Why do all Duxford related posts generate such a fuss?

Because Duxford belongs to the people; as British taxpayers, we in theory own it, in practice our views are shrugged of, and we have no more control over it than any other state run institution, and yet as A/C enthusiasts, we are passionate about which A/C are preserved ,and indeed how that is achieved.

It has become autonamous, and wasteful, and its direction as a museum, has been cause for concern by many; it has also become so intertwined (at face value) with the many private companies that operate from there, that to say something negative about Duxford (IWM) invokes a torrent of vitriol ,some from people who work there, and some from their friends, who wrongly believe that criticism has been levelled at them.

Just as a point of interest regarding the Merlin drawings shipped to the us, all Merlin drawings were re-drawn by Packard for ease of mass producing them.

Ford’s UK “had” to redraw the Merlin as well,it took them a whole year; makes you wonder how Rolls-Royce could have produced a single engine, with such poor drawings….

You are not alone

Is that not a copyright issue, using the entire verse from the”laughing policeman”?

Problem is that one set would be built in a very warm climate and one set would be made in Britain so when the two would be mated together it would look like a poorly fitting Airfix kit!

David, I thought you were going to say “one set would be made in a very warm climate, and the other in Australia”

Qld, I like your rolling tool, looks like it would make light work of an otherwise tedious p*xy job.

As in most disputes of “ownership”, it will be the man with the deepest pockets who is deemed the owner by the courts; looking at something as a comparison,another project of mine is the E type, these vehicles have the serial no. stamped into a bolt on frame forward of the engine, and on the identity “data” plate pop rivetted to the “tub”.

New “data” plates are available on eb@y for about £8- or £10 pre stamped; once you have a second hand picture frame ,(and they are commonly changed in restoration) you have the basis of an identity; obviously the “donor” vehicle is still out there, but if not on a current V5 then cloning is possible.

Is it not the case that sub assemblies on spitfires are also stamped with build no’s; some of my bits and pieces are stamped with a 4 digit no. including the airscoop, and part of the engine bearers.

But, isn’t it the MOD that issues the licence? whereas DVLA, aren’t connected with the police force.
I think its interesting, that the MOD have changed their minds re ownership several times over; it maybe now, with the current firearms laws, that they have developed a “responsibility”,for the weaponary nearly always associated with these type of A/C, not to mention the potential for soil contamination but fuel and oil etc.