I know exactly what you mean Stephen. When I modeled Guynemer's first Spad VII I wanted it to look really tatty and dirty, thinking thats how it would have looked after a year or so on the front. I studied pictures of his second Spad VII which is still hanging in a French museum and tried to emulate it. After my model was painted .. I discovered his first Spad only lasted a month before being shot down. So its not so realistic after all
This also highlights the importance of research !!