Bf 109 found in russia

[M.Rimmer]

Just an idea but how cool would it be to restore one of these warbirds but just give it a coat of clear topcoat to protect the original paint and markings? That would be something very unique.

BTW, see what Paul Allen did to the FW190 found in a Russian forest? It's great that it's flying again but the repaint IMO has destroyed the very thing that made this 190 so remarkable and fascinating.

http://topwar.ru/27237-rekonstrukciy...-fw190a-5.html
http://luckypuppy.net/the-only-flyin...er-wulf-fw190/

I did see the 190 Ben and agree it's a great shame, it now looks exactly like one of the new build 190's!. I like your suggestion re. restoration but retaining the original paint, but the truth is most "restored" aircraft retain so little of the original that it would likely be impossible.

[mjfur]

1. How many WWII aircraft are preserved in their original paintwork (regardless of condition) worldwide?.

https://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/s.../german/bf109/




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauri_Pekuri




http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/englis.../sheppard/p39/


http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...field=datedesc



http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/where-is-flak-bait/

[BenVK]

If those photos can't persuade anyone not to repaint these aircraft, I don't know what will.
Imagine seeing that ME109K flying but with it's original paint intact like it is here, it would be simply awesome!

[mjfur]

If those photos can't persuade anyone not to repaint these aircraft, I don't know what will.
Imagine seeing that ME109K flying but with it's original paint intact like it is here, it would be simply awesome!

The problem is that aluminum corrodes and unless an aircraft has sat perfectly preserved the last 70 years, there's no reasonable way to keep the original aluminum skin with paint on it and fly.
While the Bf-109 in Chino looks neat with some of its original paint, the entire aircraft would need gone through and opened up (removing rivets, skin panels as needed) to make it airworthy. While some panels may be good, others won't. So while keeping an original paint job may sound good, it isn't very realistic if you want to fly it.
The only reason the above aircraft have kept their original paint is because they sat in a museum, lake, etc. and haven't been flown.

[BenVK]

Point taken and I understand that to become airworthy again, it probably means removing all the original paint so that the aluminium can be inspected.

That's the reality I guess.

However, that doesn't mean that the aircraft has to be resprayed in pristine glossy paintwork that it would never have had back in the period. There is such a thing called building scale models and within this hobby are some exceptional artists that can make a model look 70 years old.

Why can't the same be done for the real thing? Anything is better than how they currently paint them which is so unrealistic, it's a bad joke.

[wayne gosley]

Just a thought, restore the aircraft to flying condition, with new paint, then get a faker in to artificially age the paint and add wear and tear,?
I really do think that you cannot beat a unrestored aircraft with good original camo paint, (having been there and do that look for a few years) as seen my the 109 in the last pic,, compared to a restoration with new paint. and really, why not artificially age the new paint?
Cheers
Wayne

[Sergey65]

...

I did see the 190 Ben and agree it's a great shame, it now looks exactly like one of the new build 190's!. I like your suggestion re. restoration but retaining the original paint, but the truth is most "restored" aircraft retain so little of the original that it would likely be impossible.

+1

[Sergey65]

...

The aircraft painted again loses the spirit of the war.

If the choice between preserving the original paint or rise into the air, I choose the first

Best regards,
Sergey

[mjfur]

Just a thought, restore the aircraft to flying condition, with new paint, then get a faker in to artificially age the paint and add wear and tear,?
I really do think that you cannot beat a unrestored aircraft with good original camo paint, (having been there and do that look for a few years) as seen my the 109 in the last pic,, compared to a restoration with new paint. and really, why not artificially age the new paint?
Cheers
Wayne

It'll take a bit of time to weather, but paint is very accurate.

http://www.globalaviationresource.co...a-n3200-flies/