By: Eddie - 28th February 2012 at 00:01
Here’s where I see the difference. If we look at R6915 today, we can see the way a Spitfire in the war looked – the chipped paint, the dents, the slightly battered appearance. And we can see exactly what the markings, stencils etc were like, how they were applied, to some extent when they were applied. We can see how the aircraft was progressively modified. We can see interesting repairs.
On the other hand, if we restore and repaint it, all of that goes away. It’s an interpretation of how it might have looked in the battle. I don’t know that photos of the aircraft exist that could be matched, but even if they do, there’s still an element of interpretation in there, and that’s simply not required with an original, unrestored artifact such as R6915.
Would it look ‘nicer’ if restored? Of course. But it devalues it as an artifact, as a time capsule. It ‘taints’ it with the 21st century interpretation.
By: One of the Few - 27th February 2012 at 23:05
Well each to their own and i respect everyones opinions on whether R6915 should be kept as is or restored. My opinion is she should be restored to 1940 Specification. After all she did meet the enemy face to face on 57 occasions, whereas P9444 never ACTUALLY took part in the battle, yet she is painted up in 72 Squadron colours that she served in when she was damaged in early July 1940. It makes you wonder when these aircraft where being put in the museums if the people involved actually looked at the movement cards for each aircraft. As i`m sure that if i`d have been in charge i would have left P9444 in late war livery and put R6915 back into her finest hour livery. Right i`ll get off my soapbox now. Rant over! 😀
By: Graham Adlam - 27th February 2012 at 17:37
I am generally against hanging aircraft but at least its kept the Spit with its original paint.To repaint her would be vandalism.Not too many aircraft left with their original WW2 paint.
Totally agree it should be left in its original finish a re paint would destroy its originality, there are plenty of Spitfires with glossy paint to look at.
By: Discendo Duces - 27th February 2012 at 17:06
Come off it fellas – this Spitfire doesn’t need anything doing with it, other than a sympathetic tidy up (fixing the dents from museum abuse and putting the undercarriage legs back on – they are in store at Duxford apparently). It’s the wartime 1943-44 OTU paint.
To use the Yeovilton approach would very possibly result in an un-displayable mess, and a repainted Spitfire. One only has to go a few miles to the science museum to see P9444 or a few miles further to Hendon to see X4590, both of which are contemparary aircraft and have had the treatment suggested.
Once the paint is gone, IT’S GONE! There’s no option to say in 10 years time “Oh, we should have left that Spitfire in its original paint, lets put it back!
Leave it as it is, please!
Couldn’t agree more. What’s with this obsession with tidying everything? The Fw190 and He 162 look like Airfix kits alongside that Spitfire.
DD
By: Lobster - 27th February 2012 at 10:09
6 months 😮
Brian
more information at:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/projects-partnerships/redeveloping-iwm-london
🙂 Lobster
By: DaveF68 - 27th February 2012 at 09:30
I have to say that i personally think that the IWM need to refurbish Spitfire R6915. She really is looking very tired and almost appears to be ready to come apart at the seams. What a travesty for a Battle of Britain veteran that flew 57 sorties in the Battle with 13 different pilots with 5 confirmed kills and 6 damaged . I would definitely restore her to the 609 squadron livery that she wore in 1940, but the IWM already have a Spitfire I in that Squadron markings so there is little hope of that!.
I’d put her in her 602 markings……
Regarding the Zero, it’s a pity she was slathered in RAF Dark Earth, but her original Japanese colours are remarkably strong underneath that.
By: Eddie - 26th February 2012 at 21:26
Come off it fellas – this Spitfire doesn’t need anything doing with it, other than a sympathetic tidy up (fixing the dents from museum abuse and putting the undercarriage legs back on – they are in store at Duxford apparently). It’s the wartime 1943-44 OTU paint.
To use the Yeovilton approach would very possibly result in an un-displayable mess, and a repainted Spitfire. One only has to go a few miles to the science museum to see P9444 or a few miles further to Hendon to see X4590, both of which are contemparary aircraft and have had the treatment suggested.
Once the paint is gone, IT’S GONE! There’s no option to say in 10 years time “Oh, we should have left that Spitfire in its original paint, lets put it back!
Leave it as it is, please!
By: *Zwitter* - 26th February 2012 at 19:38
But she is still wearing the paint she had whilst in service during WW2, that makes her a very rare and precious airframe.There a plenty of pretty,clean Spits about. Its like the tanks in the IWM, they look too clean and new, as modellers do, some patina makes them look more “real” and menacing. My daughter thought the Jagdpanther was pretty!
Correct me if wrong but underneath that OTU scheme should/may be the original BoB paint. I’d take a layer off and try to reveal it – much like the FAA corsair at Yeovilton with scuffs an all.
That would be truly original.
By: Orion - 26th February 2012 at 18:27
When people say that R6915 is in her original paint they are wrong- to a point. The colours she is in now were only introduced in late 1941 and the roundels are 1942 spec. So she really should be in the dark earth/dark green upper surface livery from 1940 in my opinion. Not in her training command scheme. If you actually go and look at her there are bits missing, the wrong type of exhausts fitted, and the main wheels appear to be back to front in their bays, so to say she is the most original and most authentic Spitfire in existence is quite wide of the mark i would say.
IIRC the aeroplane was re-painted for it’s entry into the museum. Also there have been some pretty big holes made in it in order for it to hang from the ceiling. At the very least the aeroplane hasn’t been looked after.
Changing the topic a little, the last time I was at the museum I noticed that the BE2’s elevators had turned-up corners. Does anybody know why this is so?
Regards
By: PanzerJohn - 26th February 2012 at 18:24
But she is still wearing the paint she had whilst in service during WW2, that makes her a very rare and precious airframe.There a plenty of pretty,clean Spits about. Its like the tanks in the IWM, they look too clean and new, as modellers do, some patina makes them look more “real” and menacing. My daughter thought the Jagdpanther was pretty!
By: One of the Few - 26th February 2012 at 17:17
When people say that R6915 is in her original paint they are wrong- to a point. The colours she is in now were only introduced in late 1941 and the roundels are 1942 spec. So she really should be in the dark earth/dark green upper surface livery from 1940 in my opinion. Not in her training command scheme. If you actually go and look at her there are bits missing, the wrong type of exhausts fitted, and the main wheels appear to be back to front in their bays, so to say she is the most original and most authentic Spitfire in existence is quite wide of the mark i would say.
By: CeBro - 26th February 2012 at 13:56
Brian,
No pics of PN323?
I do hope that the cockpit will be refurbished and totally fitted out. It is in a bit of a mess inside. And the bombbay has a lot of corrosion. I looked under it several times.:rolleyes:
Cees
By: Pen Pusher - 26th February 2012 at 11:12
The IWM in London is closing for about 6 months while it is refurbished.
6 months 😮
Under a masterplan, by architects Foster + Partners, its First World War galleries will double in size and a new atrium will be created by 2014. This will be followed by a new sunken entrance, incorporating the giant naval guns at the front of the building, and the transformation of the west side of the building by 2019.
Brian
By: jack windsor - 26th February 2012 at 10:37
any idea of the time-scale,-when the museum closes,aircraft at Duxford,when IWM re-opens? thanks any info much appreciated…
By: Denis - 26th February 2012 at 10:14
Ah, thank you!
By: mmitch - 26th February 2012 at 10:09
The IWM in London is closing for about 6 months while it is refurbished.
A major exhibition will be built in time for the 100 anniversary of WW1. The aircraft will be stored and ‘worked on’ in hangar 5 at Duxford.
mmitch.
By: Al - 26th February 2012 at 07:27
I am generally against hanging aircraft but at least its kept the Spit with its original paint.To repaint her would be vandalism.Not too many aircraft left with their original WW2 paint.
I totally agree – any artifact can only be original once!
Great photos
By: duxfordhawk - 26th February 2012 at 05:33
Nice photos, When are they due to have an “holiday” at Duxford?. As to R6915, I strongly feel other than doing what is required to preserve her for future generations she should be left as she is. Same with the BF110 and Zero I would rather see them as they are that way they are truely historic. All to often we sanitise history lately rather than conserve it.
By: PanzerJohn - 26th February 2012 at 01:29
I have to say that i personally think that the IWM need to refurbish Spitfire R6915. She really is looking very tired and almost appears to be ready to come apart at the seams. What a travesty for a Battle of Britain veteran that flew 57 sorties in the Battle with 13 different pilots with 5 confirmed kills and 6 damaged . I would definitely restore her to the 609 squadron livery that she wore in 1940, but the IWM already have a Spitfire I in that Squadron markings so there is little hope of that!.
I am generally against hanging aircraft but at least its kept the Spit with its original paint.To repaint her would be vandalism.Not too many aircraft left with their original WW2 paint.
By: Jester1979 - 25th February 2012 at 23:21
I believe the entire forward fuselage of YAM’s Halifax is new build, so the addition of the nose of PN323 would make it a more authentic aircraft. Don’t think there is any real chance of IWM letting it go though
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February 25, 2012 at 8:25 pm
