Duxford New Years Eve visit.

I’d really like to say a few things here, but it’s probably best for all concerned that I don’t.

But I do have a question for Russ *edited to put things a different way*. Does the IWM ever get anything right in your eyes? The IWM might not be perfect (show me an organisation that is) but it does get a lot of things right. I am interested to hear what you think.

The plastic Spitfire’s cost 20K . Reason for buying it – they wanted one and they are a lot cheaper than £1 million for a nice flying one . As for the costings – a 20K Spitfire replica hardly rates on the Richter scale compared to a 20 million plus hangar that looks like Wal-Mart!

As far as I know, it was acquired at no cost to IWM and therefore none to Johnny Q. Taxpayer. As for its purpose, it’s more than just “wanted one”; it was to be used as a “touring” advertisement for Duxford, to get more people interested in visiting. It was also something that could be treated far more roughly than any real exhibit, for event use.

All of which apart from the Mark 24 are privately owned and could all fly away to new homes one day.

It looks like the plastic one tried to fly away to a new home.:rolleyes:

“Look look! See all the empty in my glass!” :rolleyes:

Duxford ‘aint perfect.

but –

Where’s better?

All of which apart from the Mark 24 are privately owned and could all fly away to new homes one day.

Yes I know all bar one is privatly owned but they are hardly gonna upsticks all at once 😀 Mind you, I guess stranger things have happened, with all the fuss about airworthy aircraft being kept with the static examples…..who knows…
🙂

And be replaced by those pesky Mustangs ?

What a good idea… Mind you the Mustangs could always leave as well (a few have already)

And be replaced by those pesky Mustangs ? Now if someone were to build a plastic RAF Mustang with Malcolm hood it might get my interest!

They are hardly pushed for a Spitfire to show the public at Duxford

All of which apart from the Mark 24 are privately owned and could all fly away to new homes one day.

The plastic Spitfire’s cost 20K . Reason for buying it – they wanted one and they are a lot cheaper than £1 million for a nice flying one . As for the costings – a 20K Spitfire replica hardly rates on the Richter scale compared to a 20 million plus hangar that looks like Wal-Mart!

They are hardly pushed for a Spitfire to show the public at Duxford, as for Wal-Mart, it will probably end up as one, one day:)

The plastic Spitfire’s cost 20K . Reason for buying it – they wanted one and they are a lot cheaper than £1 million for a nice flying one . As for the costings – a 20K Spitfire replica hardly rates on the Richter scale compared to a 20 million plus hangar that looks like Wal-Mart!

CONTROVERSIAL COMMENT :diablo:

mick

I have written to IWM to ask what sort of costs were involved in purchasing this plastic Spitfire and what the reasons were for it’s purchase…

I too feel that money should have been spent elsewhere.

Not only the allies have suffered from the recent storms. Today at the Aviodrome museum, I discovered a crashed V-1. It’s a long time ago since this last happened.

Shame they didn’t put that PUKEcara out with (hopefully) the same end-result as that fibreglass poo.

Nice pic’s, and nice to see Duxford trying something different and putting a spitfire in a crash scene like the 109. Still maybe they have learned a lesson that it was an expensive waste of money after all and that the money could have been devoted to other projects.

YEH, LIKE GET A DECENT ROOF ON WASTE OF SPACE……..

mick

Nice pic’s, and nice to see Duxford trying something different and putting a spitfire in a crash scene like the 109. Still maybe they have learned a lesson that it was an expensive waste of money after all and that the money could have been devoted to other projects.

CONTROVERSIAL COMMENT :diablo:

mick

Duxford New Years Eve visit.

Excellent selection of photographs Gary, thank you: there was a time when I could reach Duxford in an hour or so, but am now 500 miles away,:( haven’t been back for a decade, so photos such as yours go a long way to satisfy the nostalgia of an exile such as me.Thanks for sharing them. 🙂 Brian

Excellent juxtaposition here, Gary…

Although it looks like you really had to clamber up, around, under, and through a veritable forest of Spitfires to get this pic! Not that that is a bad thing, mind you… 🙂

As regards the Spit “diorama”, that’s a ripe photo op for a re-enactor’s group to pose a Kubelwagen and some suitably attired chaps milling about. Pity no one was around to record it’s first flight!

Excellent work, once again-

Lynn

Nice pic’s, and nice to see Duxford trying something different and putting a spitfire in a crash scene like the 109.

Maybe they could set up a german uniformed mannequin to stand guard over it ? 🙂

Sad lookinf FS spit there. The beau looks good with progress showing with the landing gear installed. Any news on the mighty Victor and also has the shack had some repainting done recently?

Peter – the landing gear has been attached for years – its those huge outer wing sections that have just been fitted (and within the last few weeks had their leading edge structure added)!

Duxford update

Sad looking FS spit there. The beau looks good with progress showing with the landing gear installed. Any news on the mighty Victor and also has the shack had some repainting done recently?