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'14-'18aviationcollector · 18 June 2009, 01:59 PM

Hi Dan-San,

I can't comment too much because I don't know the full story, but if it was the person I think it was, he was known and trusted, and yet at some time was responsible for painting such a priceless relic and effectively ruining it. I am sure it will be possible to have some sort of restoration or conservation work carried out on it, and that it can be saved at least to a degree. The standard of work carried out by the volunteers I worked with varied. Many cared about what they were doing, but there was so much second rate work being carried out that some relics have been ruined to a degree. Some of the people I worked with worked on earlier restoration efforts. It is a relatively small community, and most of them knew the person who was responsible for painting the surface of that cross. The explanation given seems to vary depending on who tells the story, so a definitive explanation is as elusive as it is with many other issues. One explanation I was given was that some paint was spilled on it, when it was being used for reference, and this was then covered with a completely new coat of paint. Unforgivable. Just look at the standard of work done during the first "restorations" of the Pfalz and Albatros, and you will see the same level of "workmanship".

Museums themselves can be just as bad, at times as you pointed out. It really just depends on the staff who are there at the time, how much experience they have and the resources they have access to. Was it you who was telling me that the same "Pfalz" if you could still call it that had its' fuselage covered in fibreglass? I do actually have some issues with the way the NASM has carried out some of their restorations. Discarding the original Albatros D.Va plywood fuselage skin and the wing fabric are two things I will never understand. Even in their deteriorated condition, they are just as valuable as any other component of the aeroplane. I think they sold both of those skins off in small pieces to raise funds, which is understandable, but surely there could have been another way to raise funds for the project. Unfortunately they don't always listen to people at the time who tell them that they are making a mistake they will never be able to rectify.

Regards,

David.

18 June 2009, 01:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
'14-'18aviationcollector Forum Ace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canberra, A.C.T., Australia Posts: 1,379	Museums Hi Dan-San, I can't comment too much because I don't know the full story, but if it was the person I think it was, he was known and trusted, and yet at some time was responsible for painting such a priceless relic and effectively ruining it. I am sure it will be possible to have some sort of restoration or conservation work carried out on it, and that it can be saved at least to a degree. The standard of work carried out by the volunteers I worked with varied. Many cared about what they were doing, but there was so much second rate work being carried out that some relics have been ruined to a degree. Some of the people I worked with worked on earlier restoration efforts. It is a relatively small community, and most of them knew the person who was responsible for painting the surface of that cross. The explanation given seems to vary depending on who tells the story, so a definitive explanation is as elusive as it is with many other issues. One explanation I was given was that some paint was spilled on it, when it was being used for reference, and this was then covered with a completely new coat of paint. Unforgivable. Just look at the standard of work done during the first "restorations" of the Pfalz and Albatros, and you will see the same level of "workmanship". Museums themselves can be just as bad, at times as you pointed out. It really just depends on the staff who are there at the time, how much experience they have and the resources they have access to. Was it you who was telling me that the same "Pfalz" if you could still call it that had its' fuselage covered in fibreglass? I do actually have some issues with the way the NASM has carried out some of their restorations. Discarding the original Albatros D.Va plywood fuselage skin and the wing fabric are two things I will never understand. Even in their deteriorated condition, they are just as valuable as any other component of the aeroplane. I think they sold both of those skins off in small pieces to raise funds, which is understandable, but surely there could have been another way to raise funds for the project. Unfortunately they don't always listen to people at the time who tell them that they are making a mistake they will never be able to rectify. Regards, David.