its genuine weathering and wear. One of my favourites also. That said of course, the Sherlock Homesian detectives among us would be able to point out that the weathering was about 25 years of low-intensity summer airshows as opposed to a few months intense wartime combat.

For instance the intense wear on the cowlings as against the fact that the aircraft was never given fresh ammunition, so the gun bay doors had comparatively inadequate wear.

Oh, and James, feeling a bit slow, I finally understood your last statement there, having to recall your general stance on the Mustang!

Heh. Nearly as slow as that CD ROM I owe you. It's in the 'to do' list though!

Regards,

[C VEICH]

That said of course, the Sherlock Homesian detectives among us would be able to point out that the weathering was about 25 years of low-intensity summer airshows as opposed to a few months intense wartime combat.

True, but I think my affection for the weathering may not have been so much that it reflected the typical wear of a wartime example so much as it simply demonstrated that the aircraft was regularly exercised.

[Dan Johnson II]

I remind myself often, that if I went back in time and brought back Kidd Hofer's "Salem Representative" as it was in May 1944, that no doubt someone on this forum would find fault with the paint or the 'restoration"

[JDK]

I remind myself often, that if I went back in time and brought back Kidd Hofer's "Salem Representative" as it was in May 1944, that no doubt someone on this forum would find fault with the paint or the 'restoration"

Yes, the paintwork and artwork certainly wouldn't be good enough for a prize at Oshkosh. We can draw different conclusions from that.

Regards,