Just a big model?

[lmritger]

I only hope that the shop pleaded the case for an accurate paint scheme. I feel like as a restoration shop it's your duty to inform the client of what they have and the historical value of going one way or the other. Say a museum came to a shop with a P-38 project for static and wants it done as "Yippee". While doing research the shop finds out that it was flown by a triple ace and involved in some major battles. You need to say something.

I'm pretty sure the paint scheme on the wreckage of this aircraft isn't real but still, it may have some historic value. A hint at the serial number would help.

One hundred years from now 99% of the population will think all P-40's had sharks mouths unless as restorers we realize that many times the client doesn't know what he has. Being a restorer of anything also makes you a historian and a teacher.

Good sentiment, but based on the evidence of their "Vaught Corsair" posted above, I doubt the museum board would listen even if the restoration shop set up six Marshall cabinets and blasted it at them. The restoration shop did what was requested of them, and appear to have done a good job from what I can see, which is at least a bright spot in this story- the folks they have working on these are not what we'd consider "traditional" warbird enthusiasts, but they're learning and it helps grow our little field that much more.

Lynn

[Django]

It looks nice but here's a thought… The museum is in Louisisana. Chennault was from Louisiana. So it MUST be painted in 23rd FG markings, right? At least it's not AVG markings! But you would think that a 343rd FG ship with combat zone provenance (led by Chennault's son no less) would be just as special. I also hope someone saved those cowlings with the tiger head intact. I would wager that the majority of people (who didn't live through it) when asked about WWII would have no idea about the Japanese invasion of Alaska. Seems like a missed opportunity for education...

Long live the 343rd!

[Zachary]

A bit of info here today: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/27/mu ... latestnews

[Steve T]

I like this one:



But this P-40, too, represents a different bird in a different theatre than what it actually was. It's an RNZAF P-40N-1 Kittyhawk IV, beautifully restored to represent a 260 Sqn RAF P-40M Kittyhawk III flown in North Africa by Canadian ace James Edwards. Most refreshingly, of course...look Ma, no sharkmouth!

No comment yet on the Kalamazoo P-40N...which I will candidly admit was always a favourite of mine...

S.

[kalamazookid]

I like this one:



But this P-40, too, represents a different bird in a different theatre than what it actually was. It's an RNZAF P-40N-1 Kittyhawk IV, beautifully restored to represent a 260 Sqn RAF P-40M Kittyhawk III flown in North Africa by Canadian ace James Edwards. Most refreshingly, of course...look Ma, no sharkmouth!

No comment yet on the Kalamazoo P-40N...which I will candidly admit was always a favourite of mine...

S.

I love the Air Zoo P-40 scheme too. Of course, I grew up spending two Saturday's a month at the museum when I was a kid, so I'm biased. I think it would be an absolute travesty if that aircraft was ever repainted. Suzie Parish was a local legend (not just in aviation), and the aircraft is a great tribute to her legacy. I'm not aware of this aircraft having combat history, so it's not like anything is being neglected there.

It would be nice if museums had more respect for the history of their airframes, particularly if they saw significant action or combat. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. The purpose of museums is not only to educate, but to preserve- but they do have to make money while doing it. I think oftentimes the public is done a disservice because museums choose the most convenient story to tell/sell, rather than focus on the specific story of their artifact. The good thing about paint schemes is that they can be changed. It's not as if this aircraft is permanently ruined by the paint scheme. Hopefully the restoration and the original markings were carefully documented so that story is not lost though, because THAT would be a shame.

That's as far as I'm going with this one. I'm very happy to see another P-40 restored and on display. Perhaps one day it can be repainted in another scheme to tell a different story. Hats off to the restoration team for all their hard work and getting it ready for display.

[DaveM2]

RAAF P-40, not RNZAF

Dave

[Steve T]

Dave--

Whoops...thanks for the correction...she was restored in NZ, correct? That'll be where I muddled it up, if so...

S.

[Jerry O'Neill]

This is my first post on this thread, and I've read all the postings so far.

First, the "Vaught" Corsair is never getting re-painted, refitted or ever coming down unless a hurricane brings it down. I might suggest that they should redo the signage for the Corsair so it accurately states it's a real "Vaught" aircraft, because as far as I'm concerned, it's NOT a VOUGHT! Since it's something that looks like a Corsair, we might as well call it a "Vaught", cause it sure as heck ain't any Corsair variant I know of! Redoing it would've cost more and taken time, and besides, "that machine" in New Orleans was not about to wait, and heck, they already spent money repainting it so, "zip it and let's hang that sombytch!"
Introducing the one, the only Vaught Corsair!

Secondly, when you have a "machine" that is as large as the Museum in New Orleans, (yes, it's a machine and one that makes money) it only matters what brings the general public in. They will all leave happy when they see that "Shark Mouth" on a P-40. They won't even care if is a P-40, it's got that iconic "Shark Mouth" and it will look great when they post it on Facebook right next to their Bourbon Street photos.

It's pretty clear that the curators take a back seat to the marketing department there. And some of these errors may not be the curator's fault. When you have a "machine" THAT large and THAT hungry for displays, any well meaning curator can become the naysayer pretty quick. "Get on the train or get out of our way."

It's really more of a museum about economics than of history. The guy with the bigger checkbook wins. Money makes this Museum go (as with many places). If a P-40 painted as a Flying Tiger is a better draw, then that's what we're gonna paint it as. To quote a great film, "Paint 'em with iodine and mark 'em for duty!"

Can I fault them: yes.
Do I understand what they're doing: yes.
Do I like it or think it's a good thing to misrepresent history: NO.

Unless somebody with some sense of history gets into the right position and garners enough pull, nothing is going to change in New Orleans.
My two-cents.
Jerry

[Dan K]

...Introducing the one, the only Vaught Corsair!...

Jerry my friend...captions don't lie...apparently there were at least two!

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... 851644.jpg


(Linked from this thread)

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52003

[Chris Brame]

Gutierrez said the P-40's engine, landing gear, some castings and most of the instruments are original, but most of the plane had to be built from scratch in a 72-week effort using copies of more than 3,000 original drawings provided by the Smithsonian Institution and 4,000 pages of ground-crew manuals.

Oh good. I hope this means they saved the original skins and cowlings...

[RobC]

You guys all need to go back to warbird school, except Jason C. on page 1. Except the windshield, is there one actual P-40 part on this so-called Aluetian Veteran? Loved the SNJ horizontal.

[RobC]

Is this the same guy with the P-43 and the Tony on the way? As a former modeller, I want to say that I really do appreciate a good weathering job. Very nice.

[Jerry O'Neill]

...Introducing the one, the only Vaught Corsair!...

Jerry my friend...captions don't lie...apparently there were at least two!

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... 851644.jpg


(Linked from this thread)

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52003

LMAO!!!!!
Of course I meant the one, the only, SURVIVING, Vaught Corsair!!!!!

[Dan K]

LMAO!!!!!
Of course I meant the one, the only, SURVIVING, Vaught Corsair!!!!!

Yes, of course...still the rarest of national treasures...

By the way, any chance you and Mrs. O are heading back this way with Panchito in July?

[DaveM2]

Dave--

Whoops...thanks for the correction...she was restored in NZ, correct? That'll be where I muddled it up, if so...

S.

Steve

Yep, correct on the restoration

Dave